Update, for those who are interested

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

things can still go wrong even when a vet has done all the checks, things can go wrong even when a vet is present at the foaling, just because a vet has examined a horse doesn't guarantee a problem free foaling:rolleyes: Nature will take it's course and just because the OP hasn't done things they way you may have doesn't make it wrong.
 
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

I was possibly one of the first people to berate QB for her actions (or lack of). Read back through her threads and you'll see I lodged my complaints and explained why what she was doing seemed highly unethical to someone like me who breeds for a living. However, at some point we have to accept that not everyone does things in a manner that we agree with so we move on. I would not wish anything awful to happen to the mare or foal. If either or both of them died I am sure QB would be as devasted as many a breeder I know who have suffered such an horrific loss and yes she would be wracked with guilt afterwards. On a brighter note, most foalings go well. QB will hopefully continue with her photo and post updates and even though everything she's done goes totally against the grain for me, I for one will help her out in any way I can.
 
While I don't agree with your system for doing things (although admittedly I am the most impatient person in the world coupled with being a compulsive planner so couldn't handle not knowing) I do wish you the very best of luck and if your gut feeling is good then go with it. You asked about feeding and one thing to bear in mind is that as foalie gets bigger inside her then there is less gut space hence while her requirements go up, her intakes may drop a bit. This is the benefit in feeding a stud cube/mix which is designed as a concentrate to give her what she needs. I am not saying reduce her forage but more if you notice the forage intake dropping then ensure you are feeding enough of a good stud feed.
 
Ibblebibble yes foalings can go wrong even with vet
All the reason why the horse should be seen by vet should anything acure , not only can things go wrong in foaling , but also through pregnancy .
Least a vet is alot more experienced and prepared to deal with difficult foalings and pregnancys
 
Ibblebibble yes foalings can go wrong even with vet
All the reason why the horse should be seen by vet should anything acure , not only can things go wrong in foaling , but also through pregnancy .
Least a vet is alot more experienced and prepared to deal with difficult foalings and pregnancys

Change the record. QB has decided on her course of action, you trumpeting on and on and on ain't going to change her mind :D.

SF - What a lovely attitude to have - don't agree with things but offering help/guidance regardless :).
 
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

Then i should be banned from keeping horses!!

I bought two mares.. both ended up foaling (without me even knowing)
One mare i bought and was retired shortly afterwards due to arthritis, she was put with a local farmer and i went away for a few months. I came back to visit one weekend and noticed she was looking portly to say the least. She was out in a field in the middle of a farm with a number of other horses and early hours of the following moring she was found with a foal at foot.
Both are still with me and happy and healthy.

I bought another mare off the merthyr moutains, she was skinny and riddled with worms. 2 months later she was being ridden and had some good weight on her, we did a 12 mile pleasure ride on the Sunday.. On the wednesday i noticed raised pulses in her feet and because we were being careful about Lammi due to her being significantly underweight when we got her we kept her in until Friday when her pulses went down and she went back out again.. Saturday morning she was found with a coloured filly at foot... again both are fine and healthy.

I am an experienced horse owner and even my own vet who had treated the 2nd mare with an abcess a week before the pleasure ride hadnt noticed. I have photos of the day of the ride and she looks as far from pregnant as you could get.

Horses do foal with no issues and without vet help, mine never had the chance to have any form of special supplements and still are happy and healthy.
 
I bought two mares.. both ended up foaling (without me even knowing)
Both are still with me and happy and healthy.

Only no-one was saying it's impossible for a mare to have a healthy foal without veterinary attention (otherwise they would have become extinct rather a long time ago :rolleyes: ). What they are saying is that with appropriate veterinary attention there is statistically a greater likelihood of a positive outcome.

:)
 
I work at a stud and although personally I would have a vet to check to see if she is in-foal (which I think is more down to my impatientness!) many horses/ponies foal completely unaided.

For example, a lady I ride for breeds new forest ponies. Her mare runs the forest, she's never been near a vaccination or wormer. She get's covered on the forest by one of the stallions and when the time got near we ride out and find her, eventually avec baby! She's had 3 foals this way, all are very healthy. The foals come in on the drifts with mum and they are either weaned then or are branded and go back out.

Of course sometimes things can go wrong, but other than a vet saying....yep she's in foal, or possibly yep she's got twins there's not much more that they can do.

Best of luck, I too think she's got a bun in the oven and look forward to lots of snuggly foal pics! xx
 
Well all i have to say, is goodluck Ebony and goodluck QB.

What has happened here, is a beautiful accident, and one that has caused plenty of smiles all round im sure.

Sure, there are people with different opinnions and what have you, but at the end of the day, this is QB's situation to deal with, and i think she';s dealing with it very well.

Whatever the outcome, good or bad, i wont change my opinnion :)

ps... spoke to the OH this afternoon (in my battered state from the fall earlier) about the filly sister of Ben...that was a definite NO! Shame...
 
