Mare "due" dates

[Equine_Reproduction]

Is that time of year again and the usual round of panicked emails are arriving with regards to mare owners who have mares that are thumbing their noses at them and choosing to have their foals on their own time schedules. As many of you know, there “is” an article on our website about the equine gestation and what is considered “normal”. Part of what makes that article and the poll that accompanies it so helpful is that breeders like all of you here, contribute to the poll by adding the gestational length of their foals!

The article link is here: http://www.equine-reproduction.com/articles/overdue.shtml?show_results

And if you scroll down, you can see where you enter your dates into the poll.

Thanks everyone for helping to make the poll dynamic and accurate! The more people that enter their data, the more accurate the statistics!

[PiedmontSporthorses]

Thanks for the article! I can’t believe the longest gestation on record is 445 days! Now that’s what I call foal watch!

Do you have any articles or information on “typical” (I use the term loosely) time frames or dates we may see changes in our mares. For example, you often hear about signs of impending delivery. But I’m curious about changes that occur before that. Currently, my mare is 267 days (not that I’m counting or anything!) - and just last night, I notice a very suttle change in her udder. By no means is she “bagging up”, but it’s definitely a change.

And as a side, the baby was clearly having fun in there last night… it looked like a party was going on!

[horsetales]

Thanks for the reminder. we have entered ours in the past. My mare is currently 321 days and looks to be firmly planted in the the No spring, No foal camp :lol:

[clint]

My maiden mare seems to be in the opposite camp. She is at 316 days today, and is waxed, and dripping a little. I’m not very happy about this, and holding my breath that she makes it a little closer to that magic 320. Her dam had her second foal at 319 days, and at this point, I would be happy with that.

[SouthernYankee]

Thanks for the article! My mare is at day 328 now and is waddling… I know she’s ready to have this baby out of her belly!! But I doubt she will go in the next week, and I know she’s tired of me peaking under her belly and lifting her tail… but I’m just so excited!

[mbm]

wow, clint - i’ll be sending “hold on baby” energy your way…

[MysticOakRanch]

My maiden mare developed a bead of wax, a bit of dripping, and had a pretty good bag at 320 days. Then she stalled out. We are at 336 days now and I think she’s going to wait for a GOOD Spring storm. I have two mares due at the same time - the other mare hasn’t even started to bag. She went 382 days last time (as a maiden) and she looks to be on the same path this year.

So my mares are also showing weird behaviors this year - one mare has been teasing to my gelding for about a week now (she’s the 382 day mare), and the third pregnant mare was herding her around and threatening to mount her (like she could even get that huge mass up!).

Curious - does anyone taste milk as part of their foaling prediction process?

[clint]

MysticOak, that is encouraging. I have finally decided I need to quite pretending this isn’t going to happen and put her on foal watch, even though it is too early. Although I would rather she didn’t go as long as your maiden has, I don’t want her going under 320 days.

[peskee]

We are at 353 and counting…2 years ago we had a mare go 361

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=clint;6907401]
MysticOak, that is encouraging. I have finally decided I need to quite pretending this isn’t going to happen and put her on foal watch, even though it is too early. Although I would rather she didn’t go as long as your maiden has, I don’t want her going under 320 days.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, darn maiden mares. I have had mine on foal watch for 2.5 weeks now, just in case. I think they like to keep us guessing! I think she’ll hold on for you!

[skydy]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;6907208]

Curious - does anyone taste milk as part of their foaling prediction process?[/QUOTE]

Taste? :eek: or Test?

[clint]

I have tasted milk before to test it.

[skydy]

[QUOTE=clint;6907872]
I have tasted milk before to test it.[/QUOTE]

What is the criteria taste- wise? I’m fascinated!

[JoZ]

[QUOTE=skydy;6908045]
What is the criteria taste- wise? I’m fascinated![/QUOTE]

It is salty and “thin” tasting to start with. When foaling is imminent, the taste switches to sweet instead of salty, and a cream-like aftertaste. The appearance follows the same path – thin watery yellowish fluid to stuff that looks like actual milk.

[MysticOakRanch]

Taste is how I test. I’ve found it more reliable then milk strips! As JoZ says - when it tastes like milk (sweet), generally you are in the 12 to 24 hour foaling window. When it tastes salty, you can sleep that night!

I figure it can’t be too bad for me - in some countries, mares milk is what people drink!

[horsetales]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;6908109]
Taste is how I test. I’ve found it more reliable then milk strips! As JoZ says - when it tastes like milk (sweet), generally you are in the 12 to 24 hour foaling window. When it tastes salty, you can sleep that night!

I figure it can’t be too bad for me - in some countries, mares milk is what people drink![/QUOTE]

I’ve also done taste and have not missed a foal (knocks on wood)

[camohn]

My"normal" foalings have ranged from 320 t0 365. I only had one born pre 320 at 310 and that one was indeed a preemie/placentitis foal. I entered in the past and this years that held out til 357.

[skydy]

[QUOTE=JoZ;6908082]
It is salty and “thin” tasting to start with. When foaling is imminent, the taste switches to sweet instead of salty, and a cream-like aftertaste. The appearance follows the same path – thin watery yellowish fluid to stuff that looks like actual milk.[/QUOTE]

I am familiar with the change in appearance, but not with the taste (and the visual worked quite well so tasting didn’t seem necessary). :lol: Thanks for the education!

I am aware that mare’s milk is considered a beverage in some cultures (if I find myself amongst the Mongolian Steppe folks, I’ll give it a shot) as is camel’s milk. I’ve never had the opportunity to taste camel’s milk and never had the inclination to taste mare’s milk. Just not that into milk …

[Slewdledo]

Plugging in ours for this year. So far we’ve had

320, 352, 340 (that one was mine), 350 - (all by the same stallion)

and

359, 355, 357 (2nd stallion)

and 351 (outside stallion)

and 345 (another outside stallion)

Our bad foalings were at 347 and 337.

[Slewdledo]

Surprised by the current results. Wonder if they’re skewed toward a certain breed or what. I can only think of two mares among hundreds (all TBs) in 10 years who went more than 365.