[sabrina]

Friend having a terrible time over the past 10 days. Lost 2 mares and foals. In the right position but stuck at the hips. Vet has never seen anything like it. spoke to another friend yesterday and he has had the same problem calving. he thinks its down to mild winter and early Spring. Same problem lambing, single lambs far too big.

[white-blazes]

oh no, how tragic, so very upsetting for your friend, poor horsies 

[jaykay]

Oh no, that's really soul-destroying. Give your friend some hugs from me 

[Rosemary]

What a shame  Our vet, who did a CS on one of our gimmers last weekend, said he's never done as many c sections, and for experienced and god stockmen. He reckons it's the mild winter and beasts being in better condition at lambing / calving / foaling. Cannae win 

[sabrina]

Yes Rosemary that seems to be what vets are saying up here.

[ellied]

Definitely a bad year - I had 2 in foal, one aborted in November, the other foaled 2 weeks ago and it looks like the foal has joint ill and its not looking good right now tho I'm just taking one day at a time and hoping the hardcore AB injections might do the trick with the underlying infection

Don't suppose either is related to weather, tho yesterday's northeasterly blizzard into the open barn didn't help

[sabrina]

Its time like this when taking up knitting would be the better option, hope your foal recovers.

[NLL]

w have lost two mares and one of the foals out of three that have foaled so far, soul destroying.

[Hellybee]

How awful for you all, big hugs, hope joint ill foal comes right xx

[sabrina]

It is heart breaking.

[Old Shep]

That's sad, bad enought to lose foals but the mares as well 

We've had a lot of big lambs and difficult births, including some lamb losses - but at least upto now the ewes are all ok.

[Roxy]

How awful for this to happen.  I have one Fell mare to foal, and she looks enormous, so hope that all goes well.  I can do without anything else to worry about.

[HappyHippy]

My sympathies to everyone 

I'm getting really worried though as a friend wants to bring his mare here and she's in foal (he'd like her somewhere quiet, out of the village til after the foal is born) Now, I don't know much about horses (except what end bites and what end kicks  ) Is there anything in particular I should do or be looking for do you think?
I want to make sure I get in touch with him at the first sign of any trouble.
Thanks folks 

[Hellybee]

i personally think  is very important that the mare is  moved to her new field a good few weeks before, to make sure that she prepares for foaling immunity wise...the foal will then have the neccessary immunity for its new environment through the colostrum (first milk)

 make sure that she has all the vits and mins she needs.  i give ours a gesture of balancer and some haylage.

There are many signs that you can look out for, but can differ from mare to mare.

bagging up and waxing up - does usually mean mare is ready, but some mares can do this over and over again.

slackening of muscles on haunches

some mares can go lame,dont be alarmed if she seems to as this can mean that baby is lying on nerves

if in doubt have vets number to hand.  also it would be advisable if owner is there at foaling, i know i would....
theres plenty more and i m sure others will elaborate x   

[sabrina]

Foaling is not like any other birth, if it goes wrong the time to fix it is very short. Once she starts bearing down 10 to 15 mins foal is born. Can be quicker. If in any doubt get the vet.