Foal Watch 2021 - 'Tis the Season!

Wow, that belly can’t get any lower! Looks like truly any day now!

Most of mine seem to be going later than usual. Barb and Jaz are making slow progress, udders finally showing development. Barb tests between 7.2 and 6.8, but last year she hung out in the 6s for two weeks with a full udder. She is 339 today and went 342 last year. I’m guessing at least 4-5 days to go, probably longer.

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That’s a really low belly!

What makes a foal custom?

Back in 2017, I worked with Arielle’s previous owner to buy a foal that didn’t exist yet. I asked that a specific mare (this one) be bred to the owner’s stallion and purchased the foal as soon as the pregnancy was confirmed. Thus, a “custom ordered” foal. That foal turned out so well that, when the chance came to buy Arielle and have her bred back to the same stallion, I eagerly jumped at the chance. :smiley:

Bodacious Barb doesn’t have a big bag yet, but we started her and Jazil’s Dream under cameras. Barb’s teats were filled, but udder was probably half full. I decided to test her milk anyway…it looks like opaque lemonade, not white or creamy yet. A bit sticky.

However, pH is solidly below 6.8. I looked at it on the refractometer to check colostrum quality…and it registers at the top of the scale. :eek: :flushed: Looks like I will be setting the alarm every half hour tonight…though I’m not getting excited yet. Last year she sat on 6s, waxed and dripped for 9 days, foaling at 342. She is 340 today. So the wait begins.

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Sheesh, @EventerAJ, I think ALL of your mares are going to foal before Arielle gets around to it! Though I’m kind of glad my girls is being more textbook than Barb, even if she is taking her sweet time. These are your last two to foal, right?

Arielle is at day 355 this morning. Here is a comparison shot taken two days before she had her 2018 filly versus today. I’m thinking she’s got another 4-6 days to go, roughly. What do you guys think? Ca is still reading around 150 ppm, and pH is still over 8…Her belly, as you saw a couple of days ago, is as dropped as I imagine it can get, her tailhead is sunken, and her vulva is very elongated and relaxed today. I’m thinking that, at this point, when her milk starts changing, it’s probably going to go fast. But that could be wishful thinking. Lol. At least I’m not staying up all night yet; back in the days before milk testing, a mare like this would have had me in zombie mode by now!
image

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PH still over 8? Dang Arielle, get with it already! I woke up on the hour every hour last night to a peaceful mare sleeping in a corner or eating hay. I’m guessing tonight will be the same. Her bag was bigger this morning, but milk still doesnt look white milk yet.

Those 350d+ mares really wear you out! Hoping she kicks into gear for you soon!

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Day 355 here…

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@Trak_Eventer, at least we’re in this together? :roll_eyes: :joy:

@Montanas_Girl misery loves company hahaha! I was happy to have LRK3DE this week/weekend to distract me. Back to being very impatient :crazy_face:

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Not much change here. Barb’s udder gets significantly smaller during the day, and quite full in the morning. Milk is skim white. Colostrum reads in the “fair” range, so she isn’t likely in the next 12 hrs despite low pH near 6.2.

i.e.

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Barb is getting close tonight. Wax, creamy milk, pH is solid yellow, and colostrum tests as high as possible. I saw foal movement in her upper hip area today, that’s a bit unnerving! She didn’t really want to come in tonight, which is unusual. Maybe this is the night! 343 today.

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Good luck! Hope she goes smooth and easy.

Still waiting. No foal yet. She was mildly restless until about 3:30am.

Anyone else have luck last night?

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Nothing here. I think I’m looking at a weekend foaling at the earliest. 360+ days here we come…Sigh.

Day 344, 9:30pm. Barb has been lightly dripping milk all day, more so tonight. White milk. She has been mildly restless, but not uncomfortable. Sweat on her neck, shoulders, and chest. Let’s get this over with!

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Good luck. Hope , sounds like she’ll she’ll go tonight.

It’s a boy! Another colt (!) with star (!!) By St Patrick’s Day. Barb foaled at 11:30pm after an hour of restless circling, laying down, and standing with a leg cocked. She’s being a much better mother than last year, thankfully. He was a bit slow to stand, but once he did he nursed immediately. Back in the house by 1:15am, not too bad.

Jazz watched the action intently, but she doesn’t seem imminent. Her udder is under half full, and while she is 340 days now, I think she will likely hold on another week or so.

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Very handsome colt. :blush: Well done Barb!
Congratulations EventerAJ.

He looks like a real corker. Please share photos as he comes along. :blush:

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Beautiful star!