Update, for those who are interested

Spring Feather said:
If you are seeing the foal leaping around in her belly then that's a defacto and unmistakable sign that she's pregnant lol! Sorry I hadn't realised you were seeing foal movements :)
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Thank you SF, I see and feel lots, but always doubt myself even though 'its so not normal!!' I was actually wondering what you in particular thought, because it you are a bit of an oracle on these thing (not sarcasm... genuine :)) The lumpy pictures are promising too no?
 
queenbee said:
Thank you SF, I see and feel lots, but always doubt myself even though 'its so not normal!!' I was actually wondering what you in particular thought, because it you are a bit of an oracle on these thing (not sarcasm... genuine :)) The lumpy pictures are promising too no?
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It sounds like you are now really certain your mare is in foal.

Given that you know the dates and that time is getting close I would again suggest that the mare is put in a paddock of her own (your photos show her in with company) and I would also suggest that you put down a proper foaling bed as from you pictures you have not done this yet.

Good luck
 
Not fully au fait with this, so apologies if I'm repeating what others have said (actually can't believe that no one has) and I haven't read the whole thread, but it sounds like you think you mare may be in foal but don't know so are feeding her as if she is just in case?

Can you not get a vet out to tell you one way or the other - it wouldn't take long - and then you would know for sure? Are her vaccinations at the right time for a foaling? Has she been wormed as an in foal mare? Are you ready and do you know what to do if something goes a bit wrong? I'm just a wee bit bemused why you wouldn't want to know for sure and then start planning properly?

On the other hand if she isn't in foal and is just fat then you are doing all the wrong things by feeding her in this way.......

I'd want to know - for the sake of a call out fee and a quick internal?
 
OK - have scanned back through the thread and apparently you have spoken to a vet friend on the phone about this and it's all fine.

Good Luck!
 
Have been following this with interest but not commented before as have nothing to add as never bred a foal and don't think I will be even though I have 2 mares of my own :)

I too have an Ebony. A rather sharp sensitive mare to ride that I have had for 5 months and she has taught me loads and we are developing a good bond that I hope will be as strong as the one you have with your mare :D


Good luck with the foaling and can't wait to see the new foal :D
 
cronkmooar said:
It sounds like you are now really certain your mare is in foal.

Given that you know the dates and that time is getting close I would again suggest that the mare is put in a paddock of her own (your photos show her in with company) and I would also suggest that you put down a proper foaling bed as from you pictures you have not done this yet.

Good luck
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Morning :) I started to do this last night, I decided to pull her hay up off the floor because she wasn't eating it (she was stealing bens from his haynet since we moved the bales from next door!) Stable had a disinfect and I popped the water bucket up on the back wall (we have a trough wall so put it up there off ground level) The entire stable floor is now deeply bedded with HUGE banks. And we opened up the new paddock for her during saturday and popped her in there, she can still see her friends over the fence but she can have her own space too.

Neither of them ate much last night, Ebony only ate about 3/4 of her feed and hadn't touched her hay, ben had eaten all of his feed and eaten about half a haynet of feed. This is the first night that they haven't eaten like pigs, I am surprised that ebony didn't finish off her feed during the night though. Other than that, no change this morning. x
 
Aww ive been following your threads from the beginning, but have not posted as i only have geldings so have absolutely zero experience of foaling! But just wanted to say good luck, fingers crossed for you and ebony!.....how exciting for you! xxx
 
We have got a shire x TB gelding that looks more pregnant than that - I haven't managed to trawl through all the replies but I assume from you first post that you haven't bothered to get a confirmation of the pregnancy and therefore have not bothered to get the additional jabs recommended....
 
BonneMaman said:
We have got a shire x TB gelding that looks more pregnant than that - I haven't managed to trawl through all the replies but I assume from you first post that you haven't bothered to get a confirmation of the pregnancy and therefore have not bothered to get the additional jabs recommended....
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Your assumption is correct, should you want to bash me for this, perhaps you would like to post on my previous thread, this is generally for people following the journey with excitement. BM you can also assume that I have owned my mare for 10 years and know her more than you do, your shire x TB is yours Ebony is mine, Ebony is not your shire x tb and therefore you can not compare the 2. Perhaps your shire x tb is just fat, however, if you want to revisit my pictures you can clearly see ebonys ribs you will also see that not all horses look like whales before they drop. For further negative comments please post on the other thread or take the time to actually read this one before you post please
 
Noooo, don't start arguing I love reading Ebony updates :) don't want thread to be removed due to Queenbee bashing, there is already a thread like that elsewhere...
 
CeeBee said:
Noooo, don't start arguing I love reading Ebony updates :) don't want thread to be removed due to Queenbee bashing, there is already a thread like that elsewhere...
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PMSL :D Sorry, should have ignored it, I shall have to change my sig to put a link that says if you want to bash me go to this thread LOL! To be fair to BM, I have had far worse comments than that.
 
queenbee said:
For further negative comments please post on the other thread or take the time to actually read this one before you post please
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Unfortunately when you post on a public forum you can't really choose to only accept replies you agree with ;)

I'm really not trying to upset anyone and I hope you have a beautiful foal soon, certainly looks like mum is 'cooking' him/her up well :) But foaling can go wrong and when it does it is horrible. Could you hand on heart say if anything went wrong you would still be happy with your decisions?

