I really want to sign up with them for next years’ foaling. Please tell me your experience with them, was it worth it or not. I found a “Save Local deal” and can get quite a discount if I purchase early.
most importantly, what kind of camera did you use, and were you happy with it, or what would be recommended?
TIA!!
Mare stare was fabulous for me. It allowed me to share my foalings with everyone here for starters. I am on the east coast and my mom is in California so she was able to take the 9 to midnight shift her time and give me a chance to sleep a little during the night. I did not rely on strangers except for brief periods in the afternoon when there were people in the barn.
If you can put the computer in the barn a wired camera is much cheaper. Mine was less than $50.
Thanks to Marestare I was able to be there for my mare’s foaling. We had been on watch for weeks and the night she foaled I had fallen dead asleep. Someone from COTH was watching my mare; called me and told me it was time!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Marestare!!!
Springer and Laurierrace… very very cool!!! it’s crazy what can occur with technology now a days.
If you are a breeder, MareStare and a cheap wired camera are the best investments you can make to insure you are there for the foaling.
Their software works well. I have never had any downtime from them. They are available 24/7 for any tech issues you may have and will walk you through putting everything together.
And I, too, have been notified more than once that a mare was foaling when I had fallen asleep at the screen. Once from someone in Switzerland!
Just do it.
Another enthusiastic endorsement for marestare! It was wonderful to be able to share with family and friends. The online community there is so supportive and knowledgeable, too. I ended up watching a lot of other mares while on foal watch for my own and learned a lot.
I found that the real key to getting the most out of the site is to update your thread, which they will start for you once you are online with the camera. Give information about your mares, post updates and pics, too. People become very invested emotionally in your mares and foals and truly care. I received several calls and texts when my mares started foaling just to be sure I was there (I was but it was very comforting nonetheless). What touched me most was all of the support given when one of my foals was sick. She had a very rough first few weeks and I really felt like people out there were pulling for us.
I used a wired camera with an older computer that I could leave in the barn. The marestare software is great and their tech support is awesome.
Just out of curiosity…does anybody know if you can make marestare private or semi-private? I help teach an equine reproduction class at a local college and my students will be doing foal watch with me next spring. I would love if they could use marestare (instead of my house!) but I’m not sure I really want a totally public cam. Would also be cool for owners of the mares I’m leasing to be able to be a part of the foaling too.
Another huge thumbs up for MS!! There’s nothing better than being able to watch while in the comfort of your own bed, or even a nice cozy bed set up in a tent or trailer outside.
You can indeed make MS a private link such that only folks to whom you’ve given the link can see it. It’s not private such that nobody but you can see it. That’s what I did in the beginning, but then decided to make it public. The MS folks have to make the change, and the difference is your cam will appear in the list of public cams for anyone in the world to see.
The technical issues you might run into are largely related to how good wireless/internet service you have at the barn.
thank you all! I have to admit, it’s really Marestare’s fault that I have another foal coming, LOL— watching all the foalings last year!!
I definitely have a computer I can wire up out there, we happen to have a few hanging around
MareStare is currently offering a deal-- $58 for the normal $90 package, so I think I’ll jump on that
so, what’s the best kind of camera to get??
Do you have to have internet or high speed internet at the barn ?
If the computer with internet access is close enough that you can run a hard-wired camera to it, then that is the best way to go to have a good picture. And you do NOT have to spend a lot of money for a camera.
Get one with a wide angle lens so that you can see most of the stall. At least 3.6mm - the smaller the number, the wider the lens. And get a low light cam.
You can find tons of bullet cams with 3.6 or 2.8mm lens and 1 lux light requirements online for well under $100. Then buy a long cord to go to your computer.
If the cam uses an RCA plug, then you will also need to buy a cheap analog video capture device like the Dazzle that you can get here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=829867&Q=&is=REG&A=details
You can also use a regular web cam with USB hookup if the computer is close enough to the computer for the cords to reach. Although nowadays, you might even be able to find really long USB cords.
Agreed - if you can hardwire the cam to the computer, that’s the way to go. Wireless can work, and work well, IF you have a clear line of site AND don’t have to go through any Low E windows. We have low e windows, but otherwise a direct line to the barn. When it was warm enough I could have the window open, even if just a crack to point the antenna out of, it was perfect. But close the window and the signal would freeze every 5 minutes :mad:
I have been looking at Mare Stare as well with a foal coming end of February first part of March.
