Foals of 2020

[Green Desert]

I was curious, as well. I know maidens can be unpredictable, but there's probably protocol in place after 2 weeks. They don't want foals to be supersized due to dangerous foaling conditions.

[Green Desert]

I looked it up and found it interesting that they generally don't induce labor in mares. Hopefully Summer Bird can fill us in, because I'd love to learn, even though I have no plans for breeding!
This poor girl looks so uncomfortable. No wonder I skipped having a baby!

[Mylute]

I know there's caesareans, but I also know that 's probably plan Z.

[Green Desert]

I read in some cases they prefer to do C- sections before they consider inducing, apparently due to risk of scarring. I found that interesting.
They were just in to check on her and I see them do it regularly. They checked her heartbeat, and at her hind end. Damn, to think that a job like that existed makes me wish I hadn't gone into the medical field and stuck with horses instead!

[Green Desert]

She's finally laying on her side, hopefully she can rest. Our mares used to be up/down, up/down on the nights they gave birth.
I've been watching on my phone today while I rested and on the couch. My husband did something and fixed it so I can lay back and watch it on our television now. This is awesome!
Maybe I should have asked him for popcorn?

[Summer Bird]

I looked it up and found it interesting that they generally don't induce labor in mares. Hopefully Summer Bird can fill us in, because I'd love to learn, even though I have no plans for breeding!
This poor girl looks so uncomfortable. No wonder I skipped having a baby!

You definitely don’t want to induce a mare unless you really have to. Just because the foal is overdue doesn’t mean it’s mature enough to handle being outside its mother’s womb. One of the mares this year carried her foal five weeks past her due date. The farm manager never induces mares and he almost did with her, but thankfully she foaled the following day after he mentioned it

[Green Desert]

Thank you, Summer Bird! I was too young to remember my family's mares foaling, and after that the mares I worked with were racing and definitely not pregnant. I do enjoy learning new things, even at this advanced age.

[Green Desert]

They've been checking on her and turned the lights in her stall back on. They haven't taped her tail up yet, but between pacing, pawing and laying down/ up again makes me think they expect the process soon.

[Flanders]

The "due date" is just an average number of days from breeding. Mares have a huge window of being able to produce a viable foal, its 320-362 days. But some go before that or after. This is why they have breeding season start in mid-February.

Each mare is different but they generally give birth around the same amount of days each time. In Ashado's case they said she had foaled 10-11 days late almost every foal she had produced, I think she was due on February 24th, so her foal was 11 days late again. Because this is New Money Honey's first foal, she could be a mare that is on the longer side of the time frame. I do hope she hurries up though, she has looked miserable the past couple days.

[Green Desert]

Thank you, Flanders, for that info.
She had been up/down, pacing, pawing, stretching and kicking at her belly but no signs of the foal yet. She truly is miserable, and when she stands near the camera you can see the foal kicking the heck out of her sides.
They've checked her every hour, which has been cool to watch. At one point I wondered if she was going to foal standing up with as long as she stood there with her tail raised.
With my luck she will do it today while I'm sleeping.

[Flanders]

I think she is in early stages of foaling. I've watched her before and never noticed her doing the things she is right now. She is rubbing her tail on the wall A LOT, pretty much constantly for the past 30 minutes and it kind of looks like she has sweaty patches on her body (but it might just be the camera/lights tricking me).

Guess we'll see if they send her to the paddock or not in an hour.

[carole]

I think she is in early stages of foaling. I've watched her before and never noticed her doing the things she is right now. She is rubbing her tail on the wall A LOT, pretty much constantly for the past 30 minutes and it kind of looks like she has sweaty patches on her body (but it might just be the camera/lights tricking me).

Guess we'll see if they send her to the paddock or not in an hour.

She has indeed gone to the paddock again today. How likely are they to send her to the paddock if they think she’s about to foal? Is it better for the baby to be born in a stall?

[Green Desert]

They are going to check her in the paddock, I think. She had been doing that all night.

[Green Desert]

Did she foal in the paddock? I swear I'm seeing two shapes.
As for letting her go to the paddock, exercise and routine would be encouraged.
Edit: I must be mistaken.

[Summer Bird]

I think she is in early stages of foaling. I've watched her before and never noticed her doing the things she is right now. She is rubbing her tail on the wall A LOT, pretty much constantly for the past 30 minutes and it kind of looks like she has sweaty patches on her body (but it might just be the camera/lights tricking me).

Guess we'll see if they send her to the paddock or not in an hour.

She has indeed gone to the paddock again today. How likely are they to send her to the paddock if they think she’s about to foal? Is it better for the baby to be born in a stall?

It’s actually a lot better to foal outside. It’s definitely cleaner than a stall. Only thing in New Money Honey’s case is she’s out with other mares so she would have to be removed from the field or vice versa

[Mylute]

@ Gestut Sohrenhof

"Very cheeky" filly by Vanishing Cupid out of Cresta (Blue Canari) foaled in Switzerland. Vanishing Cupid is a GSPSW son of Galileo.

https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... ure/425934

[Mylute]

@ Gestut Sohrenhof

Filly by Vanishing Cupid out of Polonia Queen (Motivator) foaled March 8 in Switzerland.

https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... ure/425934

[carole]

Think tonight might be the night for New Money Honey, she’s looking very uncomfortable and warm, she’s pawing the ground, shifting her weight etc.

[KatieD]

Think tonight might be the night for New Money Honey, she’s looking very uncomfortable and warm, she’s pawing the ground, shifting her weight etc.

Think you’re right. She’s really jiffly now.

[lurkey mclurker]

Poor thing, she looks so tired and just done with all of it.