AmyMay
Situation normal
What does her tummy look like from the side, they start to drop and form almost a triangle.
Vet reckons little feral pony might be in foal - if she is, what do I need to know?
- Thread starter maya2008
- Start date
TheMule
Well-Known Member
You've probably got a bit of a wait yet- possibly still a couple of weeks, but they can change quickly so do keep monitoring closely!
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Thanks all, the pictures are very useful! I would love to have a month left before she foals, she would be so much more handled by then! Should be able to do up the head collar today, get her used to taking it on and off for feeding. I doubt she has ever been vaccinated so hoping to get that done as soon as we can hold her for it. Even the first dose would be hugely better than nothing!
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Still rounded, so that’s a good sign! The more wait the better!
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
Foal born early next morning. Bag got very full and milk was running/spraying as she walked out of the stable for a munch - and promptly foaled when I went in for coffee...
maya2008
Well-Known Member
She is less round now - except for when she turns one way to drink or look and tummy sticks out a mile! I am guessing that means her belly has dropped?
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
Photo's!
Of everything.
Of everything.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Couldn’t get underneath her today but got these. Her vaccination has been put off a week as the vets had an emergency (and not much space to book us back in).
Attachments
maya2008
Well-Known Member
maya2008
Well-Known Member
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
doesnt she realise all of the forum are waiting....
DizzyDoughnut
Well-Known Member
I hope its not long, can't wait to see the lovely foal!
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Hopefully not too long to wait, but as you say another couple of weeks would be handy. I’m not sure we can all cope with all this waiting though!
TheMule
Well-Known Member
All the creases need to fill in and teats themselves will swell too. I'd say you're a few days off at least- have you got some pH testing strips?
maya2008
Well-Known Member
No….what are they?
AmyMay
Situation normal
Have you not separated her?
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Not yet - Mr gelding was brought under control by his ‘wives’ and they all ceased physically telling her off at all quite a few weeks ago. Any arguments and she is sent away/one of the others stands between her and the arguing ones. She is also so attached to her friend (who cannot go into the smaller paddock as there is too much grass in there for her) that I wanted to leave her with her herd until she was close. Their field is large, she can get quite far away if she chooses, but so far she has always been with the others. The paddock is just an extension of that field, so can move her instantly and it is the same environment.
Chances of catching her once in the paddock are also less (more grass) and she needs at least one vaccination before foal, so for that reason also. Vet due Thursday, hope he can give an estimation of due date (would be nice!). I am hoping we have a few more weeks, but if she had stayed away from the others today (or given any other signs) we would have moved her.
Maybe it is the wrong call, but even on here no one thinks she is close, vet says given her age likely to be well into the summer (because she would have had to get pregnant aged one or thereabouts…) and her whole herd are looking after her like she is literally made of glass. I also don’t want her stressed and unhappy, and right now I would have a stressed, frightened mare if I split her off - potentially for up to a month before foal arrives.
TheMule
Well-Known Member
Hot tub testing strips are the best thing and can really accurately predict the foaling. She would have to be comfortable with you touching her udder
maya2008
Well-Known Member
She will let my husband do pretty much anything while she is eating - he checks her over, brushes her, strokes her all over to get her used to it. It is he who gets the udder pics each day! Where do I find them?
TheMule
Well-Known Member
Something like this will do- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18426972...yatV-GffymFtoQedOfmzjobRf3kBEtZRoCHmMQAvD_BwE
You just squeeze 1 drop onto the test strip (can milk into a small lid or similar then dip or directly on) and you're looking for a drop in pH (it will start over 7.8 when not close and then drop down to below 6.2 within approx 24-48 hours- yellow is the magic colour! Sometimes they do drop v quickly so I test twice a day. The total hardness (calcium) will rise too.
Dead easy and pretty reliable
You just squeeze 1 drop onto the test strip (can milk into a small lid or similar then dip or directly on) and you're looking for a drop in pH (it will start over 7.8 when not close and then drop down to below 6.2 within approx 24-48 hours- yellow is the magic colour! Sometimes they do drop v quickly so I test twice a day. The total hardness (calcium) will rise too.
Dead easy and pretty reliable
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Well…she’s had her first vaccination, which in itself was drama-free. Didn’t take kindly to the vet though so took a little while to let him near her!
He said that without putting his hand inside, he couldn’t tell for sure if she was pregnant. Although he did then say in conversation, ‘when she foals you might have trouble getting her to accept help if she needs it.’
So I have no more idea of due date or anything else than I did before!
I had to go before the end, and husband forgot to ask about safe wormers to use in late pregnancy - what can we give her that’s ok?
He said that without putting his hand inside, he couldn’t tell for sure if she was pregnant. Although he did then say in conversation, ‘when she foals you might have trouble getting her to accept help if she needs it.’
So I have no more idea of due date or anything else than I did before!
I had to go before the end, and husband forgot to ask about safe wormers to use in late pregnancy - what can we give her that’s ok?
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Pick up the phone to Westgate and let them know what she's had previously ( if anything), they'll advise you correctly
Most are safe in pregnancy.
Most are safe in pregnancy.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
maya2008
Well-Known Member
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! colt or filly and what happened, were you there for the birth,
colt or filly and what happened, were you there for the birth,
AmyMay
Situation normal
OMG! Tell us everything! ??
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
congratulations
cute little brown ear! more photos needed xx
cute little brown ear! more photos needed xx
maya2008
Well-Known Member
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Missed it by minutes I reckon. Not me there, husband is - her favourite person so all good. He checked her over 4 hours ago, tail clamped, bag not full, peacefully grazing, not restless, no signs she was imminent at all!!!!
Vet on way to check… we have no idea what we are doing, would much rather pay for help if they are happy to come!
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
aww fabulous. Good call re vet, and then you can all sleep easy tonight
AmyMay
Situation normal
Great that the vet is on their way for a check. How many others is she turned out with?