year long gestation

[teabiscuit]

how many of you have had mares that have gone a year or over before foaling?

my mare is now a year pregnant and her mother was a year pregnant with her.
just wondered how common it was

 

[maestro]

More than you think. Over the last two years alone we have had 4 go a year. I have found that gestation periods go in familys. My first mare was usually upto 10 days early and all three of her daughters are the same.

 

[teabiscuit]

thanks for your reply maestro

can i ask how many pregnancys the 4 year long times were out of?

 

[maestro]

Two were TBs come in for foaling. Both had wintered out and were having March foals and arrived in quite poor condition which we thought might be part of the reason but the other two were sports horses in May in good condition but both maidens and they often go over anyway.

 

[teabiscuit]

ahh this mare is a maiden too

 

[Touchwood]

I have one mare who apparently goes a year, I'll tell you next May when she's due!

 

[Amelia]

Two of my mares have done this for 2 years on the trot <lol>, both foals were fine & healthy (although I had a few more grey hairs worrying)>
I have had to leave them empty this year - as for me, I felt it was too late in the season.... so they will both be under lights and <fingers crossed> covered early 2009

 

[BallyshanHorses]

my maiden mare was six weeks overdue before she foaled.had a lovely colt but was quite immature looking when it arrived.since then she has had two fillies both carried exactly 10 days over.just hope she is not carrying a colt for next year.it will be a long wait me thinks.

 

[teabiscuit]

thanks everyone for your replies, much appreciated

it seems quite common then :S

 

[ashbank]

I have a mare on day 369 today. Am starting to get a little concerned, but am sure all will be well.

It's her 5th foal and she usually goes late.

 

[teabiscuit]

ashbank i'm starting to get low level constant stress about it

there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it either does there?

 

[maestro]

I find a slug of whisky at night helps the nerves

 

[ashbank]

[ QUOTE ]
ashbank i'm starting to get low level constant stress about it

there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it either does there?

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, me too!

Nope, nothing that can be done at all. I am toying with the idea of feeding mine some curry and taking her on a car journey (seemed to work for pregnant friends of mine) but not sure how to get her in the back of the VW!

 

[teabiscuit]

i've been told that eating pinapples works for humans :s

 

[ashbank]

Right - Pineapple curry it is then!!

 

[ashbank]

How are you doing today, teabiscuit?

We have a day 370 foal this morning - got a text from the stud who are looking after her for me at 01:45.

 

[MurphysMinder]

i'm murphysminders daughter, and a vet student. we were told that mares can have a gestation of anything up to 400 days, as it can take this long for some foals to develop. it was stressed that you should never induce a mare just because she's gone over term, as chances are if she's not gone into labour then the foal isn't fully developed yet. apparently mares are very good at holding onto their foals until they are ready to come out!

hope this helps, i'm no expert but this is what they teach vet students!

 

[teabiscuit]

[ QUOTE ]
How are you doing today, teabiscuit?

We have a day 370 foal this morning - got a text from the stud who are looking after her for me at 01:45.

[/ QUOTE ]

the virtual curry worked then, congratulations

we're still waiting

thanks for that info MM