1 Month!

[makebelieve]

My girl is supposedly due around the end of June, 2004. I saw her today, but she was laying down and looked really uncomfortable. She rolled over once and then got up. Her teats looked pretty full, but no waxing yet. Belly is bigger every time I see her. I think now would be a good time to stop riding her. 10 months gestation and still being ridden seems very fair to me.

Let's hope her delivery comes without complications and NOT while I'm in Ottawa (June 14-17). Have many of you had pregnancies, and can tell me a few more signs as she gets closer to her delivery? Somehow in the picture below, she looks smaller than she is. I forgot to take some today, but had my camera. I'll be out tomorrow, and I'll get a better picture of her and her belly.

May 6th, 2004:

[Equisgurl]

i know we talk like every day, and I've told you this before
Good luck with Solo and I hope she delivers well:)

[martini55]

You should watch some of the webcams... you can find a list of them at http://www.wefoal.com . Sevenacres farm and Freelands are really good. They have forums and I'm sure would be able to answer any of your questions. You really learn a lot from watching these cams- I think they're brill.

[casey]

Exciting time for you. I love the foaling period. A web site which helped me immensly was Theresa Jones foaling advise. A really fantastic knowledgeable woman. You can e mail her and she DOES get back to you. There's hundreds of letters, with brilliant advise.
If theres one thing you do, do check out this lady's site.:)

[TBEventer2002]

Having had two foals of my own (from our mares, not from me personally! Ha ha!) as well as several trainers' foals, and waiting currently on one mare at my trainer's barn, the best advice I can offer is that no one's advice will be exactly correct. LOL

Some mares (especially maidens) will get very restless right before they foal. More experienced mares can sometimes act very normal, you leave to grab a bite to eat, and come back to find a foal. LOL Trust me, it's happened!

You should really watch your mare for any slight nuances that appear that aren't normal for her. STICK TO YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE! This will help you out far more than you know! If your mare knows your routine, knows when it's quietest around the barn, she will be more likely to foal then. During the "quiet times" around the barn, try to leave her alone as much as possible. If you really must check on her, just pop in, see she's OK, then leave. Don't even offer a pat or soft words. It makes it far more predictable when you know and keep the quiet times around the barn. :) For this reason, it helps to have a camera in the stall so you can respect the quiet times.

For example, we knew the night our mare was going to have her second foal because she was doing a lot of pacing around her run-in whereas she prefers to munch hay in the evenings. She did start to sweat up just a tad bit that evening, too. We waited up with her all night long (she's blind and enjoys having people around), then finally fell asleep about 6AM. At 6:25AM, we were awakened to find her in full-fledged-on-her-side labor. LOL She was merely waiting for her "quiet time" to foal. :)

[casey]

That reminds me like TBE said, no 2 foalings are the same. Everyone said horses like to foal between 10pm and 6am. I waited at my yard all night, she was definately in labour. 7am come I thought 'she wont have it now' so I go to sleep in my lorry and she has it at 9.15 am with a whole yard watching. (I nearly missed it) On reflection, I believe she wanted me there.

Thats my baby in my avatar:)