Things You'll Need
- Isolated area
- Veterinarian
Instructions
Watch your mare's teats. Check if the teats are swollen and full of milk. Normally, the teats are tucked up close to the mare's body. If the mare's teats are swollen this is called "bagged up." Her teats will become swollen a week or two before she foals. If the bag starts to glisten and look waxy, she is getting closer to foaling. This is called "waxing." It is the effect of the colostrum seeping out.
Look at your mare's shape from the side. Her flanks will seem to have dropped. Her muscles will start to relax a couple days before she gives birth to ease the motion of her 70 pound foal through the birthing canal. Closer to birth, all of the mare's muscles around her tail will be completely relaxed and will lack tone. The best way to tell if the muscles around her tail are relaxed is by feeling them.
Check your mare's vulva. Her vulva will become relaxed, slightly opened and distended just hours before she is ready to foal.
Watch your mare's body language. She will stop eating, start to sweat, sway in her stall, stand in a corner, kick the walls in discomfort and breath heavily. Some mares do this several hours leading up to the time they break water.
Watch for anything sticking out of your mare's vulva. Some mares give few signs they are foaling, as they are all different. If you see anything start to come out of her vulva, it means she is in labor and within 30 minutes you should have a foal. If you are unfamiliar with this process call your veterinarian as soon as possible.