The Foaling Process

           The arrival of a new year with spring soon following means foaling season is here, a wonderful time of the year – as long as all goes as it should.  Every so often, however, Mother Nature throws us a curve and it is important that we know how to determine what is right and what is wrong.

Broodmares have an average gestation length of 343 days, but that range can vary give or take several days to occasionally even a week or longer.  A good rule of thumb is to begin watching them carefully 30 days prior to their expected delivery date.  As the time nears mares begin developing “wax” on their teats as the mammary gland begins producing colostrum, the antibody rich milk that provides necessary immunity for the foal.  Mares that have early mammary gland development (at day 320 or sooner) should be examined by a veterinarian, as this could be indicative of placentitis, or infection of the placenta, that could result in premature delivery or abortion of the foal.  Mares should receive aggressive treatment as soon as possible if there is a chance of deterring premature foaling or abortion.  Also, a mare that has reached a safe foaling date but has dripped a lot of milk before foaling may have inadequate colostrum for the foal, which means the foal will need additional veterinary attention.

When the mare has reached a safe foaling date, has begun to wax and you are carefully watching her every move, what is next?  There are three stages of labor to go through.  Stage one is the beginning of labor.  Mares become restless, paw, pace, and urinate a lot more than normal.  They’ll kick at their stomach, look at their sides, break out into a sweat and get up and down.  During this stage, the foal is moving into position in the birth canal.  This stage could last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or two.  It is important to note that all these signs are also signs of colic, so if they continue for more than two hours, contact your veterinarian to be certain all is well. Also, occasionally, mares may exhibit all these signs then suddenly lay down and take a nap (while you are anxiously waiting outside the stall for her to get on with it) before starting all over again.   In rare instances, this stage is so short and unnoticeable, that before you have had