We have a couple of mares that are expecting little ones this Spring, and with the conditions being so icy due to the freeze-thaw-freeze weather we've had and the moms-to-be getting a little cranky with the rest of the herd, we decided it was time to move them into their Maternity Ward accomodations! :)
"Lilly" (~8yo) is a little farther along than the other mare, as you can see from the picture above! She has had one other baby ("Miles"), who will be 2yo this year. He is standing behind Lilly on the other side of the gate, wondering why his momma is in the corral. He's a silly boy. The daddy was a Red Dun. Lilly is a Grey. So, the color combination options for the baby are: ANYTHING! :) (Miles is a bay roan-same stud). It will be interesting to see what Lilly's baby looks like!
"Charro" is our other pregnant mare (~6yo). She is a first-time momma. She is very athletic, so this should help her with the process. Charro is a Bay, and the stud was the same as above, a Red Dun. The most likely color combination options for her baby are: Bay Dun, Bay, Red Dun, Black and Sorrel.
The girls gearing up for a mommy snack!
The natural breeding season for mares is ~from April through September,
peak time in June.
The average gestation period (how long the mare is pregnant) is ~320-370 days!*
During the last 3 months of pregnancy, a mare (~1100lbs in size) needs a minimum of 18,490 calories a day! When the momma's are lactating/nursing, they require 30,610 calories a day!!*
So you can imagine the saying "eats like a horse" really takes effect during this period!
We can keep a good eye on the girls in here...watching the babies kick and making sure they are safe and no complications are arising prior to foaling. :)
*Specific Information Courtesy of Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook: 3rd Edition (2008)
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