In the last 24 hours before foaling the mare will often become restless either taking herself off from her group or nest making in her stable.

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Blaise Hicks
5 years ago
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1 Foaling Waiting for your mare to foal is both an exciting and worrying time. It is best to have some understanding of what to expect, so that you know if something is abnormal and the vet needs to be called. Chine House operates a 24 hour on call service and you can ring for advice or a visit at any time if you think your mare is having difficulties at foaling. If want more routine foaling advice having read this article and please ring the practice and ask to speak to one of our vets who would be more than happy to answer your questions. The normal gestation period from covering to foaling in a mare is 11 months (average 340 days) although in a normal mare this can vary about a month either way. Signs that your mare is getting close to foaling will include an enlargement of the udder (bagging up) in the weeks prior to foaling. Then as foaling approaches small amounts of colostrum may ooze from the teats (waxing up). However, the exact timing of these events is very variable. Some mares, particularly maidens only develop an udder at the very last minute. In the last 24 hours before foaling the mare will often become restless either taking herself off from her group or nest making in her stable. However the key to good foaling management is close discrete observation of your mare. There are a number of cheap CCTV cameras available nowadays which allow you to observe your mare without disturbing her. There are other foaling detection aids available such as foaling alarms and detection kits based on milk sampling; however none of these are foolproof.

Stages of foaling In the first stage of labour the foal gets itself into the final birth position in the birth canal.

2 Other things that you can do to prepare for foaling are making sure that you have a well lit, large stable with a deep bed of clean straw and a supply of clean, preferably warm, water and some towels. Stages of foaling In the first stage of labour the foal gets itself into the final birth position in the birth canal. The mare can look restless at this stage, often getting up and down and passing frequent small amounts of urine and droppings. It is important not to disturb the mare at this stage because if she feels threatened she can delay progression from first to second stage labour.

Second stage labour begins with the breaking of the mare s waters, rupture of the placenta. A large volume of fluid is released and the mare starts more productive straining.

If the placenta does not rupture it may appear at the vulva as a red velvety structure.

3 Second stage labour begins with the breaking of the mare s waters, rupture of the placenta. A large volume of fluid is released and the mare starts more productive straining. This stage of foaling should proceed fairly rapidly and within 20 minutes of the waters breaking the foal should start to be delivered. If the placenta does not rupture it may appear at the vulva as a red velvety structure. This is called a red bag delivery and is an emergency, as the placenta has separated from the uterus and the foal is being starved of oxygen. The red bag must be torn or cut to reveal the foal wrapped in the clear sack in side. The foaling should then be assisted so that delivery is as quick as possible. If your mare has a red bag delivery even you are able to break the placenta and deliver the foal, it is worth having a visit from a vet as the foal with often be compromised and require further care.

The foal should come out with its front feet first one slightly behind the other

If either both feet are not present or the head is back, you should either correct

The mare will usually lie down at this stage to push the foal out in a reasonably

If the mare is straining and foaling is not progressing then gentle traction on

4 The foal should come out with its front feet first one slightly behind the other followed by the head. If either both feet are not present or the head is back, you should either correct the position of the foal or call your veterinary surgeon immediately. The mare will usually lie down at this stage to push the foal out in a reasonably rapid and forceful process. If the mare is straining and foaling is not progressing then gentle traction on one of the foal s legs at a time can help deliver the foal. If the mare foals standing up then the foal should be supported so that it does not fall to the floor and so that the umbilical cord does not break too early.

Once the foal is delivered the cord will usually break naturally just below the navel.

5 If the mare s water have broken and there has been no progression within 20 minutes then the vet should be called. It is better that the vet is called too early than a visit is delayed and the mare and foal lives are compromised. Once the foal is delivered the cord will usually break naturally just below the navel. The remaining stump should be treated with disinfectant we recommend a navel dip which can provide from the practice, otherwise 0.5% iodine or chlorhexidine is adequate. The third stage of delivery is the expulsion of the placenta this can proceed at a variable rate from a number of minutes to hours. As the placenta is delivered it should be tied up so that it does not flap around the mares back legs. The uterus of the mare is contracting during this time and this can be quite painful the mare will often get up and down and look mildly colicy. Once the placenta is delivered it needs to be carefully checked to make sure it is all present in particular the tip of both horns. These should be like the tips of socks with no holes in them. The placenta is usually delivered by 4 hours, if is not delivered by 8 hours or the morning after foaling or if you feel that any of it is missing please get in contact with us to arrange a visit. A retained placenta in the worse case can lead to the death of the mare.

Once the mare has foaled she should be left alone with her foal to bond with it. The foal will usually stand within 1-2 hours and have had its first suck by 4 hours.

6 Once the mare has foaled she should be left alone with her foal to bond with it. The foal will usually stand within 1-2 hours and have had its first suck by 4 hours. If you feel that your mare or foal is not behaving normally and certainly if your foal has not had its first suck by 4 hours please contact the practice for a visit. We would recommend that the mare and foal are checked over in the 24 hours following birth. This is to check that the placenta and the general health of the mare and foal. The foal is also usually given an injection of tetanus antitoxin. A second visit after 24 hours is recommended to check the antibody levels of the foal to check that it has received enough colostrum from the mare. Thank you to Whatton Manor for the excellent series of photographs of a normal foaling.

0.5% chlorhexidine to apply to the end of the umbilical cord. Vet s telephone number to hand ( and inform vet that the foal is due)

0.5% chlorhexidine to apply to the end of the umbilical cord. Vet s telephone number to hand ( and inform vet that the foal is due) FOALING Foaling can be a traumatic time for all concerned, not least of all, the owner! But if everything goes smoothly it is one of the most magical experiences that an owner can have. It is important