[Jenje!]

Today is the 189th day of my lovely mare's pregnancy. So, roughly six months along.

I saw her several days ago, and noticed that as I walked up to feed her and even as she ate, she stood in an awkward position (something like a foundered horse will stand) with her tail help out and crooked to the side. She would wring it around occasionally and had her "mare" look on (she never wears that unless someone's pestering her). Not pinned ears, exactly, but definitely sort of snarly. I could tell it wasn't directed at me (I did require a pleasant look before she got her grain anyway, as usual). I checked her over and left.

Tonight I stopped by to see her because I found a little model horse at TSC that looks just like the foal I'd most like to have from her. I wanted to show her so that she'd have a good idea of what I want (she tried to eat it; foal-shaped cookie!). As I walked up, she was standing in a more or less normal position in the pasture and wringing her tail around violently, looking annoyed. I could tell, again, that she wasn't directing it at me... was just bugged by something. When I touched her, she stopped the tail wringing and let me spend several minutes with my hands and ear pressed to her baby pouch, listening intently. (I think I heard it yawn.) I didn't feel anything odd; from her actions, I was almost expecting some thumping around. She started hunching a little as soon as I took my hands off of her, wrung her tail some more, and then seemed to relax and "chased" me up to the gate playfully.

I checked her over pretty thoroughly both times. No heat in the hooves or legs whatsoever. No sore spots or swelling anywhere... gut sounds on both sides, not at all dehydrated, not lame... and no discharge from the girl bits. She seems to be perfectly fine, but I keep catching her standing by herself in the pasture by herself and going through the motions of a "stop touching me!" tantrum!

All I can think is that the baby's doing something that's making her uncomfortable. I asked my boyfriend's mom (a vet tech), and she confirmed that it'll be kicking around a bit at six months. She hasn't gotten back to me yet on whether it would be big enough or strong enough to really be uncomfortable. The stallion owner's wife thinks not (I called her to ask her what she thought on my way home). So what else could be going on? Is my horse hallucinating...? Braxton-hicks? She's not doing this all the time, but it's happening enough to make me curious. It's completely out of character for her. She's very, very sweet and accomodating in all situations. If this cranky, uncomfortable mare thing is starting at six months, she's going to have that mare look down pat by the time the baby's born!

Also, would an ultrasound stand a chance at revealing the gender of the foal at this point or in the future? Anything healthy, of course, but I wouldn't mind knowing what to expect, as the gender will determine whether I keep or sell.

Thanks everyone!

[Appylvr]

Is this your mare's first pregnancy? She sounds like she's just uncomfortable... my colt really kicked up a storm in my mare. It was her first time as well and she would do stuff like that too.

I don't think a ultrasound will show the sex of the foal, mine didn't.

So what are you hoping for? IMO..... hope for the exact opposite of what you want. I wanted a Buckskin filly so bad with just enough white to be registered in the regular Paint registry and I got a Palomino solid colt! I was so thankful that mommy and baby were healthy that I didn't much care what he looked like.

[S.HorseWoman]

Hmm, I don't believe they are advanced enough to determine a foal's gender by ultrasound yet .

I have a question. Is this the mare's first pregnancy? If so, she maybe be a little confused and probably a little unhappy with the foal kicking. It might not be painful, but it is probably irritating and since it is totally new, she has no idea why it is happening.

HoneyBun, the paint mare my trainer owns, is the same way right now. First time pregnancy and she is VERY grumpy and snarly. She will be completely alone, but she will start acting like something is bothering her and then go snap at the nearest horse, usually my poor boy Legs, his dam Breezy, or the old gelding Dustin. My trainer told me that sometimes in first pregnancies, the mares think that the foal's kicking is another horse being rude so they will sometimes be nasty to the rest of the herd, not realizing it is the foal and not a herd-mate .

The really fun ones are when HoneyBun is standing alone being grumpy. She does the same thing you are describing. She gets that mean expression and starts snapping her tail and looks around for someone to bite, but there is no one there! Usually she either looks confused/annoyed and then walks over to the nearest horse and bullies them to feel better .

