Information on Horse Foaling

Horses are beautiful, magnificent animals whose grace and strength have always captivated people. Few things are more endearing than watching a new foal and its dam enjoying the grass in a lush pasture. But the process of foaling can be frightening for the uninitiated. This article will give you some basic information on horse foaling and what to expect.

  1. Pre-Labor

    • This is the step that can be maddening for expectant horse owners. You have ready everything you can get your hands on, your mare is close to her due date, and she has a swollen udder with drops of milk on the ends of her teats. All appears to be ready and your books have told you foaling is imminent. The simple fact is that the mare can foal now, or she can wait for days, whichever suits her and whichever nature has planned for her. She may appear uncomfortable, even miserable, but there is no rushing this stage, so you might as well give the mare some privacy and check her infrequently.

    Breaking of the Water

    • The onset of labor is the serious business of horse foaling. This usually begins when the water breaks. The mare will expel a large gush of darkish colored fluid, and she will often squat as if she is urinating, so it is critical to look at the color as it comes out. Within minutes, the mare will be in obvious discomfort and begin pacing and nosing the ground. You may or may not begin to see the white sac that the foal is encased in just beginning to come out of the mare's vulva. If at any point during this process you see red tissue coming out instead of white, call the vet immediately, as this is a complication that can cost you the life of the foal.

    Contractions

    • Birthing for horses is no joke. Once the mare begins her serious contractions, all with either go well or it will go badly very quickly. A mare's birth contractions are some of the strongest muscle contractions in the animal kingdom, and the foal must be born or cost the life of the mare. First the foal's feet appear, one slightly above the other. Then the nose appears, resting on the legs as if diving. At the next contraction, the mare may expel the foal up to its shoulders, where it often gets "stuck" for a bit, as this is the largest part of the foal for the mare to push out. Finally, with tremendous effort, the mare will push the rest of the foal out in one large gush. Sometimes the rear feet will still be inside the mare, but the largest portion of the foal is out.

    Just Born

    • It is critical that the foal break through the sac once its shoulders have cleared the birth canal, as if the sac remains over its face, it will suffocate. Most times it will break the sac as it flails its front legs and gasps for its first breath of air. If people are present, it is important not to cut the cord, but allow it to break naturally, as the last few pints of blood are still being pushed into the foal even at this stage. The foal will immediately attempt to stand and nurse, and should do so within the first two hours, or a vet will need to be called.

    Afterbirth

    • One of the most critical parts of the birthing process is the passing of the placenta. This is the life support system the foal relied on inside the mare, and every bit of it must be passed or a septic infection can set in and kill the mare. The mare will often have the afterbirth hanging untidily from her for several hours after the foaling before she finally lays down and pushes the last of it out. This is understandable as she is often exhausted. But if the mare has not passed the placenta within six hours of foaling, you will need to have the assistance of a vet.