Prepare for foaling well in advance

By Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz and Dr. Patrick McCue
Colorado State University

Helping a mare foal for the first time can be a stressful undertaking. To the inexperienced horse owner, the process can seem daunting.

To best prepare for a mare to foal, owners should discuss with their veterinarian what to expect during a normal delivery. If all is going well, it's best not to interfere with the natural process and to simply watch from outside the stall or paddock.

First, know your mare's breeding and foaling history. Has she had difficulty foaling in the past? Is this her first foal? When, based on the breeding date, is she due to foal? Many mares have the same gestational length year to year. Consult with your veterinarian throughout the mare's pregnancy so that you are aware of other concerns he or she may have about your pregnant mare and the foal she is carrying.

During prenatal care visits, consult with your veterinarian about the normal signs, stages and timeline for events during foaling. If you suspect that your mare is having difficulty, it is critical to intervene quickly and be ready to enact a plan devised with your veterinarian in advance. Typically, foaling is a rapid event; usually, a mare delivers the foals within 30 to 60 minutes.

About a month before a mare approaches her predicted foaling date, she should be moved to an area where her activity can be closely monitored. Her new environment should be clean and safe.

Moving the mare a month before she foals provides her with an opportunity to develop immunity or antibodies against pathogenic organisms present in the shelter. The shelter should protect the mare against inclement weather and, ideally, allow the mare to separate herself from other horses during the foaling period and in the first few days after the foal is born.

Then, shortly before she foals, the mare should be moved into a clean stall. This stall should be cleaned between uses by mares, and should be as clean as possible when the mare foals. It is OK to dedicate the stall to the mare for the entire month if it is isolated only for her use.

The mare should also be kept clean while she approaches her foaling date to help protect the foal from pathogens during its contact with the mare after birth.

Mares most often foal at night, between 11 p.m. and dawn. One of the most common difficulties for mares during foaling is an incorrect position of the foal during birth. Usually, a mare will lie down and get back up several times, which sometimes will reposition the foal. However, it is important that anyone monitoring the mare know the normal birthing process for a mare so they know when to intervene.

The foal's front feet should be the first to appear during birth, with the soles of its feet pointed downward. The foal's nose follows, resting near the foal's front knees, or carpus. A foal's nose appearing first, without legs or only one leg appearing first, is a sign of a problem. During a normal birth, with each contraction, the foal should slowly emerge from the womb. The mare usually lies down for the final contractions.

During the birth, the foal will be covered with a thin membrane, known as amnion. It is a translucent, light gray to white membrane and is filled with amniotic fluid. This membrane usually ruptures about midway through birth, and there is no need to manually remove the amnion from the foal's head until after the foal's chest has passed through the birth canal. If the amnion remains intact after the foal has been delivered, it should be removed from the head or the foal might die from suffocation.

Once the foal's chest cavity passes through the birth canal, the rest of the foal is delivered rather quickly. It is best if the mare is allowed to lie quietly with the foal for 10 to 15 minutes after the foal is born.

It is usually not necessary to cut or break the umbilical cord. In fact, cutting the cord can cause excessive hemorrhage. Typically, the cord breaks when the mare or foal stands up. If the cord hemorrhages, call your veterinarian for a consultation. The naval should be immediately disinfected with a product recommended by your veterinarian during the planning process.

Here is a typical timeline for a foal to adapt to its new environment after birth.

• Sits up on sternum, or rocks up onto its breastbone, within one to two minutes. If the foal is not sitting up, it is probably not adapting to its new environment.
• Stands within an hour, usually after multiple attempts. Be sure that the stall is clear of objects that the foal could stumble over as it learns to walk.
• The umbilical cord usually separates from the foal when it or the mare stands. The naval area should be treated with an antiseptic within a few hours.
• Suckles the mare within two hours. Once the foal suckles, it will often sleep for a while.

Shortly after delivering the foal, the mare will pass the placenta, which should be bagged for later inspection by the veterinarian. If the placenta has not passed in more than three hours, call a veterinarian.

Supplies to assist the mare during delivery or attend to the foal immediately after birth should be stored in a clean, safe place during the foaling season. A foaling kit should be prepared with the advice of your veterinarian and kept in the foaling area for rapid access. The kit should be stored in a plastic bag to keep it clean from barn dust and other debris. Post your veterinarian's name and numbers in the foaling area and by the nearest phone.

Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, is a professor of equine medicine and diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She specializes in field-based studies of infectious upper respiratory disease, clostridiosis in horses, biosecurity, epidemiology and neonatology. She earned board certification with the American College of Internal Medicine in 1985.

Pat McCue, DVM, is an associate professor in equine sciences at CSU with a special interest in equine reproduction, embryo transfer and reproductive endocrinology. He received a Ph.D. in comparative pathology at UC-Davis in 1986. He is a diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists.