Foaling alarms/novice breeding/help!

M

monkeynut

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 May 2010
Messages
72
Visit site
I have just found out that my children's 12hh cob pony is pregnant and not fat! We estimate that she is due around March/April time.

I have never bred my own foal and had no plans to!
I have thought about what is best to do/considered sending her to a stud to foal but then that leaves me with a young ISH that goes crazy if other horses not in sight! (I keep them at my own place)

Will a 12x12 stable be big enough for her to foal in (as she's small)?

I also don't live on site, I will obviously go and check lots (thought I could set up a video monitor and just park up outside so I can get within range and check without disturbing).

Are there any foaling alarms that can be hired that work a long distance away (4 miles!!!) or even a camera that I can watch on my phone/iPad so sort of live streaming (there is no wifi at the yard though!)

Any other advice greatly welcomed!
 
You need to keep an eye on her udder, and when she gets a bead of "wax" (dried milk but it looks like wax) on the end of each teat, she will foal before too long, usually 24 - 48 hours. When I lived some distance away I used to sleep in the car at the yard - they almost always foal at night - and check them every hour or so. It can be very quick and by far the majority manage without any help at all, so don't stress. The worst thing I did all those years ago was buy a book on it, dealt with a whole host of worst case scenarios! I have never had a real problem in twenty or more foalings, can you find someone local to you who has experience just in case? If all goes smoothly you just need to check foalie is up and suckling within a few hours (they always go to the wrong end to begin with!!) and that the placenta has come away in one piece.
12 x 12 should be big enough but I always liked them to foal outdoors if possible, less chance of infection that way, weather permitting that early in the year, if you have a paddock close enough to the yard.
Okay, I give in, buy a book lol
 
How exciting. I'm sure you will be able to get a cctv camera that will feed to your phone or computer, I used one (although only 100 yards for me) and it is nicer to be able to check while comfy.
Do you have any idea who Dad is?
 
The only other thing is checking that the babbie has passed its meconium (first poop!) which is very dark, and replaced by a nice, bright yellowish-brown, horrendously sticky poop. This means the wee one is feeding and its guts work. It can take a few hours for this to happen, but usually there is no bother.

Do you have any idea what sort of stallion she is in foal to?
 
Thankyou.

I have a suspicion it's a small cob stallion that the previous owners have, though they assured me that she hadn't been running with him :/ because that's all the world needs... More coloured cobs!!
 
If it was mine, I'd send her off to a stud and borrow a companion for your horse.

I think without being on site, without wifi for a camera and with a maiden mare (?) , it would put your mind at ease! Whatever you decide best of luck, please post foal photos!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top