|
Pages: 1 2 »
|
 |
|
Author
|
Topic: Maiden Mares (Read 8893 times)
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
 Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
I'm relying on everyone here for advice about a mare's first foal. Hennie's due the end of March (how nervous am I starting 2 months ahead, asking these questions?)
Should I move the other horses to the end of the barn so she can have privacy or would the anxiety it create (for her & them) do more harm than good?
What drugs/equipment should I make sure to have on hand?
She's a bit 'twitchy' about being touched on the udder, unless she's eating, then doesn't even notice. Should I have a bran mash ready when the foal (God willing) stands & tries to nurse the first time.
Signed,
A Nervous Wreck in TX!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
Having been there, I can sympathize with being a nervous wreck! I personally don't see the need for any drugs. The birth happens so quickly, too, that assistance is rarely needed. One maiden mare had delivered and was attempting to clean up the placenta when I arrived. As twitchy as she got about her udder being touched beforehand, that totally disappeared after the birth. With the second mare, the biggest problem we had was getting her to stand still long enough to let her new colt nurse. Every time he'd get close, she'd wheel around so she could see him. After 3 hours, I called the vet and between the two of us we got the mare to stand long enough to let him nurse. Then it was like a light went on in her head...a big "AHA!" After that, it was a breeze. With both mares, btw, I needed to extract some milk (at least I thought so at the time) so baby could find the nipple. They were both sooo swollen with milk that there wasn't a lot to grab onto.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
Thanks for all the helpful information - I'm going shopping for several items Cari mentioned this weekend!
What about a playmate? Unfortunately, I lost my other mare who would have foaled a week before Hennie. Shouldn't the baby have a playmate? I have a very old Paso Fino gelding who's maybe 13 hands (so won't be that much taller than the foal  but am afraid the mare won't want him around the baby, even though he's now her 'pasture pal' and she acts like his mother.
A neighbor breeds Quarter Horses & has approx. 8 - 10 foals every year; should I try to 'borrow' a mare & foal? Am I over-thinking this? 
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
I've had foals with playmates, and foals without. They're definitely fun to watch, and a playmate makes it even more fun. I noticed that those without other foals tend to be pesty to the other horse, trying to get them to play, but they survive okay. If I had a chance to have a playmate, I'd probably do it, but there's no compelling reason to if you have other horses besides your mare. BTW, I always turned mine out with the herd within 2-4 weeks--slowly, of course, letting the other horses into their space, one at a time, and not the other way around. Mom usually tries to run off everyone, but eventually settles down and everyone gets along.
Have fun!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Karen P.
ata
FEI
Offline
Posts: 166
I LOVE Trakehners!
|
I have so been the "Nervous Nellie"! Now as a veteran of 2 births I had a couple of moments but all went well. With foal 1, my mare made we crazy by getting up between contractions with half a foal hanging out. I made my daughter sit on her neck to keep her down!! I thought the foal was stillborn as he had his tongue hanging out and eyes closed..I had to help a little, then was pleasantly surprised when his eyes popped open! When I pulled him around for her to see, the lights went on and she was a pro after that. Foal 2, a filly came out kicking and screaming, she wanted to get up with only 2 legs in view! She also was much faster at finding the milk source than her big brother.
But like any birth, the miracle of it will bring tears to your eyes!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Terri
Guest
|
Last year was my first experience with a maiden. I was not there but the SO was, I arrived about 2 minutes after foaling. She did need some help (she pushed he pulled) but when all was said and done everything went ok. I did have the vet out afterwards as the mare was quite sore and not as interested in the filly as she should be. Once we gave her something to ease the pain everything went as planned. The filly nursed immediately but the for whatever reason did not get enough closturm (sp?) from the mares milk (Draw blood from foal at 24 hours for postnatal IgG test) so had to give her an IV dose. In hind site I wonder if it would not be easier and cheaper to have some closturm rich milk on hand but I will have it available next time this mare foals (none of my other mares have ever had this problem however this filly was only 322 days). Don't know how many have had the pleasure of wrestling an IV into a young foal but they are exceptionally strong and wiley for there size  . Personally, with all my mares, I milk them and feed the foals there first milk. This way I can leave mare and foal alone and get some sleep without having to watch and worry about the foal getting that all important dose of closturm. Don't know about anyone else here but for me but one of the stressful parts of foaling is watching and waiting while the new one figures out where the milk is!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
Don't know about anyone else here but for me but one of the stressful parts of foaling is watching and waiting while the new one figures out where the milk is!
I agree! That is definitely the hardest part. Waiting for everything to happen in Mother Nature's time can be nerve wracking.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Leena
FEI
Offline
Posts: 121
I love Trakehners!
|
Hello Twingates, How things going near the end  ?
My maiden carry very high and that put pressure on her stomach; since a few days she has not eat that much. She will be beginning her 11th month in 2 weeks and I worry.
Is anyone having the same situation ? What to do ?
I am giving her grain in several portions and some alfafa hay instead of hay.
Someone told me the foal will come down; what going on if it does not
Comments would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
All the mares I've had munched slowly and sporadically in the last month. Too much baby and not enough room. The foal will shift; in fact, the mare will get down and roll on the ground to shift it. When they reach their last month and are looking for all the world like overripe watermelons, I must admit to feeling a bit of guilt for putting them through this, so uncomfortable time. But, your mare will be fine. Trust in nature and don't worry so much. I'd still give her lots of grass hay, not straight alfalfa.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
I agree w/Joy. Grass hay is better than alfalfa at this point. The other best thing I've found is to make sure they have lots of turn out, so they can stretch & rub and move around.
