Maiden mare confusing me

[ConnemaraFolk]

Hello everyone.
First time poster and happy to be part of the forum. Everyday is a learning day.

I have a 4 year old TB maiden mare 326 days in foal today. In foal to my Class 1 Connemara stallion. The mare showed first signs of a bag starting on January 27th. Has been developing very well. I don’t think she’s going to have a MASSIVE bag. She’s flat bred and also not the biggest of tb mares.

you can see the development of her bag in the photo. She doesn’t have the best teats but hoping baby will manage.

anyways in the last two days, her stomach has dropped 1ft. How long before foaling does this happen?
I’m trying to gauge when I should hear the pitter patter of little hoofs. I’ve foaled many mares but never a maiden.

thanks ?

 

[TheMule]

I'd say she's still quite a long way off- at least a week. Though that can change quickly so keep up the regular checks. Do you have any milk testing strips? I doubt you'll get much out of that udder yet, but once it starts to fill a bit more you can test twice daily

 

[Gloi]

Good luck with your forthcoming arrival.
Maiden mares often don't bag up until very near foaling.

 

[Cortez]

As above, you may not see much of an udder with a maiden, or much in the way of waxing either. If you’ve foaled mares down before then you’ll know the signs to watch for, like softening around the tail head, cleaning (pooping a lot) right before things progress.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I remember the evening before my first ever foal arrived, looking at my pony's bag and my sister pointed out tiny specks on her teats and asked if that was wax. No, I said. Foal was there in the morning.

 

[Equi]

The stomach dropping and going into a V shape would have me sleeping in the barn. How exciting for you ? please post pics of baby we all need a bit of cheering up !

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

The stomach dropping and going into a V shape would have me sleeping in the barn. How exciting for you ? please post pics of baby we all need a bit of cheering up !

That is for sure. What a crazy world we now live in

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

Here we have Mommy above with her "dropped" belly. And Daddy below <3

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

As above, you may not see much of an udder with a maiden, or much in the way of waxing either. If you’ve foaled mares down before then you’ll know the signs to watch for, like softening around the tail head, cleaning (pooping a lot) right before things progress.

Yes she has had some relaxation for a couple of weeks now. Still a SMALL bit of tension in the tail. She was totally in love with the stallion 3 days ago. Hormonal mess lol. Her Vulva is definitely not as wrinkly either. But I must say the biggest change this week is a ferocious drop of tummy.

 

[Equi]

The tummy doesn't look quite like a proper V yet so still a little time. What a handsome daddy!

 

[TheMule]

It looks like mostly oedema so I wouldn’t pay too much attention to her belly for accurate foaling timing!
I love the Connemara/ TB cross, my best horse was 50:50. Good luck!

 

[Caol Ila]

My maiden didn't even look pregnant until a week before she foaled.

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

My maiden didn't even look pregnant until a week before she foaled.

Interesting - this is the thing. Maidens are sneaky

 

[Caol Ila]

Interesting - this is the thing. Maidens are sneaky

I would say so. My mare's pregnancy was not planned nor expected, so discovering that she was in foal a week before she gave birth was interesting.

 

[ycbm]

View attachment 88209

I know nothing about foaling but that looks like a super combination to produce a very valuable small sports horse. Is the foal to sell or to keep? Welcome to the forum!
.

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

I know nothing about foaling but that looks like a super combination to produce a very valuable small sports horse. Is the foal to sell or to keep? Welcome to the forum!
.

Most likely to sell. I have a few on board Might keep my favourite

 

[Snow Falcon]

Inside her vulva will redden when foaling imminent.
Bottom 2 pics, left- day before foaling, right - less than 12hrs before.

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

Inside her vulva will redden when foaling imminent.View attachment 88322
Bottom 2 pics, left- day before foaling, right - less than 12hrs before.

Maiden??

 

[milliepops]

My maiden didn't get such a full udder beforehand. This was 36 hours prior to foaling


And 2 hours before (dripping... fortunately foal got plenty of collustrum)

 

[Snow Falcon]

No, sorry, 3rd foal but to give an idea of teat position. This mare actually had about 2 inches of colostrum/wax hanging from teats as a maiden. The tinest bead for 3rd foaling and nothing for the 2nd!

 

[TheMule]

Most maidens will follow the same set of rules, it's just that sometimes they don’t. Really helpful, I know, but stick to your instinct, test her milk when it comes in and ?

 

[usaequestrian]

When the teats wax up, you can expect a little foal. Good luck from the U.S!

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

My maiden didn't get such a full udder beforehand. This was 36 hours prior to foaling
View attachment 88352

And 2 hours before (dripping... fortunately foal got plenty of collustrum)

View attachment 88353

Interesting - thank you for this

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

Week 1 bag ? ? to week 5 bag ? ? ?

4 days to due date #excited even though I know she might have other ideas

 

[Laafet]

I had a maiden TB foal on virtually no bag so it's not unheard of. She waxed up one hour before foaling! If she has not got an abundance of milk when the foal arrives then be prepared to get in a vet to tube formula or donor milk to help the foal until the mare's milk comes in fully.

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

So today the pH is 7.8 but the milk is pretty white or at least nearly white whereas last week there was a yellowy/watery consistency. But the pH is contradicting it

 

[TheMule]

So today the pH is 7.8 but the milk is pretty white or at least nearly white whereas last week there was a yellowy/watery consistency. But the pH is contradicting it

Trust the pH values!

 

[milliepops]

pH testing was absolutely spot on for me. i was willing the squares to go yellow... and when they finally did then she popped!

 

[ConnemaraFolk]

336 days now - still no baby here. Will be sure to take photos when she decides it’s time. No rush with her.