astro
Full Member
Posts: 348
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Post by astro on Mar 20, 2011 23:51:30 GMT
Hi im new at all this and my mare is due early may, its her first foal and i really want everything to go to plan, it was so hard getting her pregnant in the first place, i dont want anything to go wrong.
Just wondering on your opinions, my mare is out in the day and in at night, do most of you keep turning your horses out until her due date or do you just know when the mare has had enough and wants to start staying in. Im worried she might have it in the field .thanks guys
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Post by oberchis on Mar 21, 2011 1:02:49 GMT
I personally would stick to the routine your doing, as long as she's happy and settled. Would it be a problem if she foaled in the field? I've got 3 mares infoal planning on having 1 foal outside as she's unhappy stabled, others will start coming in at night about a month before there due date to get them settled in a routine.
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Post by holiday on Mar 21, 2011 8:08:43 GMT
I would also keep doing as you are doing, she will need to keep moving about or you will find she gets oedema (swelling) if you keep her in. I would again echo oberchis, it wouldnt be a problem for her to foal in the field if she was out in the day, although ideally with supervision, and if possible have her in a separate paddock if she shares with other horses.
All of ours are out daily and only one has ever foaled in the field, I had been watching her whilst I was riding our ID stallion as the ladies in waiting are in front of the house and next to the school, and thought I would fetch her in when I had finished as she was looking unsettled, next minute there was the waterbag so I shot back in threw his tack off and shot back out to her. Foaled her in the field then brought mum and baby back in to treat navel etc. This little mare foals regularly between 318 to 325 days depending on how the weather is!!!!!!
Good luck with her xxxxxx
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 21, 2011 8:29:27 GMT
And mine live out 24/7 and I much prefer them to foal in the field, I feel there is far less chance of complications that way although of course it is more difficult to have them under constant surveillance and to deal with any problems that do occur. It's just a question of the owner's personal choice.
Horses evolved as prey animals who use flight as a defence from predators and will choose a secluded part of the field where they feel safe in which to foal, given the chance. They do use a huge area when they are foaling so I wonder if they feel stressed being shut in the to them small space of a box.
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Post by pattendown on Mar 21, 2011 19:35:40 GMT
mine are all out 24/7 too i found that they are much happier to foal outside i would worry that the baby gets damaged on the stable wall ,as one of my maiden mares was racking the foal on the fence while in labour ,i camp up their when they are ready
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