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Re: [RC] Overdue Mare - recklessheartranchJan -- I know alot more about breeding than I do endurance and I can assure you your mare is not "overdue". With horses, unlike other animals, "the fruit falls when it's ripe." The foal decides when it's ready to be born and stays in the mare till that time comes. "Normal" gestation can be from 307 days to 365 days, with an "average" of 340. I had a mare who held on to her foal for 387 days (!) and I think the record is 410 days. Both resulted in perfectly normal foals with no health issues. In fact the 387 day foal was abit small -- I thought she'd be born in full tack doing flying lead changes! She caught up quick, but it showed me that Nature really does know best. Because of this wide variability, you seldom induce labor in a mare -- it can be very, very dangerous. If you are worried that the mare is no longer pregnant or the foal has died within her (not likely), have a vet palp her. An experienced repro vet can tell you if the foal is the right gestational size and ease your mind. It also doesn't hurt to make sure the foal is pointing the right direction, since a breech birth is nothing you want to experience, and if you ARE going to experience it, you want to be ready (ask me how I know...). I will tell you that the earlier in the year a mare is due, the longer they tend to hold on to the foals -- in other words, a mare is more likely to run over her due date this time of year than she would if her due date was in June or July. Just keep an eye on the bag...when you can start to express alittle fluid from it, you are getting closer. Also, there are ways to test the milk to determine when the mare is closer to foaling, although with maidens it can be more unpredictable. But relax -- I'm sure your mare (and the foal) are doing just fine. PS You can certainly contact me privately if you wish. Katrina Any suggestions would be welcome on an overdue mare. She was bred February 12th, 2007 and was due January 25th. She is acting ok, but I don't feel the foal move. She has a hard udder and no milk in her nipples. I bred her and she was two weeks late but I felt movement in her mother. When does one start worrying and call a vet? This is an Arabian mare, first foal, bred to an Arabian and she is 10 years old. Thanks for any advice from the RC'ers. Jan =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Katrina O'Neal Reckless Heart Ranch 822 Estates Loop Priest River, ID 83856 (208)265-4837 recklessheartranch@xxxxxxxxxxx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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