Super excited about spring and our upcoming foals. In order:
Menagerie's Kewpie Leigh HOF "Leigh" X Buckeye WCF Paposa Silver Bullet - April 3rd 2012
Windmill Lady Di "Di" X Vermilyea Farms Bentley HOF - May 7th 2012 BORN May 20th
Westwind Farms Buckoffs Willow "Willow" X Obsessive Dream of WCF - May 15th - July 25th 2012
Hells Canyon Cowboys Cadence "Kate" X Buckeye WCF Hot Toddy - June 4th 2012 BORN May 27th
Andees Sendin Out an SOS "Sassy" X Vermilyea Farms Bentley HOF -June 21st 2012 BORN June 27th
Cascades Velvet Starlet "Starlet" X Obsessive Dream of WCF - July 6th 2012 BORN June 10th
How many times have we looked at our glowing mothers-to-be and asked ourselves, "What does it look like now?" and "When is it going to get here?"
Menagerie's Kewpie Leigh HOF "Leigh" X Buckeye WCF Paposa Silver Bullet - April 3rd 2012
Windmill Lady Di "Di" X Vermilyea Farms Bentley HOF - May 7th 2012 BORN May 20th
Westwind Farms Buckoffs Willow "Willow" X Obsessive Dream of WCF - May 15th - July 25th 2012
Hells Canyon Cowboys Cadence "Kate" X Buckeye WCF Hot Toddy - June 4th 2012 BORN May 27th
Andees Sendin Out an SOS "Sassy" X Vermilyea Farms Bentley HOF -June 21st 2012 BORN June 27th
Cascades Velvet Starlet "Starlet" X Obsessive Dream of WCF - July 6th 2012 BORN June 10th
How many times have we looked at our glowing mothers-to-be and asked ourselves, "What does it look like now?" and "When is it going to get here?"
Day 9-11. With the naked eye you can only see the 'embryonic vesicle ' which houses the embryo. The vesicle looks like a shimmering , firm translucent bubble less than 1/4 " in diameter. On the ultrasound screen, you will see it as a black circle in a sea of grainy grey (your mares uterus). At this point the embryo is only the size of a pinpoint and highly mobile found in either horn or in the body. Mares are often not scanned as early as day 11 for fear of pregnancy arising from later ovulation and remaining undetectable.
Day 14. Diagnosis of Pregnancy. The 14 day conceptus is 13 to 18 mm in size and lies centrally in the uterine body. Note the spherical shape and increase in size over the Day 11 pregnancy. The embryonic vesicle grows at a rate of approximately 3.5 mm/day at this early stage of pregnancy and remains highly mobile, making thorough examination of all parts of the uterus important. In the event of twin pregnancies, both vesicles can usually be seen at 14 days, even if the second co-twin arose from a later ovulation.
Day 24. The vesicle has grown to 1" in diameter. It is a shimmering flabby, translucent bubble with a dark red dot, the embryo, at one end. A network of thread like blood vessels emanates from the 1/4" dot. You can barely make out the beginnings of the animal features. A head with tiny bumps that will become eyes, a fleshy tail nub, and four little buds that will eventually become legs. On the ultrasound monitor, you will see the vesicle as an irregular, guitar pick shaped black blob within the grainy grey. Generally around day 24, an embryonic heart is large enough to be seen on the ultrasound screen. To find it, focus on the 'floor' surface of the blob. You will see a white smudge about 1/2" in diameter, resting there is the embryo. Within the smudge, a tiny black spot, about the size of a pinpoint, will be flashing on and off. This is the pea sized embryo's beating heart.
Day 40. The vesicle is now 2 1/2" in diameter, roughly spherical in shape and somewhat collapsed. The 3/4 inch embryo within is now recognisable as a four legged animal. It has a blobby head with eyelids, rudimentary ears, ridges where the nostrils will be, and functional elbows and stifle joints. An ultrasound would reveal the vesicle as a round black blob. The developing umbilical cord is clearly visible. Look for the white smudge of the embryo to be suspended from the vesicle's ceiling, rather than resting on the floor. This shift of position is step one in what researchers call "the rise and fall of the embryo". It results from filmy membranes at the top of the vesicle coming together to form the umbilical cord. As they do so, they shorten pulling the olive sized embryo up to the ceiling like a chandelier.
Day 50 to 55. The embryo now is slightly over an inch long nestling within the confines of the 1 1/2 " vesicle. You can see tiny ribs under the skin, it domed head is similar to a Chihuahua and has developed a distinct skull. Little triangles represent it's ears and the hock and fetlock joints have developed. At this stage your future foal officially will graduate from embryo to fetus. On the ultrasound monitor, you will find the fetus back on the vesicle's floor, due to the lengthening of the umbilical cord. Because of it's size now, this will be your last chance to view the fetus via ultrasounds. In a matter of weeks it will be too big for the ultrasound screen.
Day 60. The vesicle is now flabby and shapeless conforming to the uterine walls. The fetus is now approx 3 1/2 inches long. You can see that it clearly resembles a horse thanks to the development of tiny hooves, complete with soles and frogs. It's head is still tucked but less than before. The fetus is hairless and about the size of a hamster. Considerable fetal motility is obvious.
Day 80. The fetal head will now be un-tucked and is held level with the spine in the 'normal' horse position. It's sex is now visible. You can see that little lumps have formed for the scrotum if it's a colt or the udder if it is a filly. The fetus is now about the size of a chipmunk. A red stain has been used to highlight the developing skeleton. The darker areas show calcium deposits where the bones are starting to ossify. The hardening skeleton system provides a framework for other body structures and protects the internal organs as they develop. The mare will be experiencing hormonal changes and increased blood flow to the uterus - now the size of a melon - but will not yet look pregnant.
Day 100. Your mares 7 inch fetus is now about the size of a six week old kitten. You can see a bit of hair on it's lips and it's ears are uncurling from it's head, they are now nearly 1/2 inch long and curled forwards on it's head. The coronary band looks like little raised lines circling the tops of it's tiny 1/4 inch hooves.
Day 180. The fetus has quadrupled it's weight in just 30 days. Mane and tail hairs have appeared and it is about the size of a Beagle.
Day 240. Now at about 16 1/2 inches long, the fetus has whisker like hairs on it's chin, throat and muzzle.
Day 270. Your mares fetus is approx the size it will be when born. It has fine hairs covering it's body and it now has a swatch of hair on it's tail. It is about the size it would be at birth.
Day 320. In the last week or so, the fetus' lungs have developed to a point where it can function if it were to be born. It's legs have developed to a point that it can support it's own weight. It's hair has coarsened from the fine silky texture of fetus hair to that of a fully formed foal. As far as development is concerned, your foal is now safe and ready to be born. You will get the chance to meet your mares foal in a matter of days or weeks. Normal foal gestation can range between 330 days plus or minus 15 days.
References:
http://www.crayonboxminiatures.com/MiniFetusDevelopment.html
http://www.oakleighminiatures.com/contents/Development%20of%20a%20foal%20and%20gestation.htm
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/horse-fetus-bu
http://pneupnurse.tumblr.com/page/6
http://www.crayonboxminiatures.com/MiniFetusDevelopment.html
http://www.oakleighminiatures.com/contents/Development%20of%20a%20foal%20and%20gestation.htm
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/horse-fetus-bu
http://pneupnurse.tumblr.com/page/6