Advice please

[Marigold4]

My mare is in foal and is 290 days. She's booked in for foaling livery at a stud farm 1/4 mile away. I'm a bit concerned that she will have a meltdown when she moves and do a lot of galloping around and calling in her new environment. What will that do to the foal? She's due to go next week but should I wait till at least 310 so fosl would have a chance if born early? I asked vet about sedation but she said not a good idea.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Ideally they should be moved a minimum of 28 (if not more) days before foaling in order for their guts to adjust to the new environment etc.

 

[DSB]

We send our mares out at least six weeks before foaling,so they can make friends,get used to the routine/food and aquire the local bugs and build up immunity to them.

 

[Marigold4]

OK, thanks. That's useful to know. I'll crack on with it. I was waiting for warmer weather and some more grass to come through. Their fields look pretty poached right now and she's more likely to rush around if she has no grass.

 

[Parrotperson]

then they should be feeding hay/haylage to any in foal mares they are putting out. leaving them with nothing to eat is not the sign of a good stud. I'd be checking a) they're going in as fields are poached b) if yes to a then they're being fed whilst out (and not on the floor either.Muck mud and hay mixed up and trodden in not a good thing!).

 

[Tiddlypom]

A good stud should be putting their boarding mares who are there for foaling down out on good grass. If they haven't got any rested grazing ready for their boarders, I'd be swerving that stud.

 

[Marigold4]

then they should be feeding hay/haylage to any in foal mares they are putting out. leaving them with nothing to eat is not the sign of a good stud. I'd be checking a) they're going in as fields are poached b) if yes to a then they're being fed whilst out (and not on the floor either.Muck mud and hay mixed up and trodden in not a good thing!).

I know the stud well as it's just across the village from me. They do a great job. I'm regularly over there hiring school and riding with others so always run my eye over things. I'm sure they will be feeding hay as needed. I just know that my mare will be more settled if there is new green grass to distract her. I'm over there again this week, so will ask to see broodmare field.

 

[Marigold4]

We send our mares out at least six weeks before foaling,so they can make friends,get used to the routine/food and aquire the local bugs and build up immunity to them.

The thing that's confusing me though is the wide foaling window mares have, timing wise. It would be within the "normal" window if the mare foaled at 320. Do you send yours 6 weeks before 340 or 6 weeks before 320.

 

[Marigold4]

Ideally they should be moved a minimum of 28 (if not more) days before foaling in order for their guts to adjust to the new environment etc.

Is that 28 days before average foaling date (340) or 28 days before earliest (320)? The stud is on the same grazing as me as we are part of the same farm - old cow pasture on chalk - so there won't be much for her guts to get used to, hopefully. Just wish this weather would warm up and become spring like. Today has been horrible. Glad I didn't go for an early foal!

 

[Marigold4]

A good stud should be putting their boarding mares who are there for foaling down out on good grass. If they haven't got any rested grazing ready for their boarders, I'd be swerving that stud.

I'll visit again this week and ask to see her field.

 

[AmyMay]

Is there a reason why you don’t want to foal down at home?

 

[Marigold4]

Is there a reason why you don’t want to foal down at home?

I don't have the experience if things go wrong. If foal presents wrong, I'd rather she was in experienced hands who've seen a lot of foals born. It's so close to me, I can still be very involved - I csn be there in 2 minutes. If she doesn't settle, I'll think again.