I promise you I'm not trying to be offensive and look forward to your 'It's arrived' post, but having read so many heartbreaking foaling stories on here and elsewhere I know if it was me I would personally have had an experienced repro vet out before now.

Good luck as it is your decision and your decision alone :)
 
queenbee said:
Your assumption is correct, should you want to bash me for this, perhaps you would like to post on my previous thread, this is generally for people following the journey with excitement. BM you can also assume that I have owned my mare for 10 years and know her more than you do, your shire x TB is yours Ebony is mine, Ebony is not your shire x tb and therefore you can not compare the 2. Perhaps your shire x tb is just fat, however, if you want to revisit my pictures you can clearly see ebonys ribs you will also see that not all horses look like whales before they drop. For further negative comments please post on the other thread or take the time to actually read this one before you post please
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My shire x TB is a gelding so yes, he is fat - certainly not pregnant. My post was not a negative one, you should be thinking about your mare and foal's welfare. I believe it is totally irresponsible of you to not confirm the pregnancy and then act accordingly. Additional antibodies from top up booster jabs are a recommended part of mare in foal care. My mare lost a foal to tetanus (before me) and a friend of mine had a mare abort due to complications from not following booster jab advice. Keep your fluffy thread going by all means but if you lose the foal please don't come crying on here. Or perhaps you will start up two threads - one for the "bashing" and one for the "didums hugs".
 
Foals wriggling around inside mares is unmistakable. Photos aren't reliable enough to say ye or nay but real life movements are and if you're seeing them then she's pregnant :) The bump ones look like there's a bump in there but could be a play on the light. In one of the belly photos it looks like she has 3 big bug bites all in a row but in real life and real time if those 3 "bug bites" are moving and then disappearing then they sure aren't bug bites!

If in the next few weeks her belly starts to drop and point, her teats enlarge (with or without bagging up), her bum sinks, her sacroiliac peaks, her vulva slackens ... then you really know she's on track to foaling.
 
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queenbee - I've only come across this story today but have now read the previous threads to catch up as I am hooked! Those moving bumps that Ebony kicks her belly at when they're pressed and moved... how could it be anything else?!

I also love your approach: to give your mare all the comforts and protections she could need if she was in foal, but to be open to the fact she might not be. To be so appreciative of what you already have is wonderful: too few people realise just how blessed they are with their equine companions in life.

Besides, mares get pregnant and give birth in the wild or even in their new homes all the time, without any supplements, foaling kits, birthing boxes... I don't see any welfare issue whatsoever in not confirming the pregnancy. If there's one thing clear from this story it is how well loved Ebony is 80)
 
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Vixen Van Debz said:
Besides, mares get pregnant and give birth in the wild or even in their new homes all the time, without any supplements, foaling kits, birthing boxes... I don't see any welfare issue whatsoever in not confirming the pregnancy. If there's one thing clear from this story it is how well loved Ebony is 80)
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And do you know what the survival rate is in the wild? Nothing like in 'domestic' horses. It's like comparing survival rates in humans between developed and developing countries... :(

If only love was enough, our horses would live forever and vets would be out of a job. Sadly it's not.
 
rhino said:
Unfortunately when you post on a public forum you can't really choose to only accept replies you agree with ;)

I'm really not trying to upset anyone and I hope you have a beautiful foal soon, certainly looks like mum is 'cooking' him/her up well :) But foaling can go wrong and when it does it is horrible. Could you hand on heart say if anything went wrong you would still be happy with your decisions?

I promise you I'm not trying to be offensive and look forward to your 'It's arrived' post, but having read so many heartbreaking foaling stories on here and elsewhere I know if it was me I would personally have had an experienced repro vet out before now.

Good luck as it is your decision and your decision alone :)
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I know, and I agree with you, I have already said that everyone is entitled to their opinions, it is just that I have responded to those opinions already, and I do not see why I have to again when if people took the time to read before they post they would already find the answers to their questions.

Hand on heart I would say that yes, I would still be happy with my decisions, I did not decide to put her in foal, and if this was a planned pregnancy I would have had every check going, believe me, but she lasted a long time into this with no one ever suspecting, by which time we were most of the way through it! :D It is not as though I have not talked it over with professionals down here, and perhaps I am more laid back than some would be, but it just feels right, I go a lot on gut instinct, it has not let me down yet. I am not saying that if I preplanned this I would do it this way, I wouldn't. One of the reasons I never put her into foal is that I would be devastated if something went wrong, but I can't change it now, I am reassured by the professionals I know, I have fantastic people around me down here for support. Ebony has as good a chance as any of delivering a happy healthy foal and she is far better cared for that a lot of broodmares down here.

BonneMaman said:
My shire x TB is a gelding so yes, he is fat - certainly not pregnant. My post was not a negative one, you should be thinking about your mare and foal's welfare. I believe it is totally irresponsible of you to not confirm the pregnancy and then act accordingly. Additional antibodies from top up booster jabs are a recommended part of mare in foal care. My mare lost a foal to tetanus (before me) and a friend of mine had a mare abort due to complications from not following booster jab advice. Keep your fluffy thread going by all means but if you lose the foal please don't come crying on here. Or perhaps you will start up two threads - one for the "bashing" and one for the "didums hugs".
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I promise you that I am thinking of their welfare, I am completely happy with my course of action and have sought appropriate advice. I had a mare abort to and I have worked at a stud, I promise you I am not completely dim or neglectful when it comes to my horses. They are well cared for and provided for. No doubt I will come crying on here if indeed the foal is lost but I would just point out that this was set up so people who were interested could follow the story. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, everyone does things differently, but just because I don't conform to some other peoples views does not mean I do not have my mare and foal's (if the is one) best interest and welfare at heart. And please don't call me fluffy :D I am far from it.

Now, if your Shire x TB were pregnant then that would be a real interesting thread :D

Spring Feather said:
Foals wriggling around inside mares is unmistakable. Photos aren't reliable enough to say ye or nay but real life movements are and if you're seeing them then she's pregnant :) The bump ones look like there's a bump in there but could be a play on the light. In one of the belly photos it looks like she has 3 big bug bites all in a row but in real life and real time if those 3 "bug bites" are moving and then disappearing then they sure aren't bug bites!

If in the next few weeks her belly starts to drop and point, her teats enlarge (with or without bagging up), her bum sinks, her sacroiliac peaks, her vulva slackens ... then you really know she's on track to foaling.
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SF I can promise you that what was in those photos moved... these bug bites MOVE :eek: :ekk:
 
I have to agree with Rhino , in the wild or not , or whether or not you know your mare , none of these come into it
, the way OP has dealt with this whether or not she has spoken to a vet is in a unprofessional way .
Has the vet seen the mare ??
A vet can't say for sure if she is infoal but just looking
And a vet cannot diagnose twins
All has to be done by either a examination or a scan
Whether or not you know your mare , one thing for sure is that you can't be sure if your mare will run into difficulties in foaling
 
Vixen Van Debz said:
queenbee - I've only come across this story today but have now read the previous threads to catch up as I am hooked! Those moving bumps that Ebony kicks her belly at when they're pressed and moved... how could it be anything else?!

I also love your approach: to give your mare all the comforts and protections she could need if she was in foal, but to be open to the fact she might not be. To be so appreciative of what you already have is wonderful: too few people realise just how blessed they are with their equine companions in life.

Besides, mares get pregnant and give birth in the wild or even in their new homes all the time, without any supplements, foaling kits, birthing boxes... I don't see any welfare issue whatsoever in not confirming the pregnancy. If there's one thing clear from this story it is how well loved Ebony is 80)
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Thank you :D


rhino said:
And do you know what the survival rate is in the wild? Nothing like in 'domestic' horses. It's like comparing survival rates in humans between developed and developing countries... :(

If only love was enough, our horses would live forever and vets would be out of a job. Sadly it's not.
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Fair point there. Isn't love a good place to start though. I would just like to add that I am not vet shy, far from it, my horses are loved, but I am also vigilant and take good care of them and their wellbeing :D

Anyhow, off to the stables to drag the neddies in for sleeps now :D
 
Also mares need vaccination programs in order so anti bodies are passed through milk which is why the first bit of milk is really important
Has you mare had a vaccination recently ???
Also worming needs to be spot on !!
Also does feeding Protein is an important part of a diet in pregnant and nursing mares. A mare with a protein deficiency can stunt a developing fetus and can give birth to a foal with a low birth weight or a foal with slow growth. A protein level that’s too high can also result in problems. Developmental diseases such as club foot, osteochondrosis and other deformities can arise when too much protein is fed. Thus it’s important to find the right balance when feeding protein. And many others
 
ischa said:
I have to agree with Rhino , in the wild or not , or whether or not you know your mare , none of these come into it
, the way OP has dealt with this whether or not she has spoken to a vet is in a unprofessional way .
Has the vet seen the mare ??
A vet can't say for sure if she is infoal but just looking
And a vet cannot diagnose twins
All has to be done by either a examination or a scan
Whether or not you know your mare , one thing for sure is that you can't be sure if your mare will run into difficulties in foaling
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Ischa your questions were answered in the last thread, by the time anyone thought it was a possibility she would have been too far gone for twins. If we run into foaling difficulties, well that will be dealt with, I have 2 experienced people on hand, OH and YO husband who have delivered 100s of large animals and the vet down the rd
 
Please do not think I'm having ago just very concerned that your mare hasn't been seen , (yes vet might say she is ok )
But pregnancy and foaling
 
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