When Might Be Her Next Heat?

horses-n-greyhoundz · 07-06-2005, 04:32 PM

I've had my new mare 2 1/2 weeks. She was bred at her previous owners back in May during the 23rd-27th....so approximately six weeks ago. I'm wondering when I might assume she took if a period does not show here in a few weeks...???

I will be having a vet come out in two weeks to float her teeth. He will do a palpitation then. But.. in the meantime...

ToveroMom · 07-06-2005, 06:04 PM

Well you could get an ultrasound to check it out
At that stage I have never had one palped
If she didn't catch-then he can tell you how big her follicle is

TXCowGrl82 · 07-06-2005, 07:07 PM

My vet will palpate at about 5 weeks. So you may want to ask. Palpation is A. Cheaper and B. Easier to do if they don't have an ultrasound machine. No one in my area has one...

thumpersgirl · 07-06-2005, 07:15 PM

Okay, I'm no breeder, so I'm not 100% sure on this but...I just had my mare bred the first week in June and what the stud's owner told me was to count 21 days from the last day she was bred and see if she showed any signs of heat then. He said most mares have a cycle like a womans, 21 days out, 7 in. Does this help at all? Like I said, I'm not a breeder, but that's what I was told. It would help if you knew your mares signs of being in heat first though. Mine is very vocal, and she's not been at all nor has she been flirting w/ the boys at all, so we think she took.

TXCowGrl82 · 07-06-2005, 07:34 PM

Yes, 17-21 days out of estrus and 5-7 days in estrus. It varies with each mare, but that is a general timeline. Do you know the signs of heat? Some of them are frequent urination, "blinking" of the vulva, spreading their hind legs and squating with their tail raised, and/or higher tail carriage. Some mares won't show any signs, so if you don't see anything doesn't mean that she took. Mom's new mare will nuzzle up to anything when she's in heat, even other mares!

They actually have a "heat" scale of 0-5 describing how receptive a mare is to a stud. Unfortunately, the only sure fire way to determine actual estrus (not even just "heat") is an ultrasound. But if you just want to know if she is pregnant, the palpation will be just fine. And going by signs of heat work quite well for most people most of the time.

ToveroMom · 07-06-2005, 08:16 PM

Well can you imagine trying to palp one at that stage?
Thing that would bug me is that without an U/S you risk twinning too
I would raise cane with my Vet if they didn't have an U/S Portable units are very cost effective these days
You NEED U/S to check the follicle size for shipped semen too it is not enough to know she is cycling-you need to know at what size the follicle is so you can ship the "Stud-sicle"
I am not a big breeder but even with my production of one every other year-I NEED to know the status so I cna rebreed or get in there and pinch off a twin.

horses-n-greyhoundz · 07-07-2005, 11:25 AM

Soooooo....hmmmmmm.....

I also started another thread in Health that described my concern that she seemed to be urinating when she passed gas. I am now thinking that she in in heat. She is urinating alot, squatting, blinking,and holding her tail in the air. I have never had a mare, so this is all new to me.

So, she must not have taken if she's showing these signs? Is the fluid a kind of clear mucus? I was expecting to see some signs of blood...no?

ThorArb · 07-07-2005, 12:45 PM

Like I said in your other post, you CANNOT tell if a mare is in fact pregnant just by her cycles. Some mares will come in, be bred, take, and not come back in for the whole 11 months. While others will continue to show "false" heats. I have proof of it, my paint mare does it. She will come in no matter what, right on time, every 21 days.

Brittany

ToveroMom · 07-07-2005, 12:52 PM

Yes I had a Hussy mare that always 'showed" around the boys-even close to foaling

tobianoveropaint · 07-07-2005, 01:02 PM

Sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is a palpitation?

ThorArb · 07-07-2005, 03:43 PM

Its an exam for pregnancy, but rather than using sight (ultrasound) it is by feel (palpation).

tobianoveropaint · 07-07-2005, 03:58 PM

Ahhh! Thanks for filling me in!

muttduck · 07-07-2005, 05:11 PM

"Palpation" is the word for "feeling" if a baby is in there... The vet "palpates."

"Palpitation" is the word for when a heart does irregular beating.

Personally, heart palpitations are scary!!!

Orchid · 07-07-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttduck

Personally, heart palpitations are scary!!!

You're darn tootin' they are!

