My Horse Renny is close to having her baby! on Foal watch

[Midnight_Dream]

I am wondering since the foal will probably be rather big due to its parentage (stupid people, leaving such a tiny thing with a clyde) if it would be possible for her to have a C-section?  I don't know if horses can have them or not, but it would seem like a good option so you do not lose either of them during labor.

[xeevee]

Generally speaking, Midnight_Dream.  The mare determines the maximum size of the foal.  Not the stallion.  She should be fine for size, her age and condition may be more the issue.

[babylicketysplit]

shes 18 hands, by no means small actually LOL.

and her flanks were sunk in today.    and actually her belly is enormous.   shes very wide and her belly wags back and forth when she walks

she seemed more pointey tonite in her belly base towards the middle.

[SparklersOasis]

If you notice any white hard stuff at the end of her teats, get ready!  Mares usually wax up within a day or so of foaling.

[SourdoughStomper]

I feel like a nervous sort who is pacing back and forth in the "expectant parent room" at the hospital. C'mon baby! We're waiting to see you.

[Midnight_Dream]

Generally speaking, Midnight_Dream.  The mare determines the maximum size of the foal.  Not the stallion.  She should be fine for size, her age and condition may be more the issue.

Oh! I did not know that honestly or if I did I must have forgotten, either way thank you Xeevee.  I am still wondering if horses can have C-sections though?  I have never heard about it being done, but it seems that it would make sense given Renny's high risk due to her age.

[TwoMore]

Im not a vet, but our family foaled dozens of babies and i have never heard of a horse c-section. Even for the mares of high value, it would come down to the mares life or the foals. Because of a horse's large size, major surgerys are hard to recover from. Large animals are hard to restrain and can sometimes panic when restrained causing further damage to themselves.  Thats why leg breaks are often fatal.
Also hoses cant lay down for significant amount of times. Its bad for their organs.

[Skylar]

I feel like a nervous sort who is pacing back and forth in the "expectant parent room" at the hospital. C'mon baby! We're waiting to see you.

I know the feeling! I think I need a strong drink to calm my breathing!

[Marlin]

Can't be too much longer now - surely!!!???    As much as this horse is stringing us all out, I'm enjoying hearing all the teensiest developments 

[joce]

No c sections. If the baby dies they can remove it but it all comes out the same place it would naturally. They usually never worry about when it comes because it CAN vary so much mare to mare.

  18 hands is draft horse size. Is she a cross? I thought she was a saddlebred? 17 would be pushing it. She looks like a smaller horse.

There have been large studs bred to ponys and it works ou fine. Very odd mixes out there. It's good to know breeding date though.

  A good breeder or reproduction vet will know a lot more about when she will foal. Get her out in the light and get a pic of her undersides. Milk veins. Is she producing any fluid? You can test the ph. Forgot what the numbers are but a change tells you it's coming!!!

[babylicketysplit]

She is pure american saddlebred. she is on the absolute high end of her breed.  yes she IS 18 hands.  here is a daylight picture from october.   so you can see her size.    she is by no means at all small.   
 https://picasaweb.google.com/116832912685484526024/MyHorses#5840963837955801506

and as i have stated multiple times i have no idea of the exact breeding date. i would LOVE to know. but i do not have the co-operation of the seller.   renny is a rescue horse.  i have only scraps on her history and even that is debatable

also can i please ask that the mentioning of dead foals be kept out of this thread. im pretty stressed about my mare and the fact that the nasty person who i saved her from decided to tell me a few weeks ago that renny has trouble foaling and her last foal died and she almost did too.   so Please i ask not to mention dying or dead foals.     i do not want to read that in this thread.  this is a watch thread.

[rosierjay]

totally understand.
you may want to put some of that in the first post, as a lot of people don't read all the previous post before they say something.

i think it's wonderful what you did. horses may scare me a bit, but i believe they are beautiful animals and deserved to be treated with love and respect. i'll be praying for your foal and the mama.
<3

[kezrob23]

what a gorgeous pic that is!!! she is definitely a bit of a big'un

[Beachball]

Renny was no doubt skin and bones the last time she foaled. Now with her health and strength back, she has an edge in the surviving this foaling. The baby has an edge in surviving too because its mama have been well-fed for a long while so the baby has been getting plenty of nutrients.

[Rainsong]

She's gorgeous, but oh my god she's so TALL! I'd never be able to halter her if she did that "Let's lift our head in the air and be a buttface" move! Then again, I'm only 5'2" ... Renny would make me look like a six year old

I say a prayer every time I see this thread, or think of it - which is at least 3 times a day, sometimes 10+. Have been since Christmas time. Keep in mind her ex-owners let her get to the state she was in, so who knows how well they treated her - they should be shot, treating any living thing like that. But Renny (and her baby) have their miracle worker, and you take great care of them, so they'll do wonderfully.

Suddenly, I miss that Suffolk Punch mare I got to sit on once. She was a real sweetheart, but sitting on a draft mare was like sitting sideways on a couch - and my hips didn't know what to think of that!