STOCKYARD
HORSE DISCUSSION FORUMS

arylin · 05-09-2008, 09:57 PM

I put my hand up the other day to help friends around the corner when their mare started to foal as they had no previous experience with mares foaling and were a bit worried about how it all went.
Mare was wearing a foaling alarm and I had a look at the mare on Wednesday and was sure she wouldn't last the night with all her signs looking like she would go at any time.
Well she held on till this morning and I received a call at 11.30,
Can you come mare is down and foaling.
Must have some how known there was a problem as I wasn't home and broke land speed records (not recommended) to get there.
Spotted the mare as I sped past and thought hmm that doesnt look right so sped in and ran over to paddock asking a million questions as I went.
How long has she been down etc etc.
Poor girl the alarm failed and the owners were not sure how long she had been down for. She was drenched in sweat and a quick look showed a malpresented foal coming upside down with only one front leg visible.
As luck would have it the vet was 5 minutes away and was there so quickly that I'm sure it was the only reason we ended up with a positive outcome.
Poor foal was well and truly stuck and being upside down didn't help at all so in the end we attached ropes to bubs legs and with the vet on the foal we had 3 of us handling the ropes to help remove bub.
I was sure we would be too late to save the bub and the mare inverted her bladder as well during all her straining which at the time looked like she had prolapsed so things were not going well.
In the end bub was born alive though very grey and with a fair bit of fluid ingested and the vet was able to repair the bladder issue.

One of those good ending foaling stories but it could just have easily been the other way.
Luckily they had walked out to have a look at her.
Luckily the vet was only a few minutes away.
Luckily I realised as soon as I saw her it was more than I could do on my own.
Luckily both mum and bub survived.

So my very very lucky neighbours are now proud owners of a lovely long legged bay filly with a little white star who should be named Lucky as she was damn lucky she lived.

samm · 05-09-2008, 10:01 PM

One of the reasons I don't trust foaling alarms as unless the mare lays flat which quite often doesn't happen with a malpresentation it doesn't trigger.
Glad it worked out and sorry my phone didnt go off when you rang.(stupid mobile signal here .Must remember to ring home phone).

Ali · 05-09-2008, 10:02 PM

OMG, thats why I don't breed horses!! Too many risks for my liking, so glad to hear that it was a successful outcome though. Good on ya Aryline. Hope mare and foal continue to do well

goodie · 05-09-2008, 10:05 PM

Well done to all

Great to hear of a positive outcome, Lucky is very lucky

....and there are photos coming, I presume

Horsetalk · 05-09-2008, 10:06 PM

Glad it went alright Arylin. Well done.

Webby · 05-09-2008, 10:13 PM

Lucky alright, breeding can be a very stressful time even for the experienced or even more so as they understand the dangers.

So hay this was a positive one thought, lots aren't so lucky

arylin · 05-09-2008, 10:13 PM

Funny thing was Mel the mare was flat on the ground and the alarm still didn't trigger.
I asked them if the alarm had alerted them and they said no it hadn't gone off and they said the mare was laying flat out when they found her so I'm inclined to think it was a faulty one.
You were the only one I could think off close enough that could help as the poor owners were a bit out of their depth with it all and I was really worried how long it would take a vet to get here.
Hats off to them though they did everything they could and grabbed what ever I asked for.

Will try and get pics of little one tomorrow she is very leggy and looks like she might be a big girl.
I called later this evening to check on how they were and so far she is doing everything right

samm · 05-09-2008, 10:16 PM

Yeah sorry about that.Put my home phone numbers into your phone.
The alarm never triggered with Kazzy either and it wasnt faulty.
I just dont trust them.I'd rather watch.

Glad you were handy and glad it was a good outcome

ps; must remember to get teddies ready

mod 6 · 05-09-2008, 10:42 PM

Good result Neryl, good thing you were there

Bucking mad · 06-09-2008, 06:27 AM

Glad alls ok , congrats on the new mum and bub.

STOCKYARD HORSE DISCUSSION FORUMS

STOCKYARD
HORSE DISCUSSION FORUMS