We have milk!!!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Just squidged the mares boobies & out came milk...

Foal in the morning you think?

Eeeeeeek excited!!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

She was confirmed PG by the vet wasnt she IIRC? Its a right pain when they do this!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

IIRC? Yeah vet kind of 'guessed' by looking at her & had a feel inside and 'thought' she could feel foals head internally. But at the time said she couldn't be 100% then a visit a month or so later seeing the size of her said she's glad she was right.

Not had any bloods or scans tho.

So strange she was showing all the signs Tuesday & now isn't.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Different pasture? Lots of clover?
IIRC is if I remember correctly.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Nope, same pasture.... not much clover in there I don't think, she's been in a side paddock since she arrived in late november. Although she's been in for 24 hours because of the sodding weather so u guess that could have done it?

Judging by the pointy belly & everything else she can't really be anything but pregnant.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Hmm...
Maybe she was ready but the awful weather has put her off?
I know this might sound daft, but there is no chance that she might have foaled in the paddock and you missed it? No wee limp body hidden in the long grass? There is generally a decent amount of mess, but its possible...

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Did have a look round this morning as was poo picking/ checking fencing & for ragwort. its a pretty exposed paddock - its along inbetween the barn, house & carpark with the other horses seperated by a hedge.

Personally I think she was distrubed Tuesday night (farmer came home around 11 from the pub & locked up, perfectly normal & she's used to that) then some numptys came & shone their car lights into thr paddock & called her over about midnight which I think put her off....

[frostyfingers]

I follow Mark Tompkins' (racehorse trainer) blog and they also have a breeding operation. His have all foaled now but he was saying that the mares that were due when the weather was vv cold hung on for up to 14 days over their date, and he put that down to the weather. So it is entirely possible that she's keeping her legs crossed for some warmer weather. The Breeding board on Horse & Hound forum has lots of information/advice too.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

You might well be right there... she's out today & the signs are all there again.

Only thing is foal has moved & is across the bottom of her belly again so she's no longer pointy but HUGE at the sides.

[frostyfingers]

Well overnight Sunday into Bank Holiday Monday is likely to be vv expensive for a vet call so I'd fully expect a baby then!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Update - no foal yet

[Pinkponiesrock]

Any baby action today? I think it must be like being an expectant dad, you are so involved but you don't know what is going on in the way you do when you are the mum!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Nada as yet. She's keeping us hanging on.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Quick update... still no foal

[FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn]

She may well be hanging on for better weather. When I worked on a racing stud farm all the mares would go overdue in a cold spell but a few days of warm sunshine and bang!

Do you know exactly when she conceived (ie was she covered in hand or running with the stallion?)

[chocolatecakeystuff]

We don't know her due date. She is fecking mahoosive though so she can't hang onto it much longer. She's been waxed for 9 days now, with a few sunny warm spells.

Just hope it doesn't get stuck being so huge & all that.

[lurcherlover]

Have been lurking on this thread! Come on baby! Saggy, a question about colostrum. Is there only a limited amount in mares? When I'm pg I leak make colostrum from about 16 weeks, but the obstetrician told me there would be plenty for the baby as your body knows to keep making it until after you deliver. Does that not happen in horses?

[chocolatecakeystuff]

That's a really good point, but seeing how the vets worry about it so much I'm guessing its not an unlimited amount they make.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I'm not sure, but know of a couple of foals who needed supplementing.i suppose if the mare runs milk, her body thinks a foal is drinking it and eventually switches to proper milk.

[FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn]

We used to "weigh" the colostrum from our mares. If we got a good result we would milk some colostrum off he mare and freeze it for use if we had an orphan foal or a mare that had a poor colostrum reading.

[lurcherlover]

I think in humans it's delivery of the placenta that triggers milk production? Interesting that that's not the case in horses.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Any news? One of mine looks like she will go in the next few days!

[mrslaughan]

Where is this foal?

[FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn]

Did you all see the foaling on the programme about the Queen's horses on Sunday night? Bless the foal and his attempts to stand

I miss being with the little furry babies, that is until I remember they turn into bolshy little thugs at about 6 months old!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I missed that! I've only seen one foal actually born! Natives are great at surprises!

[chocolatecakeystuff]

I did see it! The legs on it!!! Lovely little thing. Then I remember I still have a half ferral welsh to deal with & go off the idea of youngsters haha.

No foal yet.

Good luck saggy, sure it'll go smoothly.

We're on day 10 of being waxed up.... she's staying in atm as she's begging at the gate desperate to get in every night.