Do you have a pregnant mare due to foal this spring? YAY, Foaling Mares! This is my favorite time of the work year: full of broodmares and foals. In case you don’t know what to expect, I want to share some things to look for to determine your mare’s readiness to foal. Also what is normal, and what needs to be done to give the foal a good start in life.
Mares carry foals approximately 330days, but I have had normal foals born from 315 to 365 days. If you want to attend the birth, there are kits available that measure the calcium content in the mare’s milk that are intended to predict when she will not foal. That’s not the same as predicting when she will foal, but it still saves you from sleeping in the barn too often! How to know when she’s ready to deliver? The ligaments around the tail head become very soft when to feel them, when you lift her tail, her rear looks soft and loose, she should have a rapid increase in the size of her udder, and the weight of her abdomen seems to shift towards her tail. Unfortunately, many mares don’t read the book, but you should be able to notice some, if not all, of these changes. Once a mare goes into labor and her water breaks (the breaking of the outer membrane that holds fluid around the foal), the foal is usually out within 45 minutes. If there is no progress after 30 minutes, you should call your vet.
The first part of the foal visible in a normal birth will be the 2 feet, followed by the foal’s nose about 6 inches later. If the first thing you see is a red velvety mass, that is the placenta which has separated too soon, and you MUST tear it open and clear the foal’s nostrils quickly or it will die. A separated placenta does not bring oxygen through the umbilical cord. Once the shoulders are exposed, the rest of the body will quickly slither on out. (Remember the 30 minute rule.) At this point, just watch; your help is not required! Let the mare deal with it. Many new foal owners get upset if the foal does not jump up and nurse within 5 minutes. The average time for a foal to stand and nurse is actually 45 minutes. If it tries and is not successful after 30 minutes, I would try to gently help it. No dragging it around by the head! I see this all the time! You can’t pull a horse into something, but you can push it. Be gentle. This is the kid’s first introduction to people, make it positive.
Assuming all is well so far, you will need to treat its navel: make a dilute solution of betadine solution (not scrub) or nolvasan solution (not scrub). One part of the antiseptic to 9 parts of water. When the foal is nursing, sneak under its abdomen and dip the navel into a bowl or small cup of this solution. You don’t have to touch the navel or grab the foal. Do this 3 times a day for 3 days, changing the solution every day. This is important: most foals that acquire infections during the first month, do so through this umbilical cord stump. The first poop in the foal is often very sticky and an enema after the first meal is not a bad idea – regular fleet enemas from the store are perfect. Be sure to gather your supplies before the foal is born, so you can relax a little knowing that you are prepared! Next week we’ll get more into foal care as they get a little older!
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