Back to the old ADD/ETA stuff... and connected with foaling myths

[Gingernags]

Just curious to know are there any factors or trends in foaling dates?

I think SN asked the question in the foaling myths thread but it got a bit lost.

Is there any evidence that maiden mares go shorter? I know I've been told that the gestation period for ponies is shorter than horses, and that the gestation period for fillies is shorter than colts?

Given its a tiny and therefore of no scientific value sample... the two mares we've foaled were maidens, carrying fillies and both were on the earlier side - one a pony, one a TB, Around the 320-330 day mark. Both in a nice dry sunny spell (1 July 92, and one in June 05).

So I wanted to know - all myth? Any truth? Any factors that can influence it? (Gin, hot curry etc

)

 

[springfallstud]

When my T/B mare was a maiden her first foal was a colt and he was just a few days over the ETA, her 2nd filly was again just a few days over and her last filly was 2 weeks before her ETA, Another maiden last year was a week over with her filly, infact another maiden at livery with was 2 weeks pass her ETA!!! and the year before another maiden mare with her filly was 3 weeks past her date!!! does that help you at all LOL

 

[reynold]

my ponies have gone 358 and 359 days just to be awkward
hoping this year's one will be more on time but as it's due april she could hang on till it's warm. However her udders are already changing so she could be on time for once

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]
does that help you at all LOL

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely not!!!! PMSL!

Dammit I was hoping there was some way of predicting it better...

Asti on the 320-370 days means due anywhere between 25 June and 14 August. How can I dare go from North Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight and back on 4/5/6 July for my brothers wedding when the typically awkward nag is due anywhere around those dates?????

Its my brothers fault - "long" engagment was 18 months not the several years he wanted - but too late when he announced it - Asti was already at stud!


So - question to the experts - if I stick a table cloth on my head, wear big hoopy earrings, and change my name to Gypsy Rosie Lee - will a crystal ball have any better an idea of ETA?????

 

[springfallstud]

LOL probably not

but would be funny to see, please take some photos for us!!!

Is that a whippet in your avator pic? I have just added pic's of my Whippet pups born sunday in the dog section

 

[volatis]

I have noticed my mares foaling later in year (late May onwards) will always go less than 340 days but early foalings (Feb and March) tend to hold and go ofter 350 days plus. Might just be my mares? Never any difference between colts and fillies it appears

 

[Gingernags]

Yup, we have two...

Smudge in the avatar is the baby, think she's two now, and we have a blue fawn, Izzy, who is about 4 or 5.

I say "we", they are officially my parents dogs but sister and I babysit the little ratbags. Smudge gets soooo excited when we visit, she jumps on your head and tries to smother you - she's loopy but so affectionate. Izzy is much more refined and doesn't try to kill you.

They are such a lovely breed!

I think both were in my pre-ticker sig...

*slopes off to dog section for a nosey*

 

[librauk]

is it a myth or not ?? I have no idea ??

but est 340, Maiden TB, had filly 3 days before ETA(may)
2nd foal colt, 3 days after ETA (april), now this could be where it may become strange or will be a fluke it happens, colt and Dam share same birth date, was amazed, 3rd foal ETA April 11th, now I am hoping for a filly, if the mare hold to pattern 3 days before, it will also share birth date( 8th April)
now will that be freaky or What !!!

 

[christine48]

My mare, going on 11 months and 5 days
1st foal, colt, April- 10 days early
2nd foal, colt March -5 days early
3rd foal, colt March- 3 days early
4th foal, filly March - 4 days early
5th foal, filly April - 1 day early

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]

So - question to the experts - if I stick a table cloth on my head, wear big hoopy earrings, and change my name to Gypsy Rosie Lee - will a crystal ball have any better an idea of ETA?????

[/ QUOTE ]

Almost certainly - or at least you'll think you do!

For what it's worth, almost all of mine go early - hell, I can have them scanned back in foal BEFORE they're actually due! And they're always big foals - I'm sure the mares just kick them out when there's no more room at the inn! The earliest we've had was 319 days and he was HUGE - and Mum had been on a diet throughout her pregnancy - no stud mix, no nothing except haylage and Hoselyx blocks! The longest I've had a mare go was 347 days - I was getting seriously worried!

 

[ColouredFan]

My maiden mare went 351 days with her first foal last year, and my friends maiden mare who was due 28th march gave birth on the 21st April about 40 minutes before my mare. must have been something in the air that night!