normal term

barbfool · Postby **barbfool** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:47 am

What is the longest a mare should carry a foal? I have a mare that is 8 days short of a year and I'm concerned something may be very wrong. She did not start to bag-up until a few days ago and seems healthy, but the length of carry is bothersome.

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:23 am

"Normal" is 320-370, I believe the record is 417.

Gerry · Postby **Gerry** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:33 am

I dont think there is a normal ....so far this year I had one mare foal at 323, and another at 366..others were all inbetween. As long as your mare is healthy, is eating and isnt in distress..you will be missing sleep but I wouldnt worry. Last year we had a mare go 373 and colt was beautiful. Nothing like waiting in January for the 1st foal of the year and having him born on March 1st!

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:50 am

The average "normal" gestation for an equine is 320 - 350 days. There are always exceptions of course. The record for longest gestation was set last year in Australia at 445 days!!! Has your mare done this before? Perhaps your mare has been exposed to Fescue?

See the link re: fescue toxicity in mares www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/fesalk.html

Good luck with your mare, hopefully there is nothing to be concerned about

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:02 am

Mood Swings wrote, "The record for longest gestation was set last year in Australia at 445 days!!!"

Born just in time to be broke..

Vindicated · Postby **Vindicated** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:37 am

Had a mare last year go a bit over 13 months
Her cover was end of Feb-20th I think, only 1 cover and she foaled end of March-24th I believe
Foal was not huge either...a bit on the small side

Evenheaven · Postby **Evenheaven** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:07 am

My last mare to foal was 5 days short of a year pregnant and had a 137 pound colt. No problems and everyone was healthy. Good luck to you and your mare.

barbfool · Postby **barbfool** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:36 pm

Well it only took 372 days, it is going to be so nice to get a full nights sleep. The main thing is that mom and baby are doing well.

Bondama · Postby **Bondama** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:01 pm

Congrats Barb!! Pics!

And Evenheaven, 137 lbs!!! That wasn't a colt, that was a pony! :shock:

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:15 am

Congrats! I am glad you are finally able to rest easily

I (or rather my mare did

) had a filly last year that also weighed 137lbs and she hasn't stopped growing as she is above average as a yearling now.
Windfields farm delivered a colt this year that weighed 160lbs :shock:

And they have a scale so the weight is accurate!

magic code · Postby **magic code** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:37 am

Congratulations!

We are waiting on a mare at 365 days today. She looks like she'll go another week at least. We foaled her out last year and sent her back to her owner in foal; got her back a few weeks ago in absolutely terrible shape.

barbfool · Postby **barbfool** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:15 pm

2 days post birth

barbfool · Postby **barbfool** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:20 pm

That didn't work the way I planned.