If you are expecting your mare to foal this year it is important to plan well in advance. It should be emphasised that the vast majority of mares (even maiden) mares foal without difficulty, and produce a healthy foal. You do not need to worry about the event, but you should be well prepared!
These notes are intended to help if your mare is due to foal at home.
Preparation of the mare
Tetanus and influenza immunisation within 4 weeks of giving birth will ensure that the foal receives colostrum rich in antibodies to both of these diseases.
Regular exercise (turn out into a paddock during the day) is vital to decrease the amount of fluid retention (oedema) around the udder and abdomen.
Regular (at least twice daily) monitoring of mammary development. Any changes in the mammary gland should be noted, in particular if there is dripping of milk.
Foaling Box
Minimum size is 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft), with a size of 5m x 5m (16ft x 16 ft) being desirable as this will allow more space for people should it become necessary. Make sure that the door opens outwards! A closed circuit television camera is ideal, but otherwise a window from which the mare can be observed without disturbing her.
The best bedding is CLEAN STRAW. Do not use shavings and put the bed down the day before the expected foaling so as not to create too much dust.
There should be no sharp edges, buckets or feed bins. GOOD LIGHTING is essential. The box should be warm 25oC (78oF) is the correct temperature.
Remember you may have to sit up with the mare for several nights so a warm room for the attendants is useful!
Basic foaling equipment.
- Have some clean towels ready to dry the foal with.
- Disinfectant (e.g Hibiscrub) to dip the foal's navel in immediately after birth.
- Thermometer
- Access to hot water
- Clean protective clothing including wellingtons
- A tail bandage for the mare
Notify your vet
Make sure that your vet knows that you have a mare expecting a foal & when it is due so that should you require his assistance he can be prepared for any eventuality.
If you are uncertain about any part of the foaling process call your vet for help or advice before the big day.
A foal rug may be useful, if it is very cold remember to bandage the foal's legs.
Foaling
Foaling in mares is usually a rapid event. Initially mares may have patchy sweating, pawing at the ground, looking around at the flanks, pacing uneasily around the box, and curling of the upper lip. These signs are not infrequently mistaken for colic! The first stage of labour may last from 1 to 4 hours, but can be very variable, and sometimes there may be repetitive false alarms (esp. in maiden thoroughbreds). Once it has been established that the mare has started to foal a tail bandage should be applied. The mare may lie down and roll from side to side, this is thought to help the foal move into the correct position for foaling.
Mares usually foal lying down. The first sign that foaling has actually started is often several gallons of clear fluid escaping from the vagina, it is possible to miss this as it happens very quickly. Within 5 minutes a white glistening membrane should appear between the vulval lips. First one front foot and a few minutes latter the second front foot should appear within this membrane. The nose should then follow. It is not uncommon for mares to stand up just after the feet are presented and then lie down again. If a thick red membrane appears (see below) this means that foetal membranes have not correctly separated and you should call your vet for advice IMMEDIATELY. It may be necessary for you to rupture this membrane, but you should consult your vet first.
If you see a thick red bag call your vet immediately.
If foaling is progressing normally the foal should be delivered within 15 minutes of seeing the first foot, if there is excessive delay call your vet.
Rarely the foal is born with the clear foetal membranes unbroken around its head, this will prevent it from breathing. You must clear these membranes immediately yourself. Do not separate the umbilical cord, blood continues to flow from the placenta to the foal for several minutes after completion of the birthing process. The cord will separate naturally when the mare stands up.
The final stage of parturition is delivery of the placenta (cleansing). This usually occurs within one hour of foaling. If cleansing is delayed it may become necessary for your vet to manually remove the afterbirth. DO NOT pull on the placenta yourself, this can cause a prolapse of the entire uterus (which is often fatal). Mares should be cleansed within 24 hours of delivery of the foal. Remember to retain the placenta in a clean plastic bag or bucket, for your vet to examine.
The foal
Any foal born after 320 days gestation is considered full term. Some mares gestate for 365 days or more and produce totally normal foals, so in the absence of any adverse signs do not be alarmed if your mare has a prolonged gestation.
Within 5 minutes of birth your foal should be able to lift his head, and after 15 minutes should be making some attempts to stand.
Remember to treat the navel (according to your vets recommendations).
Foals should be able to stand within 1/2 - 1 1/2 hours of birth. It is vital that foals suckle colostrum (first milk) from the mare within 4 hours of birth. After 12 hours the foal should be nursing strongly and bonded with its mother. Some foals (esp. colt foals) have difficulty in passing the foetal faeces (meconium). This should start within four hours of birth. If the foal does not pass faeces or shows signs of colic, consult your vet. (see below).
This foal needs urgent veterinary attention it has a retained meconium causing colic.
Post Foaling Veterinary Check
You should ask your vet to perform a post foaling check on both the mare and your new foal. He will want to carefully check the placenta. Any tears in vulval lips can be sutured and repaired at this time. In high risk foals prophylactic antibiotics may be administered, but only if your vet. thinks that this is essential, he may also administer an enema is the foal has not passed its meconium.
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