mthowdy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2012
- Messages
- 344
- Reaction score
- 9
Hey all!! I am a newbie to this wonderful site, and "sort of" a newbie to miniature horses!!
I'll give you the background then all the good stuff
First of all, I've been reading through everyone's threads and I am both envious and excited about everyone's new foals, and glad to see that this is a very welcoming and kind place. The one question I have is- are boys allowed? I read all this talk about you "crazy ladies" and all that, and wonder if there is any room for me? I sure hope so!
Anyways, here's a little bit about me-
I grew up around horses and my Dad & Uncle had a Quarter Horse breeding farm for a while, so I've been around quite a few pregnant mares and new foals- but never miniatures!!
I did have one mini as a kid, but for a very short time as it was a nasty little thing- but I didn't blame it, it had a pretty rocky start to life and before we got him he was very neglected.
Now I'm all grown up (at the ripe ol' age of 21 haha) and have my own place- and it is perfectly suited for minis. A couple months after moving in, my little family and I decided to bring 2 minis into the farm. A stallion, Rowdy, and a mare, Mariah (or Mary for short).
We got them from a lady just down the road who was moving and couldn't take them with her. They were well cared for, but I must admit I am spoiling them to death here
I have done TONS of research to make sure I am giving them everything that they could ever need. I've also spent endless hours reading books, Internet sites, this forum, and watching YouTube movies on miniature horse pregnancy and delivery- so I feel as prepared as I can be for my first mini foaling experience. It also helps to relieve a little stress having my vet only 5 minutes away- literally! He already knows I will be calling him if anything goes wrong- no matter what time.
Mary was turned out to Pasture with Rowdy last year on June 1st- and that is all I know for a breeding date. She has had one other foal with Rowdy, a little dark colored colt last year- but unfortunately, she had him in the dead of night with no one around and he didn't make it out of the sac. Other than that, the old owners said she had a rather routine delivery (they weren't there so how do they know?!).
Besides last years colt, I know of two other foals from her. A bay pinto filly from four years ago, and another bay pinto colt the year before that (if I am remembering that right.)
Mary is a big ol' wide load right now, and she has started bagging up within the last two days! Very slowly, but it is definitely a good sign! She has some really big "front boobs" right now, and each morning I go out to find her udder has gotten bigger!
We had the vet out in January and he guessed that she would deliver sometime in May...and I'm thinking it will be the beginning of May, but that could just be WISHFUL thinking
It kinda irritates me that I don't have a better judgement on when she is due, because I feel like I'm being a bad caretaker by not doing all the things at the right times.
I'm getting her new area all set up for her to stay until she foals...that way I can keep her away from Rowdy, plus her new pen is in plain view from my bedroom window! Hopefully this weekend it will be done and she will be moved in. It is a 22x11 foot run with a shed on one side, and she will be turned out to exercise daily- plus I love taking her on walks over our acreage.
Well...I think that is all for now, but feel free to ask any questions you can come up with!!
Hopefully I can figure out how to attach pictures so you guys can help me out, and see her developing!! I already have pictures from yesterday and today, so as soon as I can get them posted you guys will have a couple days worth of pics to spot any changes.
Hope everyone had a great day, is having a great day, has a great day tomorrow- or whatever works for the time zone you are in haha!
Happy Foaling
I'll give you the background then all the good stuff
First of all, I've been reading through everyone's threads and I am both envious and excited about everyone's new foals, and glad to see that this is a very welcoming and kind place. The one question I have is- are boys allowed? I read all this talk about you "crazy ladies" and all that, and wonder if there is any room for me? I sure hope so!
Anyways, here's a little bit about me-
I grew up around horses and my Dad & Uncle had a Quarter Horse breeding farm for a while, so I've been around quite a few pregnant mares and new foals- but never miniatures!!
I did have one mini as a kid, but for a very short time as it was a nasty little thing- but I didn't blame it, it had a pretty rocky start to life and before we got him he was very neglected.
Now I'm all grown up (at the ripe ol' age of 21 haha) and have my own place- and it is perfectly suited for minis. A couple months after moving in, my little family and I decided to bring 2 minis into the farm. A stallion, Rowdy, and a mare, Mariah (or Mary for short).
We got them from a lady just down the road who was moving and couldn't take them with her. They were well cared for, but I must admit I am spoiling them to death here
I have done TONS of research to make sure I am giving them everything that they could ever need. I've also spent endless hours reading books, Internet sites, this forum, and watching YouTube movies on miniature horse pregnancy and delivery- so I feel as prepared as I can be for my first mini foaling experience. It also helps to relieve a little stress having my vet only 5 minutes away- literally! He already knows I will be calling him if anything goes wrong- no matter what time.
Mary was turned out to Pasture with Rowdy last year on June 1st- and that is all I know for a breeding date. She has had one other foal with Rowdy, a little dark colored colt last year- but unfortunately, she had him in the dead of night with no one around and he didn't make it out of the sac. Other than that, the old owners said she had a rather routine delivery (they weren't there so how do they know?!).
Besides last years colt, I know of two other foals from her. A bay pinto filly from four years ago, and another bay pinto colt the year before that (if I am remembering that right.)
Mary is a big ol' wide load right now, and she has started bagging up within the last two days! Very slowly, but it is definitely a good sign! She has some really big "front boobs" right now, and each morning I go out to find her udder has gotten bigger!
We had the vet out in January and he guessed that she would deliver sometime in May...and I'm thinking it will be the beginning of May, but that could just be WISHFUL thinking
It kinda irritates me that I don't have a better judgement on when she is due, because I feel like I'm being a bad caretaker by not doing all the things at the right times.
I'm getting her new area all set up for her to stay until she foals...that way I can keep her away from Rowdy, plus her new pen is in plain view from my bedroom window! Hopefully this weekend it will be done and she will be moved in. It is a 22x11 foot run with a shed on one side, and she will be turned out to exercise daily- plus I love taking her on walks over our acreage.
Well...I think that is all for now, but feel free to ask any questions you can come up with!!
Hopefully I can figure out how to attach pictures so you guys can help me out, and see her developing!! I already have pictures from yesterday and today, so as soon as I can get them posted you guys will have a couple days worth of pics to spot any changes.
Hope everyone had a great day, is having a great day, has a great day tomorrow- or whatever works for the time zone you are in haha!
Happy Foaling
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