Mare "due" dates

[skydy]

[QUOTE=Slewdledo;6908492]
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.[/QUOTE]

Very interesting observation! I honestly think that animals that are required to reproduce naturally (live cover) will have the best reproductive outcomes, as time goes on… JMHO

[Sunnydays]

I had one mare (retired last year after a 357 day gestation), who routinely went in the 343+ range, who surprised me once popping out a perfectly formed filly at 330 days. Another mare has had 4 in the 316 to 320 range, and a couple about 324 (I love that time range). Ditana has gone 318 to 328 (7 foals). The rest seem to go from 328 to 345. Once they hit 340 days I am a zombie, so I fare better (as do we all, I expect) with the ones 330 or less
I believe the winter births generally are a little longer gestation, while the june babies average a little shorter (not afraid to stick their noses out into the cold).

[mareslave]

first to bag today! at day 315;)

[Ibehorsepoor]

I have had my one mare have four in a row… all different stallions at day 329. And this year our maiden mare… was I guess 321… however she was bred at 11 pm, and foaled at 1 am… so truly 320 days… tiny filly, but healthy… Thank goodness.

[skydy]

Very interesting and helpful article E.R.

I hope you have many participants in your poll.

[ShannonD]

Thanks for posting Kathy. I too would be interested in knowing when is “too soon” to start seeing certain signs. If you didn’t know what day my mare was at, you’d throw her in the foaling stall immediately. Non maiden at just day 294, has had a decent bag for a week now, very relaxed vulva, loose tail head, etc. I had vet out tonight to get that caslicks out & get her vaccs done, & placenta looked normal thank goodness. Both of her other foals were within 5 days of 340(both by same stallion, & both colts…perhaps I will be getting my filly? ). Just wish we could develop some sort of “how soon is definitely too soon to see XYZ” chart!

[Slewdledo]

[QUOTE=skydy;6908505]
Very interesting observation! I honestly think that animals that are required to reproduce naturally (live cover) will have the best reproductive outcomes, as time goes on… JMHO[/QUOTE]

Yes, interesting indeed. I hadn’t thought about the live cover aspect.

Our mares come in every night into a large covered paddock under lights. As they look ready or approach their due date, we move them into stalls in the adjacent barn - most end up spending 2-3 weeks in the stall before they foal. We used to have a mare who three or four years in a ROW foaled the FIRST night she was stalled. 1st time “Wow! You didn’t look ready!” Second “wow! Again?” 3rd “SERIOUSLY?!”