ToveroMom · 07-07-2005, 05:50 PM

OK no one told her HOW the Vet palpates a mare-it can be upsetting the first time you see it

OK first he puts on an OB glove that goes up to his shoulder-then he cleans the mare out a bit and inserts his arm into her rectum It looks skeery but it is easier to palpate from that area down onto the uterus the area is quite big enough to safely do it
The ultrasounding we do is at 16-18 days to see if there is a pregnancy and check for twinning

TXCowGrl82 · 07-07-2005, 07:35 PM

Yes, U/S is best, but these country doctors don't have it...fortunately (not just for breeding, but in general) Texas A&M is only about 45 minutes away. But I am not hauling all the way their for an ultrasound. I don't do AI, so I don't need to know follice size, and as for twinning...since nobody has an U/S, I'll take my chances. I guess I'm just too lazy to drive somewhere that has one. And if something happens with twins, well, I'll kick myself, but it will be my fault.

horses-n-greyhoundz · 07-07-2005, 09:55 PM

So, even if she is dribbling/squirting....ALOT....and doing all the squatting and blinking, and flirting signs, she still could be pregnant? Is this very common? What are the chances...???

My vet comes tomorrow to float her teeth. He will PALPATE

her while she's a bit drunk from the "cocktail" they give to get them calm. I will be floored if she is for she seems soooo hot and heavy!

TXCowGrl82 · 07-07-2005, 10:02 PM

Yes, she could still be pregnant. Most of my mares will continue to breed

after they are pregnant. We just keep getting them palpated to make sure we hit the right cycle.

ToveroMom · 07-07-2005, 10:09 PM

ROFL Heck I live near Baytown..this is the sticks
I am just surprised up there there are not any Vets with them..
They need to jump into the 20th century

TXCowGrl82 · 07-07-2005, 10:17 PM

Technically there is a vet about 45-60 minutes away that has an ultrasound. But the vets in that office are pompous, arrogant, and overpriced. I wouldn't take my horses there in a life or death situation. My old vet had an ultra sound, but when we moved 40 minutes north and he moved 40 minutes south...too far of a haul for me. Unless we were having difficulty getting a mare bred. Then we'd probably haul them out to him. He was great vet...and cute, too!

07-06-2005, 04:32 PM
horses-n-greyhoundz Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 1,209	When Might Be Her Next Heat? I've had my new mare 2 1/2 weeks. She was bred at her previous owners back in May during the 23rd-27th....so approximately six weeks ago. I'm wondering when I might assume she took if a period does not show here in a few weeks...??? I will be having a vet come out in two weeks to float her teeth. He will do a palpitation then. But.. in the meantime...

07-06-2005, 06:04 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Well you could get an ultrasound to check it out At that stage I have never had one palped If she didn't catch-then he can tell you how big her follicle is __________________

07-06-2005, 07:07 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	My vet will palpate at about 5 weeks. So you may want to ask. Palpation is A. Cheaper and B. Easier to do if they don't have an ultrasound machine. No one in my area has one...

07-06-2005, 07:15 PM
thumpersgirl Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,117	Okay, I'm no breeder, so I'm not 100% sure on this but...I just had my mare bred the first week in June and what the stud's owner told me was to count 21 days from the last day she was bred and see if she showed any signs of heat then. He said most mares have a cycle like a womans, 21 days out, 7 in. Does this help at all? Like I said, I'm not a breeder, but that's what I was told. It would help if you knew your mares signs of being in heat first though. Mine is very vocal, and she's not been at all nor has she been flirting w/ the boys at all, so we think she took.

07-06-2005, 07:34 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Yes, 17-21 days out of estrus and 5-7 days in estrus. It varies with each mare, but that is a general timeline. Do you know the signs of heat? Some of them are frequent urination, "blinking" of the vulva, spreading their hind legs and squating with their tail raised, and/or higher tail carriage. Some mares won't show any signs, so if you don't see anything doesn't mean that she took. Mom's new mare will nuzzle up to anything when she's in heat, even other mares! They actually have a "heat" scale of 0-5 describing how receptive a mare is to a stud. Unfortunately, the only sure fire way to determine actual estrus (not even just "heat") is an ultrasound. But if you just want to know if she is pregnant, the palpation will be just fine. And going by signs of heat work quite well for most people most of the time.

