Fescue and pregnancy

griff · Postby **griff** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:48 am

first, I don't beleive a stallions fertility has anything to do with how long his sperm will live.

Second, this mare is not a couple of weeks late but 5 plus s weeks late.

That last picture does look like the foal has moved back and is ready so maybe by Monday as predicted.

griff

Shannon · Postby **Shannon** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:39 am

Griff, a stallions fertility has a LOT to do with how long his sperm will remain viable.
Motility is one of the largest factors regarding conception rates, as is concentraion of viable sperm per ejaculate, and some stallions have excellent longevity. The higher percent of swimmers, the more likely a viable sperm will make it to the ovum.

And 2 weeks, added to a mare that naturally carries longer term, can equal close to where this mare is at gestation wise. It is not uncommon for mares to carry over 365 days.

griff · Postby **griff** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:07 pm

viable swimmers yes but their life spans are measured in hours or days not weeks.

Also, this mare has now carried 375 days which I believe is beyound the norm.

The foal does appear to have moved back and I recommend she be watched closely.

griff

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:15 am

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!! IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Biddy had him after her 4am look in and before hubby checked again at 6 am!! Guess natures knows best!! Everything completely normal! No placenta issues NADA!!! So far so good, vet due this afternoon to completely check him out!!

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 12:32 pm

Congrats Spex!

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:02 pm

It looks like your mare did OK. She appears to have maintained her coat, tail, and mane. How do you propose to replace all your hair that you pulled out while processing the information post to this thread?

griff · Postby **griff** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:36 pm

Have the Vet givw him a bag of plasma.

You had him at home and may get away with no plasma but ever foal I drop gets a bag before he is a week old. The plasma will probably cost you around $300 but will save him from rotovirus which will kill him or even worse.

Is he a grey??

grif

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:00 pm

Thank you everyone and yes I have aged at least twenty years in the last couple of weeks. I am contemplating buying stock in Clairol since I do have hair left but it's mostly gone grey in recent days!!
He had his blood pulled yesterday, so we will see what his levels are. But he's on the mare nursing strong, and Biddy has produced more than enough for him milk. Plus it seems to be the general consensus of a few vets that one of the big disadvantages of foaling at a farm full of broodmares and babies is that they have a much higher rate disease exposure. Supposedly added to it is the amount of horses per space/land available...so we'll see how his immune system is coming along.
He's 43 inches at the wither. My vet got a shock when he stood up when the vet went to pull the blood. He said if he didn't know better he'd swear he was over a month old....... well to me he TECHNICALLY is!! lol
I believe he is going to be a grey, he has some grey hairs in his tail and mane, and a little spattering around his eyes. Which is what I want, I wanted a rose grey colt. So Biddy filled my order better than McDonald's usually does.

Shannon · Postby **Shannon** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:27 pm

Wow! Lookt at the bone on him! I love how his legs are darker than the rest of him. Nice looking fellow! Congrats!

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:27 pm

Thanks Shannon. That is why I like Spectacular Bid mares, hardly ever are they fine boned, and when I saw the stallion Green Fee I knew it had to create something good. Plus if I am not griping about spindly legged thoroughbreds at least once a day I must be sick lol. Also interesting conversation today regarding her gestation length.... Green Fee has a measured large heart. It is presumed Biddy has been bred to have it too. A fellow whom I spoke to today thought perhaps the whole X factor played into the developmental time. I will tell you my uncle had a ton of QH foals when I was growing up and I saw very few with the zest this guy has had.

MINNOW · Postby **MINNOW** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:03 pm

Worth the wait,very nice.

Shannon · Postby **Shannon** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:05 pm

Spex, I had a chat with a friend of mine who raises QH's and runs a stallion station. SHe commented that all of her mares that have foaled so this year carried over term, some by almost 6 weeks! She also said she had several clients with the same issue. Her theory was the unusually long winter caused delays with foaling, and mother nature did what was best for babies. We had some wicked cold weather and snow here, so maybe it's true?

griff · Postby **griff** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:54 pm

I guess that would make all the mares in Canada carry 12 months plus every year..

I've hasd one mare to so far and she was w/i two days, and she was in WV, not SE VA.

griff

spex4me · Postby **spex4me** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:40 am

Lol. We thought about the weather too but really it hasn't been that bad here this year. We got more snow than ever but other than those days same ol same ol. Plus she has lived in upstate NY til we bought her and brought her south so she should feel like she is in Arizona here compared to there. :lol:

I guess it is one of lifes mysteries we will never know the real answer too. I am just happy he came out A-OK. His blood panels are outstanding and he is a smart little bugger so finally my stress levels are a tad lower !!

Joltman · Postby **Joltman** » Thu May 05, 2011 6:37 am

Shannon wrote:Wow! Lookt at the bone on him! I love how his legs are darker than the rest of him. Nice looking fellow! Congrats!

Ditto that. Is this guy a warmblood or something?

Congrats Spex - you are in elite company of what may be less than a hundred Va breds this year. (my guess)

jm