Staright Ranch

Mare Gestation and Progression

A mares gestation is on average 340 days but it can go well over 360 days or as early as 315 days. There is no such thing as a "Due Date" for mares unfortunately. But most mares give signs of approaching labor to help us out in this area. Some of these signs.

Some mares may display all of these signs, and some may not display any of these signs. Within a few days of foaling you will notice a change in the low part of the mares belly as it will look pointed. This is an indication foal is repositioning to repare for foaling.

Starlight Ranch basis on 346 days for approximate foaling date.

1. A mares hind end starts to relax before foaling, her vulva will lengthen and inside color will change. Muscles on her rear relax where they look like jello before foaling. The amount of relaxing can depend on number of foals mare has had.

   Appetite may change
2. Attitude may change
3. Mammor gland development - 2-6 weeks prior to foaling
4. Drop in mares abdomen - 2-3 weeks perior to foaling
5. Perineal relaxation - 1-3 weeks prior to foaling
6. Engorgement of teat ends, colostrum - 7-10 days prior to foaling
7. Waxing of teat ends - 48-72 hours prior to foaling
8. Elongation and swelling of the vulva - 0-24 hours prior to foaling
9. Dripping milk from udder - 12-24 hours prior to foaling

Jasmine's Belly Progress

Jasmine's udder Progress

The watch on jasmine begins!!

March 4, 2016 - Pictures show Jasmine just 6 hours before she foaled at 1 am on March 5, 2016. She showed a little wax on the right side 24 hours before foaling and a little on the left side 6 hours before foaling. 2 hours before foaling she had two huge white milk droplets on both tits. She was pretty calm but activity slowely increased. After going down twice, the third time she started pushing and worked hard until her first foal was out. Awesome mom and very easy to be around after foaling as long as she has her foal in her sites at all times.

January 5, 2017, Thursday - Jasmine is doing great has been out in pasture all winter, she will be brought into stall soon as she prepares for foaling in 2 months.

January 11, 2017, Wednesday - Jasmine is now in stall, she is shedding like crazy. Loosing hair on her bag other than that no changes.

January 18, 2017, Wednesday - Jasmine is settling into her stall nightly and had gotting used to her new routine as she is outside all day.

January 25, 2017, Wednesday - 302 days Jasmine is shedding like crazy, bag is starting to show signs of change but not on a serious fill as of yet.

February 8, 2017, Wednesday - 316 days Jasmine is shedding like crazy, belly has dropped ever so slightly she still likes keeping her girlish figure. Bag is right on track with changes from last year and is progressing well. We will start to keep her in during the day in a week or so depending how she continues to progress.

February 15, 2017, Wednesday - 323 days Jasmine continues to shed out, bag is changing but not doing a lot of fill. We will probably wait for another week to keep her in during the day.

February 19, 2017, Sunday - 327 days Jasmine is not shedding as much, belly is up a bit and she bitting her belly a lot agitated at time definitely iritated at her belly. Her bag is on the fill, we will be giving it a good cleaning this evening. Everything is ready for her to foal so it all up to her.

February 21, 2017, Tuesday - 329 days Jasmine has been very active the past two days, lots of slaming against the wall, kicking at her belly and pawing just plain not happy. has pooped a lot as well and started to drink more. Her bag, tits filling and her belly has dropped even more in the past 24 hours.

February 24, 2017, Friday - 332 days Jasmine has been uncomfortable off and on to the point that it has looking like a rodeo in her stall at times in the past 48 hours or more. Friday evening she finally settled down enough that she even laid down for the first time in days.

February 26, 2017, Sunday - 334 days Jasmine has been much calmer, with periods of paying down even. Around 3:00 am she started to show having pressure with butt rubbing, colostrum also looks to be in as hair has started to stick now to both tits. Will be watching for activity to increase again.

Jasmine's Breeding Progress

March 13, 2016, Sunday - First Ultrasound to check for foal heat, she had just ovulated at 8 days post foaling. Uterus was still stretched out and needed more time to tone back up. Elected not to short cycle and wait for her next cycle since she does respond well to short cycling and moves quickly on her own.

March 27, 2016, Sunday - Jasmine taken up to the vet to begin monitoring for breeding, 14 days post ovulation and already has a 35 with 1+ edema. Shipment already ordered to go out first thing Monday morning for Tuesday breeding.

March 28, 2016, Monday - Jasmine has a 37x39 with 2+ edema on the LO, shipment was order and shot will be given this afteroon.

March 29, 2016, Tuesday - Jasmine was bred by AI all went well.

March 30, 2016, Wednesday - Jasmine had ovulated, LO:CL, RO:MSF, UT: Grade 2 edema small amount of fluid

April 12, 2106, Tuesday - Jasmine confirmed in foal at 14 days, 14 mm vessicle based in right horn good tone.

Estimated Due date is March 10, 2017