Miniature Horse Foaling Journal, March 2008
March 1, 2008
We vaccinated Lily, Magic, Dolly and Morning with EE, Tetanus. Flu and WNV.
We were checking all the mares tonight and I got a good laugh! My 6'3" frame is trying to examine the udder of a miniature mare, which I can get low enough to accomplish. The challenge is trying to stand up again. Getting old is no fun. Jessie, my 11 year old is standing above me. She has checked four of the mares to my one, so I ask her which baby she thinks we will like the best?? Without hesitating, Jessie grins at me and says, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't say it in front of them!" I cracked up. She is so thoughtful of the mothers!!!
March 4, 2008
I heard positive feedback on the more reasonably priced foal buzzers from Rosyln of Lucky Pickens Farm and from Susan of Hillard Horses-to-Hug. I took the plunge and ordered 2 of the Foal Buzzers.
March 5, 2008
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Look at Lily!! She is bagging up more and more each day. They say when the teats are pointing straight down that the mare is ready to go. Lily is pointing down, but she is not ready to go. |
March 6, 2008
Bam Bam, a big horse and not a Miniature, undergoes dental surgery. Click here to see a short video of how well he recovered. This video was taken on April 29, 2008...7 weeks after surgery.
March 9, 2008
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Look at the changes in Lily's bag! We still cannot get any milk from her though. |
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March 13, 2008
There have been 2 additions in our barn. We added Christmas lights around the top of the barn to help with seeing at night. We have big fluorescents in our barn, but I feel like those may disturb the mares if I leave them on all night. I can leave on my soft-lighting of the Christmas lights and probably not disturb them. The camera system we have is a "night" system with infrareds, but they work so much better in the daylight.
Our Foal Buzzers came and are on the halters. Now, maybe I will sleep better at night knowing I have the added security of a buzz warning sound. We suspect Lily and Magic as being the closest to foaling...so they are wearing the buzzers.
Noah has developed a cough and snots. I have him on 3 SMZs twice per day. I would like to knock this out before the foals arrive!
Lily is really getting close! Her vulva area is extremely relaxed, and is a deep red color. Her bag is really big, but we are still not getting any milk...we're sure getting excited, though!
March 13, 2008; late evening (written by Lisa)
We just did a really neat thing! We have heard the myth that if you hold a gold ring next to the mare's stomach, it will either swing in a circle or in a back and forth motion. I just thought that it would be fun to try, and see what happens. So, we marched down to the barn with my Mom's wedding ring and, hanging it on a tail hair from Jewel, we let it hang next to each mare's stomach. Mom keeps saying, "We have a 50% chance of being right!" Here's what we found out:
Lily was first. We hung the ring next to her stomach, and it was like something grabbed it and pulled it in a circle to the left. Surprised, we hung it on the other side of her belly with the same result! Supposedly, Lily will have a girl?!?!?!?
Next, we went to Magic's stall. Hanging the ring next to her stomach, we all watched with anticipation. It hung still for a few seconds, and then slowly went towards her stomach, and then away from it. Gradually, it swung faster and faster, until it was swinging back and forth next to her stomach....Magic's is a boy???
Still a little suspicious of the whole thing, we went to Jewel and hung the ring on a hair by her stomach. Same result as Magic! It hung still for a second, and then, gradually getting faster, swung in a back and forth motion....another boy?!?!
Now thoroughly intrigued, we tried Turbolina. To our delight, the ring slowly swung in a circular motion to the left! As it got faster and faster, we switched it to the other side of her stomach, and it also went in an obvious circle to the left....maybe two girls and two boys??
Dolly was the next one to be "put to the
test!" We watched as it started going in a back and forth motion. Within
a few seconds, it was decidedly going in back and
forth. We're thinking, "Oh no! Not more
boys than girls!"
Morning was the last to be tested. We waited impatiently as it hung by her stomach, and slowly started....circling to the left!!!! Does she have a girl??
So, if this test is correct, we have three boys and three girls. I have read that this is all a myth, but it has been a fun experiment.
2008 Phases of the Moon
Universal Time
d=day h=hour m=minute
|
NEW MOON d h m |
FIRST QUARTER d h m |
FULL MOON d h m |
LAST QUARTER d h m |
|
| Mar |
7 17 14 |
14 10 46 |
21 18 40 |
29 21 47 |
| Apr |
6 3 55 |
12 18 32 | 20 10 25 | 28 14 12 |
| May | 5 12 18 | 12 3 47 | 20 2 11 | 28 2 57 |
March 14, 2008
March 21, 2008
| This is the full moon!! Maybe
tonight?? In the one set of 3 stalls, we have a set of 4 cameras all connecting to one transmitter. We tried to put a like system up on the other set of 3 stalls. Failure! The cameras interfere with each other. I would like all 6 stalls monitored by cameras, but need to find a wired camera system that is affordable. And, we need to do this quickly. Dolly and Magic are bagging up. Lily is huge in my mind, but others tell me she is not ready yet. Morning and Jewel are not as bagged up. |
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March 22, 2008
March 23, 2008
Happy Resurrection Sunday! Also known as Happy Easter!
March 24, 2008
March 29, 2008
March 30, 2008
March 31, 2008
It's a boy!!!And a beautiful tri colored pinto! Click here for more pictures and video... Dolly and baby are doing well!!! |
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Click here to go to the February 2008 foaling journal. This section includes all of our preparations for foaling.
Click here to go the April, 2008 journal. This section includes the foaling of Magic, Morning and Lily.
Click here to read May, 2008. Who knows what this section will document??
Painted Sun Miniature Horses is sharing with you what we do to maintain the health of our horses. This is not intended to direct you on how to care for your horse. The intent of this is only to share what we do. We advise you to consult your veterinarian before making any changes in your horse's health care. The information found on our website is not to supersede the advise of your veterinarian. Painted Sun Miniature Horses cannot be held liable for the care of your horse(s).
