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foalingdown

How long after I cover my mare will the foal be born?

The mare’s gestation period is roughly 340 days, but some mares have been known to hold onto the foal for up to 400 days! Foaling date charts are available on many pages on the internet, and it lots of books about foaling, but the most easy and compact way of estimating the mares foaling date is as follows:

1. Take the date the mare was covered        e.g. 14th February
2. Add five days                                         e.g. 19th February
3. Subtract thirty days                                e.g. 20th January

So, if your mare was last covered on 14th February 2007, you can expect the foal around 20th January 2008. We would estimate that most foalings occur between 330 and 350 days, so you should allow at least 10 days either side of your estimated due date.

 How should I prepare for foaling down at home?

It is essential that you are well prepared for foaling at home.

1. Always make sure that your vet is aware that the foaling is imminent, and ensure that you have the number of an experienced vet who can come and intervene if necessary.
2. Read plenty of guides and books on foaling. You will never know enough to cope with any situation, but the more you know, the better equipped you will be to deal with the foaling.
3. Give the mare a nice clean box, with a deep straw bed to foal in. Ideally you should clean out the box thoroughly with an anti-microbial disinfectant like Vikrom K or a similar. Then give her a good quality straw bed (shavings are thought to present a higher risk to the mare and foal in terms of infection). Remove low-level troughs, mangers etc. as foals may get caught in these, or even born into them, which can cause injury or even death.
4. Put together (or buy) a foaling kit. At the very least, the kit should contain string, heavy duty bin bag (for the afterbirth), a large plastic jug/receptacle (for milking if necessary), one bottle of iodine or umbilical spray, cotton wool, surgical gloves, a feeding bottle with a lamb’s teet, mare-milk replacement, a large clean bath towel, soap and hand towel for vet, a set of overalls, a set of soft calving ropes, a scalpel and spare blades, a torch and the vet’s telephone number.
5. Make sure the mare is used to being handled. It will help you if you have to intervene or milk her.
6. Watch the mare carefully for any signs of labour. You can never be overcautious.

What should I look out for in the run up to the estimated foaling date?

Just before foaling, you should be able to observe the following, and they should occur over a period of a few days as the mare begins to enter labour.

1. The muscles and ligaments around her hindquarters should slacken.
2. Her vulva will lengthen.
3. Her teats will fill, and become blackened and/or shiny – this is known as waxing up. The filling and waxing up should become more evident as she gets closer to foaling.
4. She will get hotter, and may begin to sweat – this is a useful indicator when a temperature sensitive foaling alarm is used (but is not that useful if she is foaling in warmer weather).
5. The majority of mares foal between 11pm and 3am, and labour starts with the mare experiencing contractions. She will get up and down, watch her flanks and may roll. This should last for around an hour, at the end of which her waters should break. Once her waters break, the foal should be out and standing within 30 minutes (use the timer!). If this is not the case, you should call the vet immediately.

After her waters break, what should I look out for?

1. 95% of foalings proceed without a hitch, and do not need intervention.
2. A mare may stand or lie down, the foal will probably be delivered quicker if the mare is lying down.
3. Maiden mares may become very distressed, but should be left if at all possible.
4. After the waters break, the amniotic sac should become visible as the foal starts to emerge.
5. The foal should present feet first, soles down, one foot slightly in front of the other, with the head in-between. If the foal presents in ANY other way, you must call the vet immediately, as without intervention, the foal and/or mare could die.
6. The foal should come out fairly quickly after initial presentation. The mare will probably lie down, and lick the foal once it is all the way out.

What should I look for after the foal has been born?

1. The foal should stir fairly quickly. If not, call the vet immediately. Make sure that any membrane or debris that may be covering its nose and mouth are removed quickly.
2. Shortly after the foal has been born, the afterbirth should follow – this should be a reddish sack, and should become detached from the mare. Do not pull it – this could cause damage to the mare’s reproductive tract. If the mare stands and it is still attached, then use string to tie the afterbirth to itself, which will lift it up from the ground, and prevent the mare standing on it.
3. The foal should try to stand within 15 minutes of being born, and should be on its feet within 30 minutes. Some will take longer, so it is important to observe the foal carefully during this time. The foal should be able to stand and drink within 90 mins of birth.
4. Once the mare and foal are happy together, spray the umbilical cord or dip it in iodine. This should be repeated every 6-8 hours for the first 2 days to prevent infection.
5. If the foal has not been able to drink a substantial amount within 120 mins of birth, then you should intervene. Using the surgical gloves and jug, gently milk the mare – take care not to hurt her, and be quiet and gentle. Do NOT get between her and the foal. Transfer the milk into the sterile bottle, attach the teet and try to let the foal drink the milk. Try to encourage the foal to drink by holding the bottle close to the mare’s own teets – but be careful and don’t force the foal. The first 1.5 Litres of milk is full of colustrum which is essential to the foal developing its immune system, and giving it a good start; so if you have to milk the mare then you should aim to have it drink around 1.5 Litres within the first 6 hours of its life.

This is just a rough guide which should give you a few pointers. If you are unsure about any aspect of foaling, please call WEBS on 0844 587 6017 to ask for advice, or to enquire about our foaling service.

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