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Isabelle is never ever ever gonna foal

Sara April 21, 2009 February 22, 2011

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I just went down to the barn to get out a horse to lunge and heard Isabelle breathing so I figured that was worth a look. She was breathing heavily and loudly, holding her tail away from her body, and pressing her nose against the wall. Then she went out into her paddock and rolled in the dirt and had quite a difficult time getting up. Her hind end looks kind of like those AQHA halter horses with the droopy butts. So either this is early labor or just one miserable mare... I'll keep you posted!

Sara Wed, 04/29/2009 - 11:18

Get ready for a serious pout session. My friends with foals due at the same time as mine have their foals now. Cindy had a chestnut colt: (edited to say that now that I look at the large version of the colt he looks bay... edited again to say that in ever other photo he looks chestnut so I'm back to chestnut)

Winterlake Versace
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/…]
North Forks Brenin Cardi x Rose Lane Victoria

Pat had a chestnut colt:

Lochinvar DaVinci
[img]http://www.lochinvarwelsh.com/vinnyday2…]
Youngs Main Attraction x Cayuga Devon

A chestnut colt out of Isabelle would be JUST FINE!!!

She has wax now, or something like it, that does come back if I knock it off. I'm going to wash her udder with warm water today because last night she got a little murderous when I tried to handle it in her stall. Maybe warm water will be pleasant and will prepare her for nursing.

Daylene Alford Wed, 04/29/2009 - 12:14

Well it certainly can't hurt. I've read many different places that nipple stimulation can start labor and/or help it advance not sure if it works on mares but I'd give it a shot if I were you. Then maybe you can get some sleep. If she is waxing she is probably close. My mare waxes about 24 hrs before birthing.

vneerland Wed, 04/29/2009 - 12:27

See, but with Sara's love for Holland, it is only fair that her filly would be born on "Queens day", April 30. Then all she has to do is come up with a royal name and prepare for an [color=#FF8000]orange[/color] -[size=80]the last name of their royal family- [/size]baby. :lol:

Krickette Wed, 04/29/2009 - 22:33

i was thinking about her the other day, and for some reason the date may 2nd popped into my head, lol. what do i win if i'm right, lol?

hopefully the prize is looooots and loooots of pictures :ympray:

c'mon Isabelle! :!!

Sara Wed, 04/29/2009 - 23:47

Just so she doesn't hold out for her own birthday -- May 9!

I washed her udder today which helped, I think, because she finally got it that I'm only going to handle the udder and not touch her incredibly ticklish inner thighs. She relaxed and enjoyed the warm water. :) Later I checked again for wax and she took a swing at me but I reprimanded her and she settled down.

I'm in the house to grab some quick dinner (ramen, yum) but will be heading right back out because Isabelle did not finish HER dinner. She ate the concentrate but still has a pile of hay in her stall more than three hours after being fed. Judith may be right... we may have a little Willem or Beatrix in a few hours. ;)

Sara Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:28

no foal yet, but she's dripping what appears to be colostrum. She's not losing a lot, just slowly forming drips that fall off and reform. I guess I'd better miss ANOTHER day of work.

Hi hoofpick, by the way. :D

critterkeeper Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:43

Yippie -- that is good. Check to see if her temp has dropped and/or if milk is white. The good news is today is Friday so if she goes today/tonight, you won't miss another day of work. :laugh1 And from what I have observed and experienced, once they start dripping/streaming, it only takes 24-48 hours (some within hours) before delivery. :love

Sara Fri, 05/01/2009 - 15:44

The thing is... tomorrow I have a full day of teaching plus preparing for a Sunday show, then Sunday I'll be leaving here by 6 AM for the show. :(

Today would be a really good day for a foal.

Sara Fri, 05/01/2009 - 16:41

I don't think time of day really matters since she's a maiden, but in any event she better foal before I have to leave for the show or I'll be a nervous wreck while I'm away. also, I'd like her to foal when my obnoxious roommate isn't here because I'm sure he'll want to watch and I'll have to be a grump and kick him out of the barn. I know you're supposed to have someone else around and I do like having someone up at the house when I have a mare foaling but I really prefer to be alone with my mares. Even when I was with the Blonde Thing I preferred to do foal watch and the actual foaling part without her.

nerd Fri, 05/01/2009 - 17:03

Guess mares have similar feelings about foaling alone, much to our dismay

ETA: OK Isabelle, not funny anymore, crank it out already :!!

Sara Fri, 05/01/2009 - 17:24

No kidding! I just got off the phone with my vet. I'm not sure why I called her. Just to whine, I suppose. She said, "yeah, it sounds like she's really close." Just as I was about to ask what that meant in terms of time she added, "I'd say it will be within a week."

A week!?! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sara Sat, 05/02/2009 - 09:53

I can't believe her. Seriously. I [i]swear[/i] she was in labor last night/early this morning from about 11:30 - 3:00 but then she just stopped and went to sleep. Monsterpony, I hope you got some sleep too!

Sara Sat, 05/02/2009 - 10:01

Sigh. Isabelle's been doing the false labor thing since last Tuesday (so that's nine days now). This was just the most convincing performance yet.