Spring Foaling preparation for foaling and care of the newborn For many horse owners Spring means scenes of pastures with frolicking foals and their mothers. This is the time of preparation for foaling and care of the newborn. Foaling Date. Gestation for mares can run from 305 to 395 days, with an average of 340 days. An easy rule of thumb to determine a mare’s foaling date is to subtract one month from the breeding date and add two days. However, there are factors that affect the time of foaling. Mares with first foals often have shorter gestations than mares who have previously delivered. Midlife mares tend to carry foals longer than younger mares. Time of year makes a difference, too. Mares foaling in January, February, or March usually have longer gestation length (by average 10 days) than mares foaling during April, May, and June. The foal triggers the onset of birth. When the unborn foal is full-term and ready, his hormones stimulate a change in the mare’s hormones, which trigger her cervix to dilate, uterus to contract, and milk to let down. Signs Before Foaling. The mare’s udder becomes fully distended two to six weeks before foaling. About four to six days before birth her teats fill out and milk may drip from them shortly before foaling. Wax beads (drops of colostrum) appear on the ends of the teats 12 to 48 hours before foaling. A sunken appearance in the croup area, due to muscle relaxation, also indicates foaling being near. However, some mares will foal without exhibiting many visible signs. Preparation for Foaling. A mare can foal in a clean stall or on clean pasture. The foaling stall should be large enough for the mare to lie down easily with extra space. A 14 X 14 foot stall is recommended, with solid walls at least four feet high. Wheat or rye straw is the first choice for bedding, and the straw should be bright, clean, long-stemmed and free of dust and mold. Shavings are not recommended because they stick to the foal and fetal membranes. If the mare foals outside, designate a clean, grassy area that is large enough to reduce the possibility of the mare having the foal under a fence. If possible, isolate the mare from other horses to prevent injury. Have an area to observe the mare without disturbing her. Supplies. Following are supplies to have on hand for foaling. A new, clean 3- to 5-gallon bucket. A clean container to milk into, or an Udderly EZ milker with bottle. Tail wraps; pint or quart of disinfectant such as chlorhexidine (Nolvasan); small bottle of betadine; obstetric gloves; 3 or 4 clean bath towels; paper towels; roll of cotton; plastic garbage bag to put placenta in; prepackaged enemas; flashlight with new batteries; heat lamp; suction bulb for clearing mucus out of foal’s nostrils; injectable antibiotic, obstetric lubricant. Delivery. Foaling comes in three stages. Stage I, the mare is restless, perhaps off her feed. This period may last for 12 to 24 hours. Stage II is active delivery of the foal beginning with the rupture of the water bag. During this stage the foal is being presented by extremely strong uterual contractions through cervix, vagina and vulva. The foal will usually be delivered in 10 to 30 minutes. The mare owner should be aware of normal foaling positions and be able to detect a malpresentation if it occurs. Normally, don’t assist the mare unless there is an abnormal foal presentation; the placental membranes remain over the foal’s head; or active, strong contractions last for more than 10 minutes and no portion of the foal can be seen. In these cases, alert your veterinarian immediately! After foaling, allow the mare and foal to lie quietly for 10 to 20 minutes so the mare can supply the foal with blood through the umbilical cord. Early separation of the umbilical cord may lead to foal weakness. Stage III is expelling the placental membranes from the mare. This usually occurs without assistance within one hour of foaling. Do not attempt to pull the placenta from the mare. If these membranes have not passed within three hours, the mare needs medical attention. Care of the Newborn. Make sure the foal is breathing and clean mucus from the nostrils. Normally, a newborn foal’s thrashing will break the umbilical cord. The navel stump is a primary site for invasion of bacteria into the body, so it should be treated with Nolvasan. In cold weather, dry the foal with a clean towel. To have a healthy foal and mare, consult your veterinarian and read all you can about the foaling process. Be prepared and soon you will see a frolicking foal in your pasture. Sources: “Foaling + Breeding = Spring,” by Dr. Frederick Harper, Ph.D. and Dr. John E. Henton, DVM. Additional source for foaling kit: Heather Smith Thomas, Storey’s Guide to Raising Horses.