Help! Foaling advice and foaling alarm needed asap

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Racing_Gal

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Can anyone tell me where I could hire a foaling alarm from? We need it asap. IU have called local suppliers but they have none available due to the tim eo f year.
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We have a mare who was due to go to the local stud to foal as me and YM have no foal experience but her bloods have come back showing she is carrying strangles, so now she has to foal at home. Its a bit of a nightmere tbh, we have no experience in this other than what we learnt at college years ago! The vet will be there of course but any advise would be great!

We have had mixed advice no wether she should foal indoors or out, what do you think?
 
dont panic !!!!!!!!

My first foal was born at home 4 years ago and i to had no experience and called the vet out immediately (ok it cost me more) then ever since i dont get the vet till the next day !!

you will be fine - I have never used a foaling alarm Mares Foal between 24 - 72 hours when there teats have waxed up so you will know when you need to keep an eye !!

foaling boxes should really be 14x12 or larger and a big straw bed with NO haynets etc
some good notes on here
http://www.hobgoblins-stud.com/Client%20Information.htm
 

Agree with Stacey. I have foaled a few at home & I don't use an alarm. Look out for all the signs as above & when she is close I would do 2/3 hourly checks on her (sleepless nights - sorry!)

As for outside or inside, where is the mare normally kept? How big are your stables? If you do not have a large stable (16x16) then I would be tempted to foal her outside in a secure field - but move her to it asap so that she can build up antibodies to the environment.

When is she 'due'?
 
Thank you! She is due on 2nd May, its her first. She has started to bag up. Do you think she's lighly to have it early because its her first? Tbh we are panicing a little! Its a very expsenive mare (and foal).

From when they start bagging up, how long does ti usually take??
 
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From when they start bagging up, how long does ti usually take??

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Lol - how long is a piece of string?
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Some mares bag up very early on, some don't untill the last minute.

What you need to look for is a wax like substance coming from the teats - that indicates that the foal is near, but it still could be a few days away. If she starts to run milk, usually it is 24 hours at the most.

Also have a look at her back end. WHen she is close to foaling she will drop away around her tail head, so she will start to look poor on her back end - this is the muscles loosening to allow the foal through and is another good sign to watch.

I'll try and find you a picture of my mare to help.

Oh and a maiden 'may' foal early, but it is not likely. In my experience maidens go a bit longer sometimes.
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Agree with Stacey. I have foaled a few at home & I don't use an alarm. Look out for all the signs as above & when she is close I would do 2/3 hourly checks on her (sleepless nights - sorry!)

As for outside or inside, where is the mare normally kept? How big are your stables? If you do not have a large stable (16x16) then I would be tempted to foal her outside in a secure field - but move her to it asap so that she can build up antibodies to the environment.

When is she 'due'?

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Due 2nd May. She lives out 247. The box is about 12x16. We have got the box ready with straw, big banks, no hay nets etc. What about water? Just normal buckets?
 
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From when they start bagging up, how long does ti usually take??

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Lol - how long is a piece of string?
tongue.gif

Some mares bag up very early on, some don't untill the last minute.

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Lol, we really have no idea! I'm asking as many people as poss for advice and have read many books in the last few days!

What are the chances of something going wrong?

Pics would be great!
 
Please dont panic. I bought my mare unknowingly in foal. 3 years ago she had the most beautiful colt.

I hadn't a CLUE what I was doing, everyone on here supported me through every step.

She will start to bag up. Now she could bag up over night, or it could be a gradual process. Josie started to bag up 2 weeks or more before foaling.

It's the wax you need to look for. Then you kow it's on it's way, well soon anyway. Josie waxed and the Wednesday and foaled early hours of the Saturday.

I did check on her every 2-3 hours, as we didn't know when she was due, this went on for ages.

Speak to your vet about red bag delieveries etc, you dont want scare stories you want facts.

You can do it. I did. One of the best things I have ever had the priveledge of being involved with

Enjoy x x
 
Just read port above.

Big deep bed, huge banks. No hay net, normal water bucket. Although i did 2 small ones, was parranoid about foalie falling in!!! lol
 
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She will start to bag up. Now she could bag up over night, or it could be a gradual process. Josie started to bag up 2 weeks or more before foaling.

It's the wax you need to look for. Then you kow it's on it's way, well soon anyway. Josie waxed and the Wednesday and foaled early hours of the Saturday.

I did check on her every 2-3 hours, as we didn't know when she was due, this went on for ages.

Speak to your vet about red bag delieveries etc, you dont want scare stories you want facts.

You can do it. I did. One of the best things I have ever had the priveledge of being involved with

Enjoy x x

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Thank you thats really helpful!

How big with the 'bags' get? Atm there quite small
 
I think about 95% of foalings go without a hitch.
I would have a chat with your vet though & just make sure he knows that your mare is close to foaling & he can also give you some good advice.

This is my mare's back end 2 days before foaling - she is starting to slacken off here.
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But there are some MUCH better pictures on this link.
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/features/preg.htm
 
Completely agree with Mayflower and Stacey, don't panic! My mare is technically due this week and whilst my friends breed, this is my first foal - cue neurotic moments plus I've moved 400 odd miles away from my knowledgeable mates! I have also been warned about no set date, but more a range of time....

I'm not using a foal alarm, because of rural issues but have been sleeping in the shed when my mare has various false alarms/my neuroticness. But to be honest its not as scary as I thought it would be!!

Check out the other threads on teats etc I've found them very helpful as are all the peeps in the breeding area
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Breeder mates have confirmed waxing up, tail head muscles (my mare, a large maxi cob looks like she's borrowed her bum from a poorly fed horse! is the only way I can describe it) and other signs are potentially running milk.

Of course there are those horses that don't completely follow the text books but the signs outlined by others are the major ones.
 
If out 24/7 she will be fine but if you do have a stable make sure she goes in it a few weeks before foaling so she gets used to her surroundings

some mares wont foal if they arent used to it x
 
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If out 24/7 she will be fine but if you do have a stable make sure she goes in it a few weeks before foaling so she gets used to her surroundings

some mares wont foal if they arent used to it x

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I didnt think of thet. She lives out all the time, even in the winter. She has a field shelter which is huge, maybe she;d be better in there. The field is well fence, shelter is clean, full of straw etc and she's is used to been there. That sounds like our best bet.
 
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