07-06-2005, 08:16 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Well can you imagine trying to palp one at that stage? Thing that would bug me is that without an U/S you risk twinning too I would raise cane with my Vet if they didn't have an U/S Portable units are very cost effective these days You NEED U/S to check the follicle size for shipped semen too it is not enough to know she is cycling-you need to know at what size the follicle is so you can ship the "Stud-sicle" I am not a big breeder but even with my production of one every other year-I NEED to know the status so I cna rebreed or get in there and pinch off a twin. __________________

07-07-2005, 11:25 AM
horses-n-greyhoundz Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 1,209	Soooooo....hmmmmmm..... I also started another thread in Health that described my concern that she seemed to be urinating when she passed gas. I am now thinking that she in in heat. She is urinating alot, squatting, blinking,and holding her tail in the air. I have never had a mare, so this is all new to me. So, she must not have taken if she's showing these signs? Is the fluid a kind of clear mucus? I was expecting to see some signs of blood...no?

07-07-2005, 12:45 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 6,018	Like I said in your other post, you CANNOT tell if a mare is in fact pregnant just by her cycles. Some mares will come in, be bred, take, and not come back in for the whole 11 months. While others will continue to show "false" heats. I have proof of it, my paint mare does it. She will come in no matter what, right on time, every 21 days. Brittany __________________ Proud owner of Gracie (98 App mare), Dezi (06 App filly), Togan (88 QH gelding)

07-07-2005, 12:52 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Yes I had a Hussy mare that always 'showed" around the boys-even close to foaling __________________

07-07-2005, 01:02 PM
tobianoveropaint Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 510	Sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is a palpitation? __________________ Blessed are the blind, for they can see people as they really are.

07-07-2005, 03:43 PM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 6,018	Its an exam for pregnancy, but rather than using sight (ultrasound) it is by feel (palpation). __________________ Proud owner of Gracie (98 App mare), Dezi (06 App filly), Togan (88 QH gelding)

07-07-2005, 03:58 PM
tobianoveropaint Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 510	Ahhh! Thanks for filling me in! __________________ Blessed are the blind, for they can see people as they really are.

07-07-2005, 05:11 PM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 7,056	"Palpation" is the word for "feeling" if a baby is in there... The vet "palpates." "Palpitation" is the word for when a heart does irregular beating. Personally, heart palpitations are scary!!! __________________ sigh

07-07-2005, 05:50 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	OK no one told her HOW the Vet palpates a mare-it can be upsetting the first time you see it OK first he puts on an OB glove that goes up to his shoulder-then he cleans the mare out a bit and inserts his arm into her rectum It looks skeery but it is easier to palpate from that area down onto the uterus the area is quite big enough to safely do it The ultrasounding we do is at 16-18 days to see if there is a pregnancy and check for twinning __________________

07-07-2005, 07:35 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Yes, U/S is best, but these country doctors don't have it...fortunately (not just for breeding, but in general) Texas A&M is only about 45 minutes away. But I am not hauling all the way their for an ultrasound. I don't do AI, so I don't need to know follice size, and as for twinning...since nobody has an U/S, I'll take my chances. I guess I'm just too lazy to drive somewhere that has one. And if something happens with twins, well, I'll kick myself, but it will be my fault.

07-07-2005, 09:55 PM
horses-n-greyhoundz Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Central Arkansas Posts: 1,209	So, even if she is dribbling/squirting....ALOT....and doing all the squatting and blinking, and flirting signs, she still could be pregnant? Is this very common? What are the chances...??? My vet comes tomorrow to float her teeth. He will PALPATE her while she's a bit drunk from the "cocktail" they give to get them calm. I will be floored if she is for she seems soooo hot and heavy!

07-07-2005, 10:02 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Yes, she could still be pregnant. Most of my mares will continue to breed after they are pregnant. We just keep getting them palpated to make sure we hit the right cycle.

07-07-2005, 10:09 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	ROFL Heck I live near Baytown..this is the sticks I am just surprised up there there are not any Vets with them.. They need to jump into the 20th century __________________

07-07-2005, 10:17 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,242	Technically there is a vet about 45-60 minutes away that has an ultrasound. But the vets in that office are pompous, arrogant, and overpriced. I wouldn't take my horses there in a life or death situation. My old vet had an ultra sound, but when we moved 40 minutes north and he moved 40 minutes south...too far of a haul for me. Unless we were having difficulty getting a mare bred. Then we'd probably haul them out to him. He was great vet...and cute, too!