Foaling
If you have any doubts about the foaling process, we encourage you to have your mare foaled by an experienced person. A normal foaling proceeds very quickly, and the time taken to appropriate intervention, if required, may make the difference between a good and very bad outcome.
How will I know when my mare is going to foal?
If you know the service date, you can calculate a due date approximately 342 days later. However, normal pregnancies can vary between 320 and 400 days! There are some signs that will give you more of a clue, but some mares show only a few of these signs and some will show none at all. 98% of mares foal in the middle of the night, so be prepared for some sleepless nights. The first signs can appear several days and even weeks before the actual delivery:
- The udder begins to develop 2-4 weeks before foaling
- Teat size increases gradually
- Waxing - fine drops of wax on the ends of the teat - occurs in many mares within 24 hours of foaling. Some mares may wax 1-2 weeks before foaling, while others don't wax at all!
- Mares may drip colostrum before foaling. Colostrum gives the foal vital protection against infection, so if you are worried that your mare has lost a lot of colostrum before foaling, please contact us to test the quality of the colostrum once the foal is born. Blood tests can also be arranged to check that the foal has the protection that it needs.
- Maiden mares can foal with minimal udder changes. Udder changes are often greater in mares that have had a number of foals
- The vulval lips swell and become longer and the tail head may be more pronounced a few days before foaling. Vulval changes may by subtle (particularly in maidens) and may occur only 1-2 hours before foaling
- Separation from the group
- Restlessness - more walking or lying down on the evening of foaling, and less resting while standing
The stages of labour
Stage1: Uterine contractions begin and the birth canal opens. Signs you may observe are:
- Restlessness
- Signs like colic, e.g. flank watching, pawing
- Sweating
- Frequent passage of small quantities of manure
Stage 1 lasts about an hour. Do not disturb the mare during this time. Have as few people present as possible. Stage 1 ends with the breaking of the waters.
Stage 2: The birth of the foal - this stage lasts about 30 minutes and is a very explosive event.
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The mare usually lies down and has strong contractions. The foal normally appears front feet first, one slightly in front of the other, hooves facing down. In a normal presentation, the nose of the foal sits at about the level of the knees to mid-cannon. The foal is usually delivered while the mare is lying on her side.
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The hind legs, to the level of the hock, often remain inside the vagina and the umbilical cord stays intact. Do not disturb the mare at this stage, as blood is still passing from the placenta into the foal through the cord. The mare may rest in this position for up to ¼ hour.
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If the presentation of the foal is abnormal there is little time to correct it before the mare damages either herself or the foal. Do not delay in calling Totally Vets.
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Do not interfere once the foal is delivered. The only exception is if the membrane is covering the foal's mouth and nose. If this is the case, remove the membrane and clear the foal's nostrils of mucous so that it can breathe freely.
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Otherwise, observe from a distance. The cord usually breaks when the foal struggles to rise or the mare gets up. It is preferable for it to break naturally. Allow the mare to clean the foal as this is an important bonding process between mother and offspring. Licking stimulates the foal to breathe, stand up and suck. The foal's navel should be treated to reduce the risk of infection. Read more...
Stage 3: The afterbirth is expelled
- This can take up to 1-2 hours, but usually occurs within 1 hour of foaling. If the membranes have not been expelled within 4 hours call Totally Vets. Retained membranes in mares are an urgent problem.
- The afterbirth provides valuable information about the birth, so don't throw it away - put it in a bucket and cover it up so that the dog can't get it! If you have a post-foaling check, the vet will make sure that all of the placenta is there as if some of it is left behind, it can cause serious problems.
Totally Vets has a team of experienced equine vets who are happy to help you with any queries or concerns you may have in the lead up to foaling and after care, so do not hesitate to give us a call.