I live where the only internet we can get is by wifi hotspot. Has anyone ever worked with something like this? If so did it work ok?
We have looked into satellite but the cost is very prohibitive as well as the speeds are not great for the cost.
well, turns out I’m in need of a new computer, LOL so I’ll be watching for those Black Friday deals 
thoughts on this camera that computer savvy son is recommending? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16881126221&name=Surveillance-Cameras
if anyone else is signing up this year, take advantage of this deal:: https://www.savelocal.com/dealslp/offer?offer=0a77371cAMdQEVmt2K8so07ZZNRDqUVX34mlDNsdLVDX63xTqKi55egBIHbpg3aYVsmwrIVjSsMOjSxIljnxuQ84gwMGCAGdJ66mTX8y if you share on FB or twitter after you purchase, you’ll get a month additional for free!
I know it’s still months off, but good luck to all those (including me) expecting a four legged addition in 2013!:yes::yes:
That camera will work fine for you and you won’t have to leave any lights on in the barn since it has an IR function that sees in the dark.
thanks Sonesta, I’m going to order it this week. I’d usually wait till after the New Year, but I’m trying to get organized early, as my husband is seriously ill and I am feeling the need to not have anything left for the last minute (which is how I usually work) just in case …
[QUOTE=NorthHillFarm;6615432]
Just out of curiosity…does anybody know if you can make marestare private or semi-private? I help teach an equine reproduction class at a local college and my students will be doing foal watch with me next spring. I would love if they could use marestare (instead of my house!) but I’m not sure I really want a totally public cam. Would also be cool for owners of the mares I’m leasing to be able to be a part of the foaling too.[/QUOTE]
I have a private system of 4 cameras through a computer in my barn. I can watch on my laptop from anywhere. I have complete control over who can watch which cameras by providing friends and mare owners with personal passcodes. I love having friends and family help with foalwatch, but had concerns about privacy. My system was marketed for security rather than foalwatch. I know Sam’s Club (and probably Costco) have similar systems at very reasonable prices. A nice option if you don’t want to use Marestare.
Private and Public Cams
Yes, Mare Stare has public and Private cams. The link is not listed anywhere on the site and only you have access to the cam link, which you can share with anyone you choose.
Thank you for the kind words. We work hard to provide a positive experience for everyone. 
Edited to add: HotSpot or Air Card use has been done, but the outcome is dependant on you monitoring your usage. Only have the cam on when you absolutely have to and make us aware at the time of setup that you are limited on speed and usage. We will bump down your settings as much as we can. The feed may be choppy or not as streamlined as you like, but the goal is to see the animal and we usually can provide that much.
[QUOTE=HeatherSC;6632106]
Edited to add: HotSpot or Air Card use has been done, but the outcome is dependant on you monitoring your usage. Only have the cam on when you absolutely have to and make us aware at the time of setup that you are limited on speed and usage. We will bump down your settings as much as we can. The feed may be choppy or not as streamlined as you like, but the goal is to see the animal and we usually can provide that much.[/QUOTE]
Thanks! The hotspot we have is unlimited but after a curtain usage they slow our speed don’t remember exactly. My husband is the computer geek I just know enough to get by but learning new things everyday! :winkgrin:
This thread is great! I am breeding for the first time this spring and I would love to have the support system that marestare provides…as long as everyone plays nice! I have read at least one marestare thread that got a little catty. So, if everything goes well and Mother Nature smiles on me, we will be expecting in the spring if 2014, which gives me just enough time to research the best camera i can afford, establish a power source in the barn (battery or small solar panel), and refurbish the foaling stall. Think ill have enough time? Lol ;). At least I already picked the stallion! I have looked into a few cameras and would love some input.
http://wireless-camera-review.toptenreviews.com/foscam-f18918w-review.html
this is the first camera that I have liked, our Internet is wireless in our house, and I don’t think it will extend to the barn (could be wrong though, I haven’t checked into that yet) so I am looking into a wireless camera. Also, I would like to have a camera that is compatible with a Mac, pc, or a tablet. I do most of my surfing/work on a tablet but I could use my husbands laptop in a pinch. What do you experts think?
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