I have been trying to decide if I want to post or not...
I had a rough start to foaling season yesterday. A much anticipated foal. Her full sister is a beauty and I was hoping for the same again.
Our Mare Ebony was at day 318 and usually delivers in the late 320s. She had no significant bag... only about half full, but no milk. She was showing NO signs that she was ready. I have had her several years and she is always very easy to tell when she is going to deliver.
She set off the breeder alert several times during the night, normal for her at this point. Went right to her breakfast and finished it. And while I was turning the other horses out I came into the barn to hear her whinny in a very different, distressed whinny (thank goodness I really know my horses) I checked on her and she had already been down, and was trying to push.
Thank goodness my hubby was home working on some internet issues so I felt in her and figured out we had problems, dialed the phone for the vet and ran into the house (not far from the barn) handed him the phone and asked him to come help. He talked with the vet while I worked. What I found was hind legs, no movement of the foal and the hind legs were sideways... a sideways breech birth.
At first I just couldn't think... but once I took a deep breath I was able to think through what I needed to do. Once I figured out the position of the foal, I twisted and wiggled til I got the hips out. The rest wasn't easy, but I was able to get her out. They already had Dr. Erin, her assistant Lisa and a helper on the way (when I call and say I need urgent help, they KNOW they had better get a team here) and they had Dr. Boyd headed here too. The first team was here within 10 min and when I got the foal out, we called the clinic to stop Dr. Boyd from heading... but I wanted Dr. Erin to check momma since the delivery was rough and she was weak.
Her hind end had been buckling but I think it may have been because of the position of the baby laying on nerves. She was trembling and her temperature was quite low, but she passed her placenta normally. I left the filly in with her for a while and she at first nickered and licked, then realized she wasn't moving... nipped her lips and picked her head up and when the filly didn't respond she knew and left her alone. She wanted to lay right beside her so I left her there for a bit.
After watching her for several hours I took her outside because it was warmer out there while I cleaned her new stall and stripped and disinfected the stall she had delivered in. She looked for her filly, but not much... went out and rolled around and stood in the sun.
I wanted to put her in a different stall to so she wouldn't have to smell the smells of a new foal.
Last evening, after banamine and a good grooming ( really can't do it up right (grooming) until Friday when the temps get to around 70) she went to happily munching on her hay. Though she called a few times, she was very quiet and content.
As I went about my chores last night there was a heaviness. But I have been in this long enough to know it happens and it is so tough, but I look forward to our next foals (though VERY nervous) and the joy they will bring me.
I have 3 other mares (here for me to foal... not my mares) on the cameras and one of mine ready to put in a camera stall as soon as one of these 3 deliver. Two were very active last night, so hopefully soon I will have a little one to hug!
