Impending Birth

Nickori · 04-11-2007, 07:24 AM

I purchased an older mare earlier in the year and found out at the beginning of March that she is in fact pregnant. Her previous owner is not sure when she was exposed to his percheron stallion. He said between May and July. Actually he and his wife cant agree on when it occured. She was palpated at the beginning of March. My vet said she thinks at that time she is between 7-8 months along. She is not a maiden mare.

The baby is moving quite nicely and irritating her. She is eating good, but looks huge. ( will post some pictures later). Her milk veins are huge and palpable. She is not bagging up at this point. Her previous owner said that she is not one to bag up until after the baby is born. Is this true. Do some just not engorge until after the baby is born? She has no milk, no waxing etc. at this time. She has been a little more cranky with the other horses. She is not happy with me touching her sides or grooming her in that area.

We are going to Hawaii in June for a week. My vet is going to keep her at her place if she has not had the baby by then. How do we really know how far along she is?

My other concern is that I have been reading of a lot of foal deaths this year on the forum. Mamas not making it either. Is this common or is it just a bad year for some reason? Thanks for any suggestions.

breezebayou · 04-11-2007, 07:48 AM

Sounds like quite the surprise to buy a mare then find out she is pregnant. As far as her bag filling, she is still quite early, and most times that does not happen until the last month or even a few days before they foal. And if the previous owners said she didnt bag until after, then that is probably how she does things. Each mare is different, and its perfectly in the horse norm to do their OWN thing.. Even due dates arent set in stone, its just a guideline for us humans to worry over. I would guess from what the vet said and the possible breeding time that she wouldnt be due until either late june or early july. BUT if she WAS bred in may she would be due this month. I would be concerned if the vet said she is about 7-8 months the beginning of march that the baby would not be big enough to survive if she was bred in may. the vet would have alot better indication of when to expect the baby. I cant say about the milk veins showing this early since all I have is a maiden mare and they are very unpredictable. I would keep in touch with her last owners on the signs she showed and when to keep yourself up to date on her. I think its a great thing your vet will keep her when you go on vacation in case she foals that way shes not alone.

Watch for the dropping of the belly, it will get more pointed and less round, if you look at her straight on she wont look as "pregnant", her sides will be flatter. Her tail head area will relax, as well as the vulva. Our horse got quite cranky when the foal started to move, for a few weeks, then settled in and got used to it. And during the time after the baby started moving, even up until now she doesnt like to be touched in the flank area much either. WE just halter her and make her do it. She has to get used to it because the baby will touch her there, even if she doesnt like us to.

Here is my email dragnking88@hotmail.com if you would like to see pictures of our mares progression starting at her 10th month I would be glad to forward them along. She is due April 24th, bred sometime between the 13-16th of May. She has been showing a lot of signs of labor, and still NO baby. so its really anybody's guess.

As for the mares and foals dying, there really is no guarantee one way or the other, it has been kind of scary for us also reading all those deaths, but we reassure ourselves that most foalings turn out okay. It helps to have these boards to post and find reassurance through others.

Hope that helps and hope you have a healthy foal! Keep us updated and yes definitly pics!!!!

Nickori · 04-12-2007, 07:43 AM

I would love to get pictures. The previous owners wife is thinking that she was exposed at the end of June/beginning of July. This would go along more with the timeline that the vet came up with. She still looks very pregnant from behind. This mare has had 8 foals over the years. He said she just gets cranky. She has always been an alpha mare and is here at our house as well. She is an awesome mare and I am so excited. The vet said that when a mare has had foals in the past that often the milk veins will show a little sooner. She did say Louise just is not one to bag up much before her foals are born. Our vet has taken care of her at the previous owner for years. I just want to make sure I am doing everything right for her.

breezebayou · 04-12-2007, 07:48 AM

Sounds like you are doing great.. And during this time is the easy part, it gets a lot more nerve wracking during the last month or so, especially when they give you fits with symptoms, then no baby.. LOL.. Do you want me to post the pics here, or to send them to you via email? Just let me know either way is fine

Morri · 04-12-2007, 07:52 AM

Many mares do not actually let their milk down until they go into labor. Labor occurs when the body produces the hormone oxytocin which also stimulates the milk letdown, so I wouldn't be toooo worried.
As she nears foaling, her croup should "sink" and like jelly.

It's tough not knowing when she was bred!

Good luck to you and welcome to HGS!

Nickori · 04-12-2007, 08:34 AM

Breezebayou, you can send them to my private email. I sent you and email a little bit ago.

Thank you for the information. It is hard to not know when she was bred. She has always had her foals out in the open area. Not is a stall. She hates to be in a stall, so I am going to leave her out. I dont want any more stress on her than need be.

I will be sure to post pictures. I am really excited and anxious all at the same time. I am just so thankful that my vet is going to keep her at her house if she has not foaled by the time we go on vacation in June.

Thank you for any and all advise.