The one thing I'm concerned about is that mine HATES to have us touch her anywhere on near her bag. Have heard lots of the "foaling pros" talk about tasting their milk or doing the milk test to determine proximity to foaling, but she won't let me near. Concerns me for the foal. Should I have hobbles on hand just in case?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
This can be an interesting point. I've always handled horses everywhere so they get used to it, but pregnancy sometimes makes them just a tad irritable. I usually just keep rubbing around, close to, etc., several times a day until the mare can tolerate it, finally getting to the teats, and then actually milking a bit. (It helps if you've ever had cows or goats in your life.)  I also found that even those mares who aren't real happy about being touched suddenly don't mind at all once that foal is on the ground.
Then, too, there are other ways to tell, but the more experienced you are, the more likely you are to notice things like the tail head going slack, waxing, etc., and even those are only rough indicators. When all is said and done, even though I want to be there "just in case", I just rely on the fact that mares have been foaling for millennia without my help.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Leena
FEI
Offline
Posts: 121
I love Trakehners!
|
Thanks so much for your comments.
Both of my mares gets turned out from 8 am to 4 pm, they roll in the snow, rub themselves on trees, have plenty of hay.
I have looked at my maiden one this morning and it's seems the foal have started to come down....She was hungry this morning without any signs of pain.
Yesterday I found her in the top of a 3 feet snow banc; she was probably practicing an eventer start gate !!!!
She due on may 15th but I feel she will not make it and will foal early May.
I will keep you post on this.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Jennifer
ata
Gold Medallist
Offline
Posts: 301
|
A friend of mine just had a maiden mare foal and the mare was very nervous about the baby. It was necessary to tranquilize the mare until she let the foal nurse. Then everything was OK. I don't know if this mare was sensitive about having people touch her udders or not, too.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
I needn't have worried. Hennie was all waxed up when we brought them in from turnout, so I made my poor husband mow around the barn & check her every 45 minutes while I gathered last minute "delivery" items. Back w/everything, I made up the bed in the barn quarters in case this lasted several nights & cleaned & sterilized everything.
Hennie was quiet, so finally left @ 10:15pm to pick up pizza (my poor husband was still mowing, the barn area now looked like a golf course!). Back @ 10:55, I gave the pizza to hubby, asked him to fix me a plate & went to check Hennie & wrap her tail before eating a late dinner.
Imagine my suprise when there was a white "bubble" sticking out of her vulva! Immediately called the house (timing is everything - the barn phone was installed 3 days earlier!) and told hubby to call an experienced neighbor & our vet. Hennie got a couple of times - once while the feet & nose were sticking out - but only moved a few feet before lying down again. Once the nose was out, she pushed & I gently 'pulsed' the legs to assist her w/the shoulders and 10 minutes later, her son was born. We pulled him around to her side where she could see him and she immediately began a low, deep nickering and started licking him all over. No one had to tell her; she just knew this was her boy.
Nursing was a bit touchy at first, but a warm towel rubbed on her bag 'broke the ice'. We expressed some milk, rubbed on her bag & then left the stall to give them some private time. About 15 minutes later (after several unsuccessful attempts to move the legs in coordinated enough fashion to reach her side) we heard the slurp, slurp of a little mouth finally @ it's feed source!
No drugs necessary. Wishing everyone still waiting for their foal arrivals the same quick & uncomplicated delivery, followed by happy & healthy mares & foals.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Leena
FEI
Offline
Posts: 121
I love Trakehners!
|
Wow !!!!!!!!!!! (too bad for the pizza)
What a nice experience to share with us ! I have been told by one breeder to put iodine on the baby's frogs and on the nostril 2X a day for 3 days after foaling. This to prevent disease.
Watch also for a good intestine evacuation and if not, you put 10 cc of dishes's soap in 10 cc of warm water and inject in his rectum.
For the momy, giving mashes after foaling.
I am really happy for you Twingates and we will all be waiting for pictures !!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
Isn't it wonderful when everything goes so easily, all fears are allayed, and we get to see the miracle of birth? And a beautiful foal and content mother. Congratulations! (When do we see photos?)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
Pics from his first day are under announcements/It's a Boy (thread started by me - Sherry also has It's a boy!). Here are a few more.
[attachment deleted by admin]
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
And one more
[attachment deleted by admin]
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Leena
FEI
Offline
Posts: 121
I love Trakehners!
|
What a cutie !!!!!!! He is gorgeous !!!!!!
Wow !!!
Félicitations !!!! Bring the carrots and the cigars !!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
StarryNight
ata
Gold Medallist
Offline
Posts: 328
Trakehners rule
|
Is that a heart on his forehead? must be cause he's so loved!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TwinGates
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 2,209
Performance Matters!
|
Yup, we 'heart him' a lot!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
sherry
ata
FEI
Offline
Posts: 223
I love Trakehners!
|
These babies are God's gift to humanity!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Leena
FEI
Offline
Posts: 121
I love Trakehners!
|
Quick update for my maiden mare; it should be any day, hours, minutes.
I am so nervous !!! But she is very very quiet now, all the signs are showing except wax.
I read a couple of places that maiden does not produce wax before all the time, so I don't focuse too much.
Wish me good luck !!!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Joy
ata
Old Hand
Offline
Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
|
We make our own luck, Leena. You'll do fine!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: 1 2 »
|
|
|
|
 |
