23 year old maiden mare

[Katiesue]

Hi guys, so last year after retiring my amazing mare from showjumping I decided to out her on foal. Yes I thought the same as many of you are thinking now... She's too old. She was fresh and healthy and I wanted to keep her bloodline going.

So to fast track things on the second attempt she went in foal.. Much to the vets, the stud owner and my surprise. She is now 9 months in foal and for most of it all has gone well. The last few days she seems to have bags under her etes6abd seems a little glum when she's in the stable. There are another 4 horses in the stable block with her so I doubt it's loneliness. I've read articles about depression, lethargic etc and it doesn't seem to be any of those things. She's booked into an amazing foaling unit with a 24 hour on call vet so hopefully the foaling will be ok.

 

[brsssmn]

What is it etes6abd?
Premature growth udder testifies about placental detachment.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

What is it etes6abd?

I think it meant to say "bags under eyes and seems a little glum"

 

[PurBee]

She’s an older horse who’s never had a foal, and her body is now changing for the first time in her life and hormone levels shifting, etc, yet she doesnt ‘intellectually’ know what’s happening to her body, being a maiden. So it’s going to be somewhat stressful for her to deal with these changes.
it’s good you have a great team and place for her to foal at, that’s the best choice and chance she has for a successful foaling. Fingers crossed for you.

My mare at 10yrs had foaled several times before she came to me and foaled so she was super chilled out about the process and knew what was coming, whereas i, never foaled before, was quite the opposite and stressed! Mine was out 24/7 and did it all by herself in the early hours, while i was catching 40 winks between checking on her!

Just be with her as much as you can and be supportive by being with her, grooming, fusses...i realised after i was too stressed about a perfectly natural process, and despite your mares age, nature does know what to do.
Her age puts her at risk for certain things but with a team on board, youve got all bases covered if she needs help.
I felt quite alone and out of my depth, i couldve done with an experienced team to put my mind at rest!

good luck - post pics of the cutey when he/she arrives!?

 

[TheMule]

Have you taken her temperature? I wouldn’t be concerned about your horse's mental state, but I would about her physical state and so a vet would be a good move if you are concerned

 

[Katiesue]

What is it etes6abd?
Premature growth udder testifies about placental detachment.

Sorry meant to be bags under her eyes

 

[Katiesue]

She’s an older horse who’s never had a foal, and her body is now changing for the first time in her life and hormone levels shifting, etc, yet she doesnt ‘intellectually’ know what’s happening to her body, being a maiden. So it’s going to be somewhat stressful for her to deal with these changes.
it’s good you have a great team and place for her to foal at, that’s the best choice and chance she has for a successful foaling. Fingers crossed for you.

My mare at 10yrs had foaled several times before she came to me and foaled so she was super chilled out about the process and knew what was coming, whereas i, never foaled before, was quite the opposite and stressed! Mine was out 24/7 and did it all by herself in the early hours, while i was catching 40 winks between checking on her!

Just be with her as much as you can and be supportive by being with her, grooming, fusses...i realised after i was too stressed about a perfectly natural process, and despite your mares age, nature does know what to do.
Her age puts her at risk for certain things but with a team on board, youve got all bases covered if she needs help.
I felt quite alone and out of my depth, i couldve done with an experienced team to put my mind at rest!

good luck - post pics of the cutey when he/she arrives!?

Thank you

 

[AmyMay]

How much turn out is she getting and has a vet checked her? (And, yes, have you taken her temperature?)

 

[Katiesue]

She's turned out for about 10 hours each day ( unless the weather is horrific). Vet checks her on a regular basis as he's in the yard every few days. All seems fine physically.

 

[Katiesue]

She’s an older horse who’s never had a foal, and her body is now changing for the first time in her life and hormone levels shifting, etc, yet she doesnt ‘intellectually’ know what’s happening to her body, being a maiden. So it’s going to be somewhat stressful for her to deal with these changes.
it’s good you have a great team and place for her to foal at, that’s the best choice and chance she has for a successful foaling. Fingers crossed for you.

My mare at 10yrs had foaled several times before she came to me and foaled so she was super chilled out about the process and knew what was coming, whereas i, never foaled before, was quite the opposite and stressed! Mine was out 24/7 and did it all by herself in the early hours, while i was catching 40 winks between checking on her!

Just be with her as much as you can and be supportive by being with her, grooming, fusses...i realised after i was too stressed about a perfectly natural process, and despite your mares age, nature does know what to do.
Her age puts her at risk for certain things but with a team on board, youve got all bases covered if she needs help.
I felt quite alone and out of my depth, i couldve done with an experienced team to put my mind at rest!

good luck - post pics of the cutey when he/she arrives!?

Ive started spending more time with her. Just sitting in the paddocks and taking to her seems to have her being calmer. I've tried to be less stressed myself as she's probably feeding off my emotions too.