Foaling Watch Update – March 12, 2025

🔹 Quick Status Overview 🔹

🐴 Elusive Surprise – Day 341 – Streaming milk, continued waxing, foal is in proper position with a strong heartbeat. We are on full alert and prepared for a red bag delivery if needed.
🐴 Lady Dyanaformer – Day 334 – No major changes. Continuing to progress at a steady pace.
🐴 My Audubon – Day 314 – No updates. Healthy and happy with plenty of time before foaling.

Surprise’s Veterinary Check & What We Learned

Despite starting to stream milk late yesterday afternoon, Surprise did NOT foal overnight. To ensure everything is still progressing as it should, we kept this morning’s veterinary appointment to check the foal’s position and confirm its well-being.

✔️ Foal is positioned correctly
✔️ Heartbeat is strong
✔️ Some thickening and separation of the placenta remains

The placentitis first identified at Day 296 has not fully resolved, which is not surprising given how severe it was when we first found it. However, our treatment plan stopped its progression, which is the best possible outcome in a case like this.

📌 More on Surprise’s initial diagnosis and treatment plan here: Foaling Season Begins… With a Pharmacy

Although placentitis can increase the risk of a red bag delivery, we are not able to monitor for it directly—only to be on full alert and prepared. Given that Surprise’s last foal in 2023 was a red bag delivery, we have taken extra precautions to ensure we are ready to assist if necessary.

Streaming Milk: What Does It Mean?

Mares can start dripping or streaming milk anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days before foaling. Some lose large amounts, while others have only small, intermittent leaks.

🔹 Intermittent dripping, like what we’re seeing with Surprise, is not necessarily a concern for colostrum loss.
🔹 If she continues streaming heavily, we may collect and store colostrum to ensure the foal receives high-quality antibodies at birth.

What’s Next?

With milk streaming, waxing, a calcium spike, and foaling history, Surprise remains under intensive monitoring. Foaling could happen at any time.

The team is on full alert, cameras are rolling, and we are fully prepared. Stay tuned for updates—we are getting very close!

The foal’s heart on ultrasound