Only no-one was saying it's impossible for a mare to have a healthy foal without veterinary attention (otherwise they would have become extinct rather a long time ago :rolleyes: ). What they are saying is that with appropriate veterinary attention there is statistically a greater likelihood of a positive outcome.

:)

Absolutely - we have the medical know how and ability to hand so it should be used. Sticking your fluffy fairy head in the sand and saying "what will be will be" is pure nonsense. If, OP, you have the experience you are harping on about you should know what could go wrong. Seems to me like you are just enjoying the notoriety and attention. You have known for weeks if not months that this mare could be pregnant and you have made absolutely no effort to confirm one way or the other and then IF she is to take appropriate action. That is neglect, pure and simple. It has nothing to do with "gut feelings" or "my mare my rules" or "mother nature if a wonderful thing" or "mares in the wild do it all the time" - cost cutting neglect, pure and simple. Mares and foals in the wild die because mother nature is cruel.
 
Absolutely - we have the medical know how and ability to hand so it should be used. Sticking your fluffy fairy head in the sand and saying "what will be will be" is pure nonsense. If, OP, you have the experience you are harping on about you should know what could go wrong. Seems to me like you are just enjoying the notoriety and attention. You have known for weeks if not months that this mare could be pregnant and you have made absolutely no effort to confirm one way or the other and then IF she is to take appropriate action. That is neglect, pure and simple. It has nothing to do with "gut feelings" or "my mare my rules" or "mother nature if a wonderful thing" or "mares in the wild do it all the time" - cost cutting neglect, pure and simple. Mares and foals in the wild die because mother nature is cruel.

Without sinking to your level, I must say your responses to this thread are really quite spiteful. 'Sticking your fluffy fairy head in the sand', wow aren't you charming. At the end of the day, if you don't like it then don't read it. Quite sad that you are getting all aggravated at your keyboard purely because someone has not chosen the method of care you would. The OP very clearly takes brilliant care of the horse and it is just one of those things. She has said countless times that it was very much an unforseeable accident and now she is dealing with it. Oh and you really are very delluded if you think that it is neglect. The horse has feed, a supply of fresh water, turnout and a dedicated owner so if you are so concerned about neglect then go and deal with an RSPCA case. But like I said, if you don't like it then don't look and don't post your negative, bitter comments.
 
Absolutely - we have the medical know how and ability to hand so it should be used. Sticking your fluffy fairy head in the sand and saying "what will be will be" is pure nonsense. If, OP, you have the experience you are harping on about you should know what could go wrong. Seems to me like you are just enjoying the notoriety and attention. You have known for weeks if not months that this mare could be pregnant and you have made absolutely no effort to confirm one way or the other and then IF she is to take appropriate action. That is neglect, pure and simple. It has nothing to do with "gut feelings" or "my mare my rules" or "mother nature if a wonderful thing" or "mares in the wild do it all the time" - cost cutting neglect, pure and simple. Mares and foals in the wild die because mother nature is cruel.
Sorry but I have pretty much had enough of the lot of the 'bashers' on here, who on here rides without shoes because they think shoeing is bad for horses? Who won't feed from a haynet because they think it is 'unnatural' who will or won't hunt, I can take 'opinions' and advice and different attitudes but you do not know me, just because I don't get a book out and do things 'step by step' like bloody riding school. I have a brain, I have weighed up the pros and cons and made my decision. I dealt with all of this in my previous post, I began this thread because a lot of people were interested and excited. And you have come in with your holier than though 'narrow minded' judgemental attitude and turned a thread sour. I have a clear conscience about what I am doing and how I am handling things. I can just say that I do not often lose my cool but calling me 'neglectful' and 'cost cutting' I wish you were in the room with me because you have no idea how much of an insult that is. Furthermore, a little run down my dear, since you do not know me, OH owns a hell of a lot of land down here, I have my stables at his but choose to pay to keep them at livery (cost cutting? don't think so) I can afford to keep them, and have vet out on a regular basis if needed, and whenever I am worried about the welfare of my horses I bloody well do!!

I am sorry to everyone that was enjoying this thread but it is not what it was, the very nature of it has changed, but my blood is currently boiling because this thread was not entitled 'advice/opinions please' and I now have very little inclination to continue posting updates. Just because people were enjoying the thread and the nature of it does not make them fluffy bunnie huggers.

BM I would suggest that since you state that your gelding is fatter than ebony and there is obviously no doubt that he is not in foal, you look far closer to home for someone to criticise for neglect (but, oh yes I don't know you so WTF do I know about you and your horse!)
 
Without sinking to your level, I must say your responses to this thread are really quite spiteful. 'Sticking your fluffy fairy head in the sand', wow aren't you charming. At the end of the day, if you don't like it then don't read it. Quite sad that you are getting all aggravated at your keyboard purely because someone has not chosen the method of care you would. The OP very clearly takes brilliant care of the horse and it is just one of those things. She has said countless times that it was very much an unforseeable accident and now she is dealing with it. Oh and you really are very delluded if you think that it is neglect. The horse has feed, a supply of fresh water, turnout and a dedicated owner so if you are so concerned about neglect then go and deal with an RSPCA case. But like I said, if you don't like it then don't look and don't post your negative, bitter comments.

sorry posted the above post before i read this and had to say thank you A&B :)

and BM, should you wish, I will PM you my address so you can report my neglectful ass
 
Oh QB :(

I think the 'neglectful' comment was well and truly unfounded. A lot of us on here are really enjoying this journey with you, and think you are doing just fine.

