My first foal watch

[ArchDandy]

So plans changed and my mare "Media Luna" will be foaling at her current facility with the barn owner's blessing. I'll have my regular vet on call as soon as I get a hold of him, and foal watch is being split by me and my boyfriend. She is in a large outdoor paddock where she has been for nearly 2 years now- so we hope she will feel more comfortable there than somewhere new, with people she doesn't know. She is in foal to Redattore and is "Due" April 15th- today is her 323rd day and her udder appears 1/3 of the way developed. She is a maiden so there's no telling

I'll keep all my updates here, and post pics when "Khalshek" arrives.
Here is a pic of her last month.

[Roguelet]

Good luck, have fun, and rest up! (You'll need it!)

[LB]

Good luck and I'll echo what Roguelet said. Get your rest now!

[ArchDandy]

Mare has been waxing past 3 days, milk drips now- but its still clear. Spent the last week sleeping at the barn and loving it. I back my truck up against the indoor arena where she spends her nights and I can hear everything she does (including snoring) all night long- while still being able to sleep in patches. Have new pics but have to wait to upload them because I'm unfamiliar with the camera. This is so much fun! Family and friends pity me saying "poor thing sleeping in your truck in the cold, here we brought you our leftovers from tonight!" In actuallity I couldn't be having a better time- but I'm so gonna milk the all the food offers

[LB]

It sounds like you're having a great time. Best of luck with the foaling and be sure to take pictures of the new arrival.

[Mood Swings]

Best of luck with your mare! She is beautiful btw

[westover]

What a pretty mare

[ArchDandy]

Well today was the day, and it did not end well. Media Luna's foal started coming out nose first, with knees bent back. We had the vet out as soon as we saw the nose, he tried to get the legs but couldn't. He called another vet and he could not get legs either. The foal was breathing and stayed alive for an hour while the vets struggled- by the time she got to her emergency c-section, it stopped breathing. The c-section went well and the mare is recovering well, but the foal did not survive. "Khalshek" was a very large chestnut colt with two tall hind stockings and a blaze from between his eyes to his lower lip. I know some family members took pics of him, but I will have to wait before I can post them- that is if anyone wants to see him with the circumstances the way they are and all. The cause of the difficult birth was slightly contracted tendons on the foal's front legs. They did not allow him to straighten his legs for birthing.

[zinn21]

My condolences. I think most of us hold our breath until every foal is out happy and healthy.

[onalimb]

so sorry

[LB]

I am so sorry that things didn't turn out well. This can be the best time of year for horse breeders and it can also be the worst. There are just so many unforeseen things that can go wrong. I'm glad your mare is doing well after her ordeal.

[docjocoy]

Oh archdandy I'm so sorry. I lost 2 last year, a foal and a 2 year old. It's so painful. Time will heal your great hurt, but I feel so badly for you. The highs and lows in this business are so extreme. Hang in there. Prayers for a good recovery for your mare.

[ArchDandy]

Thanks for the prayers. This is a double loss for me, I love my mare and would have loved "another one of her". I also lost my chance to get into racing for a good long time now. I was told she could be bred again, but I don't want to put my mare through this agony again, and the stud of choice is no longer available. If I am lucky enough to pay off the huge c-section bills- I imagine I will put away money to buy a weanling. My goal was to raise a runner myself- preferably having the mare under my care before conception, but that does not seem possible anymore.

[Mood Swings]

omg I'm so sorry Arch That is awful. I am ssure most of us on this board can truly empathize with what you are going through.
RIP to your little foal and wishing a speedy and uneventful recovery to your mare!
A friend of mine has had two live and healthy foals born to a mare that had had a c-section . Just a thought...

{{{HUGS}}} to you

[Jenny]

This is so sad to hear. So sorry for your loss and your first one as well. I hope your mare recovers well. Nothing else left to say to ease your pain.