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Stress-Free Foaling

By Carla Huston, BES
The prospect of your mare foaling is a highly anticipated one, but may also be an anxiety-inducing one. So much is invested in the foal - financially and emotionally - that it is difficult to relax and enjoy the event. Understanding the stages of parturition will help to relieve some anxiety and answer some questions about what is normal and when an owner should be concerned.
Before parturition takes place, it is important to recognize the signs of its onset. Some mares are obvious in their outward indications, while others simply lie down and have their foals. The first sign is distension of the udder about two to six weeks before foaling. The second indicator, about seven to ten days before foaling, is the shrinking of the muscles in the croup area due to a relaxation of the pelvic muscles and ligaments. Four to six days prior, the teats fill out their nipples. Next a waxy secretion builds up on the nipples two to four days before foaling; within twenty-four hours the wax may drop off and milk drips off.
The first phase of parturition is preparation. The mare often becomes nervous, lying down and getting up. Tail raising or switching, sweating, urination and mild signs of colic are common. This usually lasts for two to three hours. Uterine contractions begin, but may be transitory. The end of phase one is marked by the expulsion of two to five gallons of "water" (chorioallantoic fluid). This first phase is usually begun at night.
Phase two is activation. Uterine contractions increase and the cervix is dilated, and the mare may lie down, roll and get up repeatedly. The feet of the foal will protrude, the bottoms of the hooves facing downward, with the nose just behind them. This stage generally takes ten to fifteen minutes.
Expulsion of the fetus is the third stage, when the mare will lie down and labor begins. Increased uterine contractions expel the fetus in approximately fifteen minutes. The mare will usually remain lying down for about ten minutes, providing herself with a period of rest and allowing the foal time to orient itself to its environment. The umbilical core may not break immediately, which is fine, as it allows for further transfer of blood between mare and foal. The cord will usually break when the foal stands. After the breakage, treat the stump with a solution of iodine.
The last phase is the expulsion of the membranes. Abdominal pains, similar to mild colic, maybe seen when the placenta is passed, and may continue for a few hours after. This phase usually occurs in fifteen minutes to one hour. If the placenta has not been expelled within six to nine hours a veterinarian needs to be called. Retained placenta can cause many problems, among them laminitis, metritis, and infertility.
Dystocia is difficulty during parturition, which fortunately happens seldomly in mares. Leaving the horse alone to deliver is usually the best way to handle foaling. If concerned about the health and safety of mare and foal install a window or monitor through which you can watch the process without interrupting or disturbing the mare. Foaling usually occurs in the early hours of the morning and is a fairly rapid process. When problems develop, it is during the activation phase that they can be corrected. Do not rush the mare; let her foal naturally and without interference.
After delivery the foal should nurse within thirty minutes to two hours. Colostrum is present in this first milk, and it is essential that the foal receive the antibodies it contains. About 10 to 15 percent of newborn foals have a failure of passive transfer, and another 10 to 15 percent have a partial failure. To check you foal the concentration of immunoglobulin in the blood it is tested twelve to eighteen hours after birth. If necessary, administer colostrum and check again in twelve hours.
Knowing the normal progression of events during foaling can help you relax and enjoy the birth of your baby. Let your mare foal as naturally as possible without distractions, then you can concern yourself with caring for the newborn. Or you can be like many mare owners; go to bed and wake up the next morning with the newcomer contentedly nursing, no stress!