Update on Ella

March 19, 2013

Tuesday, after taking a look over her or examining her I did notice one change since last Sunday (March 17, 2013) two saggy bags have appeared behind her udders. They're quite low hanging and I know they were not there last time. She's still round, so the idea of her being bloated is gone and if I had to guess I would say her flanks have softened and her tail head is a bit higher.

She let me groom her and touch her belly as well as her udders, this is good and I think a sign on trust. I'm hoping when she foals she will trust me enough around her baby and not be an aggressive, slightly over protective Mom. She's had three or four foals in the past to my understanding and hope this aides in her delivery, but I don't know the history of what she was like as a Mom to the foals (I'm sure she was great) or to the people around her. If she was aggressive I'm not sure she would have been bred for the second, third or possibly fourth time.

I've also picked up some supplies. After two days we'll change the straw bedding to shavings, once the foal is dried off and no longer sticky etc. I'm also going to wrap her tail and have a few things to add to our first aid kit, which will act as the foaling kit as well.

I'm excited, but really nervous and a bit concerned as well. I hope that the foal is healthy and most importantly that Ella is fine and all works out well for her. They say Mares can do it all on their own and that it's natural they would delivery in the wild etc, BUT in the wild there are also complications that lead to the death of either the foal, Mare or both. That's a fact of life, nature as well, bit different when I've spent all this time with Ella getting to know her and working on developing trust.

Here's a good foaling link: Thar She Blows