Your Foaling Mare "Recognizing signs of a problem early in the foaling process, and taking timely action may be critical to the outcome of of both mare and foal." By Mark A. Akin, D.V.M. We often think of pregnancy as a delicate condition.  This is especially true when it comes to the horse due to their poor reproductive track record when compared to other species.  This poor performance is as much due to management as it is to reproductive deficiency.  Fortunately, management is something we can control. Broodmare Prenatal Care At 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation, mares should be vaccinated with a vaccine specifically formulated to prevent abortion from Equine Herpes Virus. Some mares in high risk areas should be vaccinated as early as 3 months. In the Mid-South, Akin Equine also recommends vaccinating for Botulism prior to foaling because of the high incidence of Botulism in the area. This is done at 8, 9, and 10 months of gestation. To insure that high levels of protective antibodies are passed to the foal in the colostrum, the mare should be vaccinated 4 to 6 weeks prior to foaling for Tetanus, Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, and West Nile Virus (although not currently approved for use in pregnant mares). It is also a good idea to deworm the mare at this time with a dewormer approved for pregnant mares, such as Eqvalan, Zimectrin, Strongid,etc. Mares that have been sutured should be opened at least 30 days prior to foaling.Thirty days before foaling, the mare should be familiarized with the area where she will foal. Regular washing of the mare's udder area will get her used to contact in this area, allow for disinfecting the area after foaling, and desensitize her to contact from nursing. Contrary to popular belief, most septic foals are infected by bacteria they ingest from nursing rather than bacteria that enter their bloodstream through the umbilicus. The Countdown To Foaling Parturition (foaling) is a more dramatic and rapid event in the mare than with any other species. Recognizing signs of a problem early in the foaling process, and taking timely action may be critical to the outcome of of both mare and foal.A mare's labor is divided into three stages. The signs of first stage labor may be subtle or very obvious. In general, signs of discomfort, including pacing, restlessness, walking with a raised tail. sweating in the flanks, urinating small amounts, and getting up and down, compromise the visible signs of stage one labor. The fetus is moving into position during this stage. The cervix dilates and relaxes, and the uterus contracts, resulting in the signs of discomfort in the mare. The first stage lasts 15-90 minutes, but is not always evident to the human eye. It is also important to remember that 70% of foals are born between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.Stage two of labor begins with the rupture of the placental membranes (aka breaking water). The time should be noted at this stage. Normal delivery should take place within 30-45 minutes and if it does not, contact your veterinarian immediately. The first sign of delivery is that the mare begins straining, which results in the appearance of one or two front feet at the vulva within 3-5 minutes. Normally one leg is slightly in front of the other to allow the shoulders to pass through the pelvic canal. Most mares lay on their side during stage 2 and rarely stand, so deep bedding is suggested (straw is preferred). The chest and hips typically are less difficult for the mare to pass. The foal is usually delivered wrapped in the amnion (the whitish, slippery part of the placenta) with the umbilical cord intact. The cord should not be disturbed, as it will rupture on its own when the mare or foal stands.Stage three of labor is defined by passage of the placenta. This should occur within three hours of foaling. Uterine contractions cause expulsion of the placenta from the uterus, and may cause signs of abdominal pain after the foal is delivered. Retention of all or parts of the placenta longer than three hours warrants veterinary attention, since retained fetal membranes can lead to laminitis and metritis. Once passed, the placenta should be collected and stored in a covered bucket for your veterinarian to examine.The foal should be able to sit up sternally within two minutes of delivery and respond to a clean finger in the mouth with a suckle response in 20 minutes. Standing should occur within 1-2 hours. Nursing should occur in the first 2-3 hours of life. The foal's umbilicus should be dipped in a 1:4 Nolvassan to water solution within the first 15 minutes and four times daily for the following 3 days. Checking and observing foals for normal urination is also important.Your veterinarian should examine the mare and foal after birthing. If no problems are observed with either the mare or foal, the exam should be performed 10-16 hours after the foal was born. During this exam the the foal's blood can and should be tested for adequate colostrum absorption. Also, a thorough examination of the mare, foal, and placenta can be performed at this time.Being familiar with prenatal care, postnatal care, and the foaling process will help insure the delivery of a normal, healthy foal that you have been waiting on for 11 months. If you have questions about your horse, feel free to contact Dr. Mark Akin or any of the veterinarians at Akin Equine Veterinary Services. You can reach Dr. Akin and his associates at 901-854-6773 or at MAkindvm@aol.com.