Advice and Re-assurance appreciated please

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haras

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My mare is almost 8 months in foal. It is her first foal, she is a 10 year old arab.

Now the worry is this.

I am terrified that she will reject her baby when it is born, and then today I was told by someone (fairly experienced) that he thinks she will reject her foal. Arabs have the highest number of foal rejections unfortunately.

Now, my questions are these.

I was speaking to another friend who is also very experienced (daughter of other person) who said I need to get her accepting having her udders/teats handled asap. The big problem is my mare was unhandled until 2 years ago, and whilst she is much much better than she used to be, she remains very handy with her back legs.

At present she will let me touch the crease of her leg (in front of hind leg, hope that makes sense) and on her belly I can touch as far back as in front of her back legs.

If I go any further, she kicks out sideways and has a hissy fit.

Please help!

Thanks

(I've posted this in breeding too)
 
Thanks for the helpful reply

Her temperment isn't horrnedous, she is a very sweet and loving mare. she enjoys attention etc. she's just still very worried about her back end.
 
My little 3/4 TB foaled for the first (and last!) time when she was 13. She foaled at 7.30am in her stable (having just come in as she was out at night in middle of summer) and was refusing to have anything to do with her foal.

I phoned vets who came out and we sedated her with Sedalin and tried to get her to accept the foal. Vet lost interest and went and so I phoned a couple of people who recommended ringing Joanne Varden at the National Foaling Bank.

She asked me if the mare was upset if the foal went past her shoulder, which she was, and told me that basically the mare would just have to get on with it, and I would have to be very firm. So I had mare in headcollar holding up a front leg so she couldn't cow kick foal which she was doing previously, OH guided foal to her udders and we were away. I believe I had given her a bit of Sedalin prior to this and I did have to be very firm with her and she had a slap on her neck, but that was all.

She loved her foal after the initial suckle and there were no further problems.

This is all a bit vague as it was 5 years ago now and I was extremely ill the day she foaled so all passed in a rather horrible haze!

Hope this has helped.

Also, could you not send her to a stud to foal? They are used to dealing with these things.
 
I think you are panicking a little prematurely. I have a 21 year old Welsh mare who wont let me sponge her udder or teats and squeals like a banshee when I do!
She has also had seven foals and from number one she squealed every time the baby suckled from number one to number seven for the first month.! Her maternal instincts will kick in I am sure.
 
why not try getting a long stick with something soft on the end, and with a headcollar on her get her used to you touching her back legs,maybe let her eat some nice food whilst your doing it?is she actually scared or just taking the mick?maybe she needs a little telling off when she does it and try the stick thing and be really nice when shes good.just an idea:)
 
Thanks

Smitty - The yard she is on is a small scale stud, and it is someone who owns the yard who made the comment :( They have dealt with it before, so thats good. He did say he may be wrong, I really hope he is. They don't really like my mare as she went there on full livery not long after I first had her and she'd not been handled long (unfortunately I broke my leg falling down a mountain) and she did a few really stupid things when she got frightened, so they do have pre-conceived perceptions about her. she's now on diy there and for the most part is very good.

Use a name - I've been wondering about using a stick. Thats what I did when I first had her, to get her to let me touch her back end at all. I can and do touch her all over her body. The only place I can't touch is the inside of her back legs and her udder. Think I may start trying that tomorrow.
 
haras said:
Thanks

Smitty - The yard she is on is a small scale stud, and it is someone who owns the yard who made the comment :( They have dealt with it before, so thats good. He did say he may be wrong, I really hope he is. They don't really like my mare as she went there on full livery not long after I first had her and she'd not been handled long (unfortunately I broke my leg falling down a mountain) and she did a few really stupid things when she got frightened, so they do have pre-conceived perceptions about her. she's now on diy there and for the most part is very good.

Use a name - I've been wondering about using a stick. Thats what I did when I first had her, to get her to let me touch her back end at all. I can and do touch her all over her body. The only place I can't touch is the inside of her back legs and her udder. Think I may start trying that tomorrow.
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well,it might work if youv got this far with her.although iv heard there are some that just never get over it.
 
Foaly is for keeps :)

It's pure arab, sire has been to hoys.

Hopefully, will be aiming for hoys with foaly eventually.

It is something of a miricle that the mare is still in foal, as she had colic surgery at three months pregnant, so it's going to be a really special foal, from an extremly special mare.
 
Hi,

My TB mare foaled her first and my first foal last June. I was really worried she wouldn't accept the foal or allow it to suckle, I think they are common fears in first timers but I no nothing about arabs !

I did try to get her used to having teats " handled " but she didn't like it at all so I left well alone. She gave birth at 9.05 pm and was left with her baby as soon as I knew all was ok, foal was out but hinds still in. In her own time she stood up and the rest of him dropped out. I had been told to leave the placenta in the corner of the stable as this helps the mare accept the foal, all to do with smell , I think !

The foal had trouble finding the right place to suckle so after speaking to the vet and an hour and half after delivery I stepped in and helped them out. Believe me I had my body behind the foal, my hand around its mouth and the other pulling on mares teat. It worked as soon as foal smelt the milk he was off and once the mare realised that was were he was supposed to suckle she pushed him there everytime.

Try and trust nature. Know how long each session of labour should take and leave well alone until you have to. Try the breeding section on here they are very helpful and good luck, try and enjoy it xx
 
Just wanted to say good luck and hope all goes well. Many, many years ago I bred my TB mare to an ID stallion, (with lots of beginners luck) she produced a lovely filly foal with fortunately no major probs. She (the foal) was with me 21 years until I sadly lost her to arthritis. Will keep my fingers & toes crossed that instinct takes over for your mare and all goes smoothly. Please do let us see some pics of little one when he/she arrives and try not to stress too much, although I know it is an anxious time.
 
haras said:
Foaly is for keeps :)

It's pure arab, sire has been to hoys.

Hopefully, will be aiming for hoys with foaly eventually.

It is something of a miricle that the mare is still in foal, as she had colic surgery at three months pregnant, so it's going to be a really special foal, from an extremly special mare.
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Awwwwww, lovely.....How exciting!!

Pics please:D
 
IMO, common sense would dictate just let her get on with it. Imagine you are preggers and someone tries to mess with your nipples..you wouldn't like it much would you?
Watch her, she may be fine.
 
Awww, I'm excited for you! I really wouldn't worry too much about her rejecting her foal. It sounds like the people at the yard are tarring her with the "scatty arab" brush if they've had a few mishaps with her. She'll probably surprise them!

The black mare in my sig is very adverse to me touching her teats and yet she was good as gold with her colt. She squealed only the first time he suckled and that was it!

Good luck and I'll look forward to seeing photos when he or she makes their appearance!
 
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