The Old Wives' Tales Worked!!! Time for some fun!

[Didi]

My colt was born on April 3rd. Whilst waiting for a looong 11 1/2 months (especially the last 3), I constantly combed the Internet looking for ways to pass the time and indulge my obsession with the upcoming new addition. Since my foal was distinctly uncooperative during the sexing ultrasound, I decided to check on the Old Wives’ Tales regarding the sex of the foal. I enjoyed the fun of it all and, at the end of the day, they were right!!

Here’s what I tried:

1. Moon Phases - I found a really fun website that allowed you to see if you bred during a “boy” moon or a “girl” moon:

http://www.moonsigncalendar.net/moonphase.asp - it was correct!

2. Side Carried On - My mare was definitely carrying on the near side the last couple of months. Every time I groomed her on that side, she would look back at me like she was making sure I didn’t hurt the baby. I could also just tell it was there. Near side = Colt. Bingo!

3. Swimmers Swim Differently - The saying is that male sperm (XY) swim faster and die sooner and female sperm (XX) swim slower but live longer. We did AI, so we knew exactly when the mare ovulated. We inserted the first straw when there was a “ripe” follicle present, and the second the next morning after she had ovulated. The result was a colt.

This one brings up a question I am curious about - does anyone know of any research about whether AI results in more colts for that reason, or do people who really want fillies use the info to delay AI a day or two?

4. String Test - Tie a nail (or ring) onto the end of a hair from the mare’s tail. Hold it over the mare’s hips. If it goes around in a circle, it is a filly. If it moves back and forth, a colt. Mine did both. Not sure if it was reacting to the mare’s hormones and the colt’s, or if it was just unreliable. It was pretty amazing how definitively it moved though - kind of magical.

Anyway - that was my experience. Does anyone else have any stories or wives’ tales I didn’t try?

[crownridgefarms]

Very cool! I read an old wives tale that if the top of the mare’s tail is curly its a girl and if its straight its a boy, or maybe it was the other way around? LOL

[Laurierace]

When it comes to the ring test you have to ask it to show you a yes or a no or a filly and a colt. It isn’t one thing always means one thing and the other means the other.

[D_BaldStockings]

Regarding male sperm vs. female sperm:

female sperm survive longer, which would mean inseminating BEFORE the optimum conception time so the sperm must ‘last’ until the egg arrives.

As an example, in dogs (breed with 5-7 pup litters, fertile male, etc.), cooled semen was shipped overseas and ‘lost’ for 2 days in the airport. The female was inseminated without any real expectation of a result and two female pups resulted.

And if that isn’t miraculous for sperm life I don’t know wha tis…

[Jumper_girl221]

I inseminated at 4:00 on a 52 mm folicle, then we inseminated post ovulation at about 12:00 the following day.

The resulting filly is currently tearing around my pasture as a 4 year old.

[crownridgefarms]

The Moon Phases link isn’t working for me

[Didi]

Try this one: http://lunaf.com/english/

Look under the “Moon Phases” tab.

[Didi]

All of the sudden its not working for me, either. Even when I go directly to the site! :no: Will try to find another.

[camohn]

Crown ridge: I tried this one this year. Mare had a bushy tail and a colt!