I have determined that I really suck.....

[menagerie]

at counting! I wrote the date down and counted diligently the number of days till my mare would foal and determined that date should have been last Wed. or Thurs...... this has obviously NOT happened. :rolleyes: She hasn't even bagged up yet (though I haven't checked her that closely yet this morning) but is big as a house so surely it can't be too much longer. I just can't figure out how I could be that off, or is it just possible that she is late? This is driving me crazy! lol

That being said though, if she has the baby on V-Day or close I've already thought of a name. Either My Sizzlin' Valentine or Jack My Valentine (I like the Jack best). I also checked out the almanac to 'test' the theory of determining whether it will be a little boy or girl, if she has it by Sat. it should be a boy, Sun. or Mon. it should be a girl.... we'll see on that!

Anyone have any suggestions to how I can be so off in my counting or whether its normal?

[WashingtonBay]

Well, what are the dates, and what did you count? :)

Is she off fescue?

[menagerie]

Nope we have no fescue anywhere on our property (thank goodness!). Breed date is Mar. 8th. and I counted 340 days per the gestation chart from our Co-op. Is that right?

[TheRedHayflinger]

a normal mare can go anywhere from 10 months to 12 months....lol 10 months is the minimum you want....10 1/2 being even better...12 months is really as long as you want them to go(although I remember reading about a mare that went 13 months a couple of years ago)

Some mares won't bag up until after they give birth (I've only seen this twice though....and we thought for sure that the milk wasn't going to come in so had the vet out with colostrum and stuff...but within a couple of hours...fuuuuuulll udders!)

Other signs to watch for--jello butt (LOL...around the tail head)...no resistance in her tail...elongated vulva...bright RED inside the vulva...standing a bit away from her and looking at her in profile(side view)...her belly hangs in a V instead of a U...slab sided...

Hope she foals for ya! And at least you know her breeding date and can be on watch...my first mare I bought was pasture bred and no one knew when....so we just had to watch for signs...2 months of signs (she progressed sooooo slow) and lack of sleep....and she foaled in early evening after scarfing down her supper...mares...

[WashingtonBay]

I think at the very least, it can be 330-350 days without being termed outside the average too much.

She'll probably do it on the night you're not expecting it. :)

[Vacker Hast]

You are correct with the 340 day Gestation period but a mare can hold out appx a month so hang in there and check for wax/milk which will let you know her foaling is only a few days away.

Stacy

[menagerie]

TheRedHay, good to know that its not exactly on the days. Makes me feel better! I'm looking for all those other signs too, I'm probably going to be hairless by the time it gets here.

And WB, thanks for that!! lol I just love being prepared to be unprepared! :doh: