Your first foal
Ready for the miracle?
by Ken Marcella, D.V.M.

When you first found out your mare was pregnant, 300 days seemed so long to wait. You were sure that you'd have plenty of time to read "Blessed are the Broodmares," to watch the foaling videos, and to get all of your questions answered.

It still seemed like a long way away when you gave your mare her fifth-month rhinopneumonitis vaccination and made plans for improving her nutrition during the second and third trimesters.

The seventh- and ninth-month vaccinations passed by in a blur. Sure, you still had the foaling stall to finish and all those articles about methods of predicting foaling to read, but there was still time.

Now that the weather has turned colder, what had seemed so far away is just around the corner. You are bound to be nervous, a little apprehensive and anxious. Don't panic -- that's normal, and it's probably also how your mare feels. Learning about abnormal foaling should help lessen those worries and let you enjoy the event.

It is important to remember that mares are individuals and will approach foaling in their own way. They tend to be consistent from year to year, so knowing how long your mare's previous gestation was may help you determine when she will foal this year.

Maiden or first-time mares can foal a bit early or a bit late. Nervous mares can "resist" the normal sequence of delivery and prolong gestation. Use your breeding dates, whatever history you have about the mare and input from your veterinarian. Your mare's udder should begin to swell or "bag up" within the last 30 to 45 days of gestation.

Many mares do not like having their nipples or udders touched, and thus can resist the foal's nursing attempts. Get your mare accustomed to having her teats cleaned with a warm cloth. You may need a helper and some patience, a twitch perhaps, and, occasionally, some tranquilization.

Once the mare allows you to handle her teats, you can then regularly check for filling of the udder -- first up near the belly and then into the mammary gland and nipples themselves.

As foaling approaches, the nipples will get thicker, hang down lower and "wax," or develop a thick wax-like material on the ends of the nipples. This is a good indicator that foaling should occur within a day or so.

But remember the individuality factor; some mares do not produce much of a bag before foaling. Some mares will bag up and even leak milk for days before foaling. Some mares wax, and some do not. It is wise not to depend on any single indicator of foaling, but instead to monitor all the signs of impending birth.

Other signs include a softening of the muscles over the rump and along the tailhead as the pelvic area prepares for the stretching necessary for delivery.

The vulva itself often becomes swollen and elongated. Many mares will show changes in behavior leading up to foaling. They may become more, or less, affectionate; they may try to separate themselves from others; they may become nervous, and many mares do not eat well immediately prior to foaling.

Most mares foal between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., so a normally good eater who skips her dinner may be close to delivery.

Mares prefer a quiet, low-lit area for foaling, one that is free from excessive noise and activity. If you are planning on videotaping the event or want some light present, it is wise allow the mare to become accustomed to the lighting by leaving the stall lit at night for a week prior to foaling.

It is also recommended that mares foal on straw rather than shavings. Shavings tend to stick to the mare's vulva and can be drawn back in as the mare and foal struggle during the birthing. Shavings also tend to stick to the foal and allow bacteria to more easily enter the umbilicus. Fresh, dry straw is preferred; the mare and foal can be switched back to shavings after a few days.

Foaling is a natural process, and many foals are born without human assistance. If possible, allow your mare to foal naturally. Let her deliver the foal, clean it and bond with it while you quietly watch -- there to help if needed, but not interfering.

Those interested in imprinting will still have plenty of time to work with the foal after mother and offspring have had their special time.

But how can you tell if assistance is needed and what to do when it is? The best foaling plan involves communication between you and your veterinarian. The actual foaling process lasts about an hour, and there is often little time to waste if problems develop.

Make sure you have talked to your vet before the expected foaling starts. You may have to help the mare via phone instruction until help arrives. Does your vet have good directions to your farm? Directions with landmarks he can see at night, in a hurry?

Do you have your veterinarian's phone numbers ready? Does the vet have your phone number? If you plan to use a portable phone in the barn, make sure it works.

Make sure that your foaling kit is stocked, ready, and close at hand (see sidebar). The mare's tail should be wrapped, the stall cleaned and the lights dimmed. Go over the normal foaling process and make sure that you understand the danger points in that process and understand when you should call for help.

The process begins when the placental sac breaks and releases a large amount of water. (What's called "breaking water.")

A smooth sac may begin to protrude from the mare's vulva, and she will usually lie down. The pressure on this placental sac caused by the mare lying down usually ruptures it. The rush of escaping fluids is easily heard if you are sitting near the stall waiting. These fluids lubricate the birth canal and the foal. The mare should slowly lie on her side and begin to push.

Contractions in the horse are vigorous (the mare is often pushing 70 to 90 pounds of foal through a small birth canal), and many mares will groan or vocalize. As the mare pushes, another smooth, thin, white-to-clear sac will appear. This is the sac around the foal, and parts of the foal can be seen through it.

In a normal delivery, the front feet of the foal are seen first. Usually one is slightly ahead of the other, and the hooves are covered by a rubbery protective material. Once the front feet are out to the level of the knees, the foal's nose and head should start to appear.

This is the first danger point. If more than 20 minutes of the mare's straining have passed and no feet are visible, seek help. If only one foot is visible, or if two feet and no head are present, also seek help.