[Jenje!]

Okay, I just found out that the ultrasound done to determine gender is supposed to be done at 72 days. So a bit too late for that now.

It is her first pregnancy. According to the boyfriend's mom, the foal will now be around the size of a large cat. Somehow I can't imagine the kicking of a large cat being that irritating... but I guess she's sensitive! I don't want to jinx it, but my fingers are crossed for a filly. If it winds up being a colt, I'll be gelding and selling him.

[WildHorseSpirit]

Hey do you have kids? LOL Then you should know how the poor gal feels. I don't and boy did I feel guilty for my gals LOL
Some new moms are uncomfortable our Paint Mustang Spirit was like that we lost that filly......She would be such a (censored LOL)
I now have my sweet girl back 2 years after the foal had to be pulled.

Now take my other Mustang Cherokee, GOD did I feel for her!!! Spirit's baby hardly ever moved and we had to have her checked to see if she was still pregnant, she was..Our oldest mare Ginger's baby moved a little , but Cheyenne ROCKED the house!!! That poor mare's belly was always active!
Being a first time mom she seemed to take the ruckus in stride.
In fact when Tigger *now you know how she got that name LOL* was born she was half out and stood up! She bruised her poor mommy's you know what!
She was ready to fly on her own at that point LOL

Try to find something that relaxes her, when my friend's horses were preggos as well as ours we would pull their tails sideways they loved it and would beg for it.
Butt rubs, soft rubs with soft towels on her good day will help her to relax and maybe that bouncy baby will settle down for a day!
If she will take it, make some warm instant tea but I warn ye Tigger's mommie had some before her due date and she popped out addicted to the stuff LOL

[belle4]

jenje,

I had a foal born this spring. I also wanted a bay filly and recieved a sorrel colt.

He couldn't be more perfect. Good luck.

[prettyqtrs]

Well seeming as there is nothing esle that you can see wrong with her...I'd guess that the foal is starting some movement. We are starting to feel movement on on 2 of the 4 mares so far. The mares that we can feel and see movement on are due in March and April. So they are about 7 and close to 8 months into their pregnancy. It might be causing her some slight discomfort and being a first time mom, she's not exactly sure whats going on in her. I know one of the mares that we have started feeling and seeing movement on is a maiden and at first she'd swish her tail around and stomp her back feet. But, she doesnt really do that anymore....getting used to baby moving around I suppose.

And you are right, you'd have to ultrasound around 70 days to get the gender of the foal. And even then it's hard...because baby might be in a weird position, vet could make a mistake, ect. Besides...what fun is it to already know?! lol. That's part of the whole excitement when she foals...."What is it, colt or filly?!"

Best wishes on a happy and healthy rest of her pregnancy, easy foaling and a healthy foal!

EDIT: By the way, here's a good site that gives you an estimate of the foal's growth and gives you a comparison to another animal of about how big the foal is at certain 'stages'.
http://www.eagleridge-twh.com/fetus1.htm

[Jenje!]

It'd be fun to know at this point because then I can plan! As I said, a colt would need to be gelded and sold. My back-up plan in case of a colt is to wean, put two months of halter training on him with a fairly "big name" Arabian halter training in the area that I trust, and then sell him. Then I'll go and take a walk through the Reed's baby pasture!

The excitement is in getting to meet the baby!

Thanks, everyone.

HECK NO I don't have kids. *dies* I'm 19.

[sirius-dressage]

Lol! Good on you, crazy teens having babies...two of my friends are 19 and one is pregnant (voluntarily) and the other is trying. I saw the brithing video, no way that thing is coming out of me! No way...

Is teh mare an Arab? I love foals, I want one. Lol, don't need one, but I can dream. In a couple of years I'll get my Andy baby.

[BestofPrincess]

I wanted a Buckskin filly so bad with just enough white to be registered in the regular Paint registry and I got a Palomino solid colt!

I wanted a buckskin filly to but no white needed, but I got a solid bay colt....
To be safe I would have a vet come out and check on her to check the thickness of the placenta.
And so far every maiden mare at our barn turns into a witch in the 2nd trimester