T-n-T Farms

Foaling date calculator: 

http://www.pahlspaintedacres.com/calculator.html

 Managing Your Pregnant Mare

Proper mare management is essential to ensure the birth of a live, healthy foal with the greatest probability of survival and success in performance.

To breed efficiently, your mare must be in proper body condition. Thin mares do not become pregnant or maintain pregnancy as readily as moderate or fleshy mares; however, lower milk production and foal growth are observed in very fat mares.

It's advisable to do a follow-up pregnancy check on all bred mares in the fall even if previous checks and pregnancy determinants were done.

Health care

To provide the best protection for your mare and her foal, follow your veterinarian's recommended vaccination, deworming, and hoof-care program. Deworm your mare every 2 months throughout pregnancy except in the last 30 days. Give your mare a Pneumabort shot at 3,5,7 and 9 months during pregnancy. Do not give your mare unnecessary drugs during the first 60 days, nor during the last 30 days of pregnancy-except you will want to give your mare a booster of her normal spring shots 30 days before delivery that way the foal will get the foal will be born with some immunities--its good to the have the vet out within 24 hours of foaling to check and make sure the foal received the immunities. Its good to worm you mare just after she foals this will help the foal not get scores(foal diahrea) or not get it as bad

Feeding

Keep your mare in a consistent body condition rather than allowing her to gain or lose weight. If the mare is in proper body condition and the pasture plentiful, supplementing the ration probably is unnecessary. If the pasture is questionable, adjust your horse's diet according to its individual needs as assessed by body condition. Make sure clear, fresh water and trace mineralized salt are available at all times, and at all ages, weights, and periods of gestation. (You can calculate feeding rations by using NRC feeding recommendations.)

Mares have only a maintenance nutritional requirement during the first 8 months of gestation. Most fetal growth occurs during the last third of pregnancy, thus the nutritional requirements, especially for proteins, minerals, and vitamins are greatest during this period. Pregnant mares need to be in desired body condition prior to the last trimester, thus the second trimester is the best time to feed them to achieve the desired healthy condition.

The mare's greatest nutritional demands occur during early lactation. Milk production increases during the first 30 to 60 days, then steadily declines.

Your mare should have access to a properly balanced ration that satisfies her increased lactation requirements. A mare can, however, lactate successfully on pasture alone if her nutrition requirements are being met. If pasture is not available, adjust your horse's complete ration to maintain lactation and body condition according to the NRC feeding guidelines.

Foaling preparation

Foals are born with a low level of immunity. Colostrum, the first milk, contains immunoglobulins, which provide protection until the foal's immune system becomes functional. About 30 days prior to foaling, move the mare to the stall where she will foal. This allows her to produce protective antibodies against the microorganisms in the environment, and subsequently, to pass these to the foal in the colostrum.

Length of gestation normally is 342 days, plus or minus 20 days. The mare's udder may become noticeably distended about 2 to 6 days before foaling, and the teats enlarge. "Wax beads," which actually are drops of colostrum, appear on the ends of the teats about 2 to 4 days prior to foaling. The mare may be uneasy for several days before her labor starts.

Just before foaling, the mare's croup muscles relax, producing a sunken appearance over the hips, and the point of the buttock becomes very accentuated. The vulva also relaxes and swells. Also, the mare may become restless, walk the stall (if confined), urinate frequently, and start to sweat. Some mares foal with no visible sign of impending labor. Keeping a record of each mare's pregnancies also may be helpful, as they tend to repeat gestation length each year.

Mares vulva day before delivery--mares udder 3 days before delivery

                 

A properly prepared foaling stall reduces the risk of disease and death to newborn foals. You may allow mares to foal outdoors in small, clean, grass paddocks with shelter; however, other horses should not be with the mare when she foals. The preferred box stall size is 14 by 14 ft. Size is important, but cleanliness is critical. Diarrhea, a major health problem of foals, can be greatly reduced by good management practices.

Locate the foaling stall so the mare can be observed inconspicuously. If foaling problems occur, such as a wrong fetal position, time is critical, and assistance is required immediately.

Straw (wheat, rye, or barley) is the preferred bedding material-not shavings or sawdust. Shavings and sawdust cling to the foal and afterbirth, making it difficult to clean the foal and inspect the afterbirth.

Any material used may harbor microorganisms that can infect the foal. This is why it's advisable to thoroughly disinfect the foaling facility prior to foaling, and to use good hygiene in preparing mares for foaling by disinfecting external genitalia and udder, and wrapping the tail.

 

Foaling

Labor occurs in three distinct stages. In stage one, the mare is restless. This may continue for 12 to 24 hours. During this period, the fetus is positioned for delivery and the cervix is dilated. This stage ends with the rupture of the chorioallantoic membrane ("breaking of the water bag"), which lubricates the birth canal and aides in delivery of the foal.

The actual birth or hard labor is stage two. It usually is rapid, with most foals born in 20 to 30 minutes. In a normal presentation, the foal's front feet appear first, with heels pointed down toward the mare's hocks. If you do not see the foal's front feet and head after 5 to 10 minutes of hard labor, get the mare up and keep her walking until the veterinarian arrives.

In a normal delivery, the foal's nose should be lying on or about the knees. One front leg usually is slightly forward of the other, speeding the foal's movement through the birth canal. After the head exits the vulva, you may see a clear, transparent membrane (amnion), which covers the legs and head. If this membrane does not rupture and free the foal's head, open it and free the head so the foal can breathe. The foal's hind feet usually remain in the mare 5 to 15 minutes after foaling, while the foal and mare lie resting. It's best not to disturb them while the umbilical cord is still connected. Premature breaking of the umbilical cord by the mare, foal, or human may result in a loss of very important fetal blood supply.

In stage three, the uterus shrinks and the placenta (afterbirth) is expelled normally without assistance. Never try to remove the placenta. If the placenta is still attached after 2 to 3 hours, call your veterinarian because it may result in a medical emergency. Save the afterbirth for the veterinarian to examine. Store it in a clean garbage bag.

 

After-foaling mare care

It's important to monitor the mare and foal for the first 48 to 72 hours. Even though foaling takes only 20 to 30 minutes, it tires the mare. It's important that the dam and foal bond, so it's best to leave them alone if there is no problem requiring immediate attention.

Some maiden mares try to move away from the foal, especially when it tries to nurse. It's advisable to attend the foaling of all maiden mares to ensure safe delivery and bonding. If the mare does not accept the foal readily, you may need to restrain the mare while the foal nurses its first few times.

Mares usually are thirsty after foaling. Offer your mare slightly warm water; but do not let her drink too much at once. She also may be hungry, and one option is to try feeding a wet-bran mash. The bran mash may help move material through her digestive system, and keeps her feces soft. This aids in the mare's comfort since her reproductive tract probably will be bruised.

Allow the mare and foal outside for exercise in a small paddock or pasture the day after birth. Exercise may aid the mare in expelling uterine discharge and speeds the return of the uterus to normal condition.

A foul-smelling uterine discharge indicates a uterine infection, which requires medical attention. A swollen, feverish udder is an indication the foal has not nursed or the mare may have mastitis. If the foal has not nursed within the first 3 hours, there probably are problems that require medical attention.

 

Conclusion

The mare owner who decides for pleasure or profit to breed a mare and raise a foal will find it a challenging but rewarding experience. A working knowledge of pregnant mare management should help you properly prepare for a safe, healthy delivery for both mare and foal

 

Here is just a list of what I have in my foaling kit--I usually put it together a month or so before due date:

Iodine or Nolvasan to treat foals cord  
String to tie mares placenta
Bottle for colostrum
cotton
towels
disposable gloves
Thermometer
flash light
ivermectin wormer for my mare
vets number (in my phone, but have it handy)
hibi scrub disinfectant for washing my hands if need be
tail bandage for mare
Sharp scissors and utility knife to cut through sac if it doesn't open or placenta in case of red bag delivery -.
Cell phone if you don't have a phone in the barn.
Blessed are the Broodmares  
enemas  
suction bulb  
 K-Y jelly/vasiline

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