I'm on Foal Watch!

Gah!!! I keep checking for baby photos!!!

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lol. and i keep scrutinizing bellies, vulvas and udders.

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You may do that from now on, on mares and gelding, just in case.

If both mares foal close together in time, unless separated, they may switch foals around.
We has two ranch mares foal out to pasture, one early night, the other later.
By morning foals were switched when they were brought in.

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I know of a situation with about 3 new moms and they figured out a day care arrangement. One would take turns with the foals while the others grazed and they would swap off. They even nursed each others foals. It’s fun to watch the babies play together too :slight_smile:

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LOL…omg…sheep are really bad at stealing other ewe’s lambs!! Granny ewes who haven’t been bred will make the most alluring moves! And ewes that are pregnant but have yet to lamb are pretty desperate to snag a lamb too! Ewes will have a babysitting tree. They park their lambs there and go out to graze and will come in and relieve their udders periodically. Lambs cavort and sleep in the shade and nibble around on grass and twigs and things. They’re so precious. We used to take lawn chairs out and just hang out and soak it in. Ahhhh those were the days…

My two mares are separated and have been for 2 days…and will stay that way until second born is at least 3-5 days old. I do not trust my palomino mare to not get mean to the other mare’s foal. And no foal needs a big ole mean auntie. That’s no way to begin life.

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I knew a Morgan breeder who had a broodmare who had had a foal every year since she was 2 or 3 (note breeder did not get her until she was 8.) She was maybe 13 or so and the breeder decided to give her a year off because by then she had had 10 or 11 foals in a row.

BIG mistake. That mare spent so much time trying to steal foals from other mares. So then she was separated from the mares with foals, and put in with some open mares, and she’d try to break down the fence to get to the foals.

So not only did she get bred every year, she had to be the first to foal every year. The vet said she had the reproductive tone of a maiden or a mare who had only had one pregnancy.

She was a big, standoffish mare raised on the range, who put up with the indignities humans subjected her to, and was the best mama ever. Eventually she had a bad colic and was put down at age 17 or 18.

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No foals yet??

Hard to wait isn’t it…

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omg…YES it is hard!

This morning, my active palomino mare was moving back and forth …from the North to South gate in the breezeway as i did chores around the farm. Actively following me. It was around 2pm when i finally got around to cleaning the pregnant mares’ areas. I had to put Brenna in the ‘bedroom’ (big 30x30 stall) while i cleaned the breezeway. Then i cleaned her bedroom. Gave her some alfalfa in there and went on outside to clean Rizada’s sheds and paddock. When i came back through, Brenna, who is generally everywhere all the time, was quietly standing in the stall. Just standing still (for her it is unusual). So i fluffed up her two big beds and added a bunch of straw and more fresh grass hay and closed the door and locked her in. So, she’s enclosed and i think not nervous, (I AM THOUGH) and i think it’s gonna be tonight for her. On my way to check and make sure she’s still being quiet.
Brenna @now

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Jingling for Brenna!!! She looks ready !

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Ps @eightpondfarm your Brenna’s maternity ward looks awesome. What a super kind balance of worlds for a mustang. Confinement AND safety. You have such a good keen sense for your horses’ needs.

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Friday, 2:45am. Brenna
She pacing…back and forth and back and forth. I think her contractions may have started a bit and she’s uncomfortible…and worried.

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ahh Thanks. That doorway you see in one of the videos… it’s temporary. (just a cattle panel with a bit of frame to make it look more sincere)As soon as she foals i will remove it and shut the solid door, which is a little high and would have made her feel too locked up. Once her foal is a day or two old, i might put it back up and open the door again. Or let them out…dunno-playing it by ear. For now, i thought she’d feel better if she could feel less confined. She’s pacing now…if that door were shut on her she’d be beside herself.

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It’s a boy! A chestnut curly boy :slight_smile:

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Wahoo! Congrats!

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Awesome :clap:. Congrats on your new ray of sunshine!! Good job Brenna!

I would say congrats,… but I’m going to hold my “congrats” hostage until we get PICTURES!!!

(((congrats!!!)))

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Congratulations!

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Woo hoo!!!

Yay! Congratulations!