04-11-2007, 07:24 AM	#1
Nickori Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 230 Images: 10	Impending Birth I purchased an older mare earlier in the year and found out at the beginning of March that she is in fact pregnant. Her previous owner is not sure when she was exposed to his percheron stallion. He said between May and July. Actually he and his wife cant agree on when it occured. She was palpated at the beginning of March. My vet said she thinks at that time she is between 7-8 months along. She is not a maiden mare. The baby is moving quite nicely and irritating her. She is eating good, but looks huge. ( will post some pictures later). Her milk veins are huge and palpable. She is not bagging up at this point. Her previous owner said that she is not one to bag up until after the baby is born. Is this true. Do some just not engorge until after the baby is born? She has no milk, no waxing etc. at this time. She has been a little more cranky with the other horses. She is not happy with me touching her sides or grooming her in that area. We are going to Hawaii in June for a week. My vet is going to keep her at her place if she has not had the baby by then. How do we really know how far along she is? My other concern is that I have been reading of a lot of foal deaths this year on the forum. Mamas not making it either. Is this common or is it just a bad year for some reason? Thanks for any suggestions.

04-11-2007, 07:48 AM	#2
breezebayou Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Images: 9	Hello, welcome! Sounds like quite the surprise to buy a mare then find out she is pregnant. As far as her bag filling, she is still quite early, and most times that does not happen until the last month or even a few days before they foal. And if the previous owners said she didnt bag until after, then that is probably how she does things. Each mare is different, and its perfectly in the horse norm to do their OWN thing.. Even due dates arent set in stone, its just a guideline for us humans to worry over. I would guess from what the vet said and the possible breeding time that she wouldnt be due until either late june or early july. BUT if she WAS bred in may she would be due this month. I would be concerned if the vet said she is about 7-8 months the beginning of march that the baby would not be big enough to survive if she was bred in may. the vet would have alot better indication of when to expect the baby. I cant say about the milk veins showing this early since all I have is a maiden mare and they are very unpredictable. I would keep in touch with her last owners on the signs she showed and when to keep yourself up to date on her. I think its a great thing your vet will keep her when you go on vacation in case she foals that way shes not alone. Watch for the dropping of the belly, it will get more pointed and less round, if you look at her straight on she wont look as "pregnant", her sides will be flatter. Her tail head area will relax, as well as the vulva. Our horse got quite cranky when the foal started to move, for a few weeks, then settled in and got used to it. And during the time after the baby started moving, even up until now she doesnt like to be touched in the flank area much either. WE just halter her and make her do it. She has to get used to it because the baby will touch her there, even if she doesnt like us to. Here is my email dragnking88@hotmail.com if you would like to see pictures of our mares progression starting at her 10th month I would be glad to forward them along. She is due April 24th, bred sometime between the 13-16th of May. She has been showing a lot of signs of labor, and still NO baby. so its really anybody's guess. As for the mares and foals dying, there really is no guarantee one way or the other, it has been kind of scary for us also reading all those deaths, but we reassure ourselves that most foalings turn out okay. It helps to have these boards to post and find reassurance through others. Hope that helps and hope you have a healthy foal! Keep us updated and yes definitly pics!!!! Last edited by breezebayou; 04-11-2007 at 08:00 AM. Reason: addition

04-12-2007, 07:52 AM	#5
Morri Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,078 Images: 94	Many mares do not actually let their milk down until they go into labor. Labor occurs when the body produces the hormone oxytocin which also stimulates the milk letdown, so I wouldn't be toooo worried. As she nears foaling, her croup should "sink" and like jelly. It's tough not knowing when she was bred! Good luck to you and welcome to HGS! __________________ "Being born of the human race instead of the animal kingdom does not give you more rights. It gives you more responsibilities."

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04-12-2007, 07:43 AM	#3
Nickori Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 230 Images: 10	I would love to get pictures. The previous owners wife is thinking that she was exposed at the end of June/beginning of July. This would go along more with the timeline that the vet came up with. She still looks very pregnant from behind. This mare has had 8 foals over the years. He said she just gets cranky. She has always been an alpha mare and is here at our house as well. She is an awesome mare and I am so excited. The vet said that when a mare has had foals in the past that often the milk veins will show a little sooner. She did say Louise just is not one to bag up much before her foals are born. Our vet has taken care of her at the previous owner for years. I just want to make sure I am doing everything right for her.

04-12-2007, 07:48 AM	#4
breezebayou Full Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 81 Images: 9	Sounds like you are doing great.. And during this time is the easy part, it gets a lot more nerve wracking during the last month or so, especially when they give you fits with symptoms, then no baby.. LOL.. Do you want me to post the pics here, or to send them to you via email? Just let me know either way is fine

04-12-2007, 08:34 AM	#6
Nickori Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 230 Images: 10	Breezebayou, you can send them to my private email. I sent you and email a little bit ago. Thank you for the information. It is hard to not know when she was bred. She has always had her foals out in the open area. Not is a stall. She hates to be in a stall, so I am going to leave her out. I dont want any more stress on her than need be. I will be sure to post pictures. I am really excited and anxious all at the same time. I am just so thankful that my vet is going to keep her at her house if she has not foaled by the time we go on vacation in June. Thank you for any and all advise.