Mari

[juslyn]

With my mare last year we walked 5-10 minutes, let her free lunge trot/gallop in the arena in the park for 10-20 minutes depending on how hot it was and how she was feeling, and then the walk back 5-10 minutes. When she free lounges she goes all out! It was her show off time. Xana on teh other hand, I have to keep after to keep going. I'm sure this will get better as she realizes what I am asking of her...at least I hope it does as it is a lot of work runnign around an arena to keep her going. I then walk her and work with her while she cools down and her breathing slows. One thing you might want to do Nola is to have her trot more. The gaits each work different muscles.

Suzy

[Michelle Clarke]

Exercise is definately good for pregnant mares, but do realize that thier bones soften and the muscles weaken in order to making the birthing process easier. Thier gaits really get unsteady and it is easier to get injured. Trotting is much easier to do for a heavy bred mare because thier weight is distributed evenly front and back, left and right. Canter is harder because the weight has to go back and the gallop the weight goes forward and puts all that extra strain on those front legs.

Self exercise is really best the last month or so because the mare will do what she physically can. If you want to get the mare in shape, plan on earlier in gestation and if they can't be turned out during the day at least, hand walking is best.

Also remember that if the mare is nervous or scared being chased around then those adrenaline chemicals go directly into the unborn fetus and you can cause a nervous/over-reactive foal right from the get go. There is alot of information on pregnant women avoiding stress in order to help have a nice, calm baby, so it only stands to reason the same applies to animals.

The worst thing to do is lock a mare up the last two weeks (common practice). The mare needs to move so the fetus can turn and inertia will put it into the correct position for birthing.

The trick is to find a balance between the two so you can have a happy healthy mare and foal!

[juslyn]

I totally agree. I should also mention that as my mare got closer to her due date and she started walking differently due to her body changes, she did not run around as much and I didn't push her to. Just pay attention to your mare as she will give you indicators as to how much she can handle and also keep the heat in consideration. I'm sure your are a bit warmer than where I am.

Suzy

[Michelle Clarke]

Suzy, I can't WAIT to see Xana's foal.....!!! It sure sounds like you have done a great job in gentleing her too!

[juslyn]

Michelle, is Nesa not pregnant? She looked like she was in teh corrals.

I can't wait either!

Suzy

[Michelle Clarke]

No, Nesa is not pregnant...she looked like it in the catalog, but to me did not in the corrals. I was a little disapointed, but as usual, I pick the hotter horses and I am glad she is not bred because she needs alot of work. She is also very bossy and can pick on Mari so they are seperate at night now. A few months ago I tried to get her together with two Nevada mustang mares I have that are a few years older and she just whipped up on them, so she will need some straightening out by a good tough herd!

The other day I was in her pen and stopped to watch some of the fillies come over hill. First she came up behind me and bumped me a few times, then when I ignored her she pulled my shirt and finally gave me a good shove! She can be a real brat!

[juslyn]

At least she's not using teeth! Sounds like a born alpha.

After Xana was identified as the pregnant mare in the McIntosh's wild photos and know ing how thin she was, I though no way was she pregnant! But it got itself tucked up in there until it had room to "show" again.

Any new signs of impending birth?

[lwood92]

Mari seems to be slowing down, but that is the only sign I see of her getting closer to foaling. That, and she keeps getting bigger. Here is a picture of her I took yesterday.

Lynn

[Michelle Clarke]

Yes, Mari is driving us NUTS over here!!! She has been bagging up for about 7 weeks now and keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger! Kind of odd for a maiden mare, but we shall see! She now has some edema in front of her udders, so lets all hope it is soon! I am running out of patience to see what Lynn will be so blessed to have from the wild!

[juslyn]

She sure does look ripe! Bagging up for 7 weeks? I hope Xana doesn't do this! She started bagging up about 10 days ago and is nowhere near that big in the belly. She is longer in the back, but still...

[lwood92]

Ok. Mari is really frustrating me! What's "frustrating" in Spanish??? That maybe what I have to name this baby when it comes out. Mari has been bagged up since Feb 11th! She has been looking very ready for the last couple of days, and her udder has been consistently bagged up. Today, when she came in, her udders looked like they were deflated. They looked like a popped balloon! She is driving us nuts!

[nrly]

wow all these babies this year it is an exciting time for all of us....

[DianneC]

We bred a maiden mare that foaled last year and I thought she was never going to have it, ran way over and had a huge colt. She just didn't know what to make out of what was happening to her, even though her pasture mate had foaled.

[Michelle Clarke]

When Picasa was a maiden mare, she went over due time too....I SWEAR she stood with her legs crossed and had this "holy crap" expression on her face for days!!

[stlkigers]

Poor Mari.....I hope she has it soon or maybe a yearling will come out!!!! I feel bad for these ladies that just look so large....maybe she's just one of those sneaky mares that will bag up and wax almost overnight....

Angela