Such a shame that people need to become quite so judgemental...ive seen neglect in the past, and it certainly doesnt look a thing like that!!

chin up xx
 
Sorry, just read this thread, and to turn it back onto a slightly lighter note, who is the daddy and what is he like?
You have a lovely mare and I hope everything goes well. Must be SO excited to see the foal!
Also you can tell from the pictures she is foal, not fat or wormy from how she has 'dropped' and where she is carrying the bulge. Where I work they always have a a mare or two in foal, and the no longer scan them as one was scanned early on and it did have twins which it aborted (scan didn't show it), and about 3 or 4 times the scan showed the mare was in/ out of foal and it was wrong. If you know what you are doing I don't see what a vet can do.
 
QB i dont for a second think your mare is neglected, ive BOTHERED to read all the threads and look at old piccies to see the difference, just keep doing what your doing and post updates!

ps if your mare doesnt have a foal i may kill you both :D
 
Oh and ditto what others have said, please do keep updating us and ignore those who feel the need to post vile comments to boost their own egos.I for one am dying to know if and when Ebony pops out a little sproglet haha.
 
That is neglect, pure and simple.

You are seriously deluded if this is your idea of neglect :confused:.
Maybe a look around the WHW site will educate you on what neglect is ;).
You really have no idea :o.

QB - You better keep posting updates, otherwise you'll be sending the PM system into meltdown from all of those of us who are excited to know how this turns out!!
 
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my mare had a huge belly, unusual lumps sticking out and if you put your hand on her belly you could feel something moving. However, she wasnt pregnant!

I do hope your girl is expecting but nature can throw curve balls sometimes!! :D
 
don't you dare stop posting updates:eek: if you do you'll have to pm me your address so i can come sit in the back of your car saying 'is it here yet?':p:D Oh and Bonnemaman, perhaps you should change your user name, theres nothing Bonne about you at all!!
 
Good on ya BM - you have spelled out exactly what I have been thinking for the past god knows how many weeks.

Leave them to their deluded fluff posts. I agree, it is neglect, not of a level that WHW would be interested but still neglect. Mares should have medical attention if it is available, end of. We are not discussing a feral or wild mare we are discussing one in captivity. My mare's foal was unexpected. I purchased her as an ex broodmare but as soon as I had an inkling that she was pregnant I called the vet to confirm the pregnancy and commenced an appropriate course of feed, worming and vaccinations.

Shame on you all for supporting this rediculous course of action.

OP - if your motive isn't a money saving exercise then it puts even more of a rediculous slant on the whole sad tale.
 
right thats it! NO MORE COMMENTS unless shes foaled!! Im sick of seeing the thread has been bumped, getting excited, having to trawl through people with nothing better to do picking at QB noone cares how anyone else would have done it.. its been done!! ( of course im not referring to the fellow supporters ) :D so come on Ebony get a move on!!!!


ps eeeeeek those photos are exciting... could be a little foaly foot or elbow or knee.... :D ahhh

pps i really should get out more :(

ppps eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek :D
 
Good on ya BM - you have spelled out exactly what I have been thinking for the past god knows how many weeks.

Leave them to their deluded fluff posts. I agree, it is neglect, not of a level that WHW would be interested but still neglect. Mares should have medical attention if it is available, end of. We are not discussing a feral or wild mare we are discussing one in captivity. My mare's foal was unexpected. I purchased her as an ex broodmare but as soon as I had an inkling that she was pregnant I called the vet to confirm the pregnancy and commenced an appropriate course of feed, worming and vaccinations.

Shame on you all for supporting this rediculous course of action.

OP - if your motive isn't a money saving exercise then it puts even more of a rediculous slant on the whole sad tale.

dear god, get real,

if you BOTHERED to actully read anything rather than spouting off then you would see the op HAS seeked advice from her vet.

now let me just say that again.

op has seeked adviced from her vet!

jesus its not like she has shoved said mare in a stable and pops her head over over the door each day to see if there is a foal or not!

she has not neglected the mare in anyway! sad tale.. theres a dartmoor hill pony sale on next week, most will end up in an incinerator.. thats after the tramua of being hearded, then put in a sales ring.. thats wrong, what the op is doing isnt!
 
FFS. What the hell did nature do before we started interfering! this is just one if the things that drives me nuts with the horse world. Bitching and calling other folk for everything just because they have a different way of doing things. What do folk expect the vet to do? camp out for the length of gestation? animals often cope better without human intervention whether that be at birth or any other part.
Good luck Queenbee. Keep us posted!
 
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