Well hell!

Unfortunately, I lost some of the photos I took along the way, but let's get caught up to date on the progress of the future champion currently being held hostage by Dream Of Margaritas.

Dream was rechecked by my trusty veterinarian, not at the 40 -50-day time frame like I had planned, because.......life broke a tiny part on my truck, and it had to be ordered, and I had other things booked, soooooooo I did not get to have another ultrasound done during the window of opportunity to do a fetal sex evaluation.

I'll have to do the nail test, and see what it says.........more on that later.

I did have her rechecked by the vet at 95 days, Aug 21, 2019. Yay, all is well!

The Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1) vaccinations that are recommended by most vets and breeders are controversial for some. Many breeders refuse to do the rhino vac, and offer up the reason is that their mares are in a closed herd, therefore they are "safe".

Well, I am not on the show circuit these days so I'm basically a closed herd situation, too.

However, my thinking is this:

What if a mare gets sick or hurt and has to be transported to the vet clinic? What if there's a storm that brings fences down, the mares get out and end up around other horses? I'm not willing to take that chance, so for me, the right choice is doing the series of three shots, at months 5, 7, and 9 of the pregnancy.

Fescue is a scourge here in southern Missouri. Equine fescue toxicosis is an ever-present danger. It causes a litany of problems but for broodmares, the primary concerns are: possibly abnormally long gestations/large foals, a placenta too tough to rupture naturally, and little to no milk production, especially the critical colostrum.

This list gives breeders ulcers, but those issues can be avoided by not allowing the mare any access to a pasture containing any fescue and feeding her only non-fescue hay.

I always move broodmares to a dry lot for a minimum of the last 90 days of pregnancy, actually, I usually move them no later than 120 days from their "due date"

I then feed pure Bermuda hay, along with a grain that provides 16 % protein. Bermuda is my choice basically because that's the fescue free hay I can find here. If I can find it, then I add some alfalfa, too.

About that "due date", some people seem to lose their minds when one mentions a due date for a mare.

Well, I am.in complete agreement that broodmares make up their own rules as they go along, subject to change in a nanosecond, every mare is different, tons of things influence the length of gestation.......... blah blah blah BUT.......there are preparations that must be done, and one must have a point of reference.

The due date for quarter horses is generally figured at 340 days. That's what I use to set up my schedule for pre foal duties. This schedule is adjusted for mares I have foaled out before, based on their history, like my mare, Lace, who consistently foaled on day 330.

Dream is a maiden mare, meaning she has never foaled. This translates to heightened worry, because who knows what rules she's thinking up!

Btw, cameras in foaling stalls are not a luxury, they are absolutely, positively a must..........and people, extremely experienced people, still, miss deliveries.

Mares need vaccinations to boost their immunity, which is then passed on to the foal in that oh so important colostrum. The standard protocol is giving those boosters at 30 days prior to the due date. I prefer to give them 40 days prior to help cover foals who make an early appearance.

Here are some photos that document the changes in Dream's body, which up till now haven't been dramatic, again the maiden thing. Her udder has barely started developing, which while not uncommon at this stage will be monitored closely!!!

Big changes are surely coming, stay tuned!😁

PS The nail test........it's one of those traditions that are passed on from old horse breeders, who are FULL of fantastic knowledge. Never EVER pass up the opportunity to pick the brain of well experienced breeders!!

Back to the nail test....... old timers say that if you tie a nail to either a string, or a tail hair from the mare, then suspend the nail over the mare's flanks, the nail won't move if she's open ( not pregnant) , it will swing in a straight line along her spine if she's carrying a colt, and it will swing in a circle if she's carrying a filly.

I admittedly shake, but I tried it many times with Dream, and got circles every time!!! I am crossing my fingers that it's correct. It has been many times in the past.

Mares make up their own rules, broodmares rule the world.