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Post by Smurffx on Jan 21, 2011 20:38:12 GMT
hello, i have recently bought a lovely C mare, and as it turns out she is actually in foal. This will be my first foal so i am very worried about the process ect! I want to be able to have a warning that my mare is going to foal incase there are any complications ect, nearer the time i will start to sleep in the wagon at the yard so i can be on hand when needed as the yard is 8 miles away!! which can take a good 20 minutes to get to at the best of times, again this is adding to my worries! I know 3 people who have had foals, one unexpected and the other 2 were a month early, so they literally just arrived at the yard to feed in to morning and were greeted with a lovely foal!  Although i would love for this to happen, i know there are complications that could happen and i would be absolutely heartbroken if anything happened to either of them, so i am trying to be as prepared as i possibly can. what are your opinions on foaling alarms and do you know where i can get one from? it would be nice to have cctv although i knw that my yard owner will not allow it as he doesnt even allow radios as it wastes electricity! Many thanks, Jayde x |
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Post by FF on Jan 21, 2011 20:58:40 GMT
I'm hoping to get a wireless cctv camera for my 1st foals arrival. Surely if you offered to pay a few £ towards the electric bill it would be a whole lot cheaper than a foaling alarm.
I've priced them at about £60 off ebay.
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chloev
Junior Member
Posts: 124
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Post by chloev on Jan 22, 2011 11:35:46 GMT
Hi, we've used foaling alarms and cctv for years now and I wouldn't be without either. They have seriously been lifesavers and of course it means you can actually get some sleep at foaling times.
The mares wear the foaling alarms overnight (in stables) once they show any signs of bagging up. The alarm responds to the intense sweating just as the mare actually foals (so this wouldn't work if you had one of the very few that didn't sweat at all.) It gives us about 20 minutes warning by setting off an alarm in the house - you can get ones that send a signal to your mobile phone instead if you prefer.
We use 'Foaling Alarms UK' they do have a website and will hire out alarms by the week if you don't want to buy one outright. Twemlows AI Centre use these as well (thats where we first came across them.)
We also have wireless cctv as well so we can check on the mares at all times. This sends a signal to a television in our bedroom.
We've had some difficult, problem foalings in the past and this kit has saved lives by giving us vital time to help when things go wrong.
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Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
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Post by Milliesmum on Jan 22, 2011 11:53:53 GMT
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Post by mountainsandhorses on Jan 22, 2011 12:00:29 GMT
Well done Milliesmum- so this and a laptop with internet connection??
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Post by harrythepig on Jan 22, 2011 14:23:13 GMT
I use a wireless camera linked to a portable tv in my lorry. The lorry is parked about 30 yards away from the stables and the picture quality and sound worked brilliantly.
When Toffee was getting on with the job, my son (watching in the lorry) said it looked like she was 'giving birth to a chicken'. Ironically it was his first night of foal watch - we had been doing it for over 4 weeks.....he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
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Post by bponiesonly on Jan 23, 2011 17:28:57 GMT
Another option to narrow down when the mare will foal, is to test a little of her milk. You aren't taking enough to put the foal in any danger. You can do it with 1/2 cc. You need distilled water with the milk in a 6:1 ratio. I use 1/2 cc milk and 3 cc water.
Then you get a pool or spa test strip that show pH on it. It starts out a really bright pink color, but by the time the mare is very close to foaling, it turns really butter yellow colored. The lower the pH, the closer the mare is to foaling. That can really help narrow it down.
I also use a wireless camerea that broadcasts to my computer screen, so I can see the mare while I am in bed!
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Post by soph123 on Jan 29, 2011 17:20:22 GMT
We used a foaling alarm, was basically a martingale with a small metal bar against the skin which as they sweated going into labour the alarm went off in the house ill try and did out the number for you was really good and not too expensive.
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Post by soph123 on Jan 29, 2011 17:22:34 GMT
It was hired at £30 a week, from a Mrs S Mennan her number is 07884 375317
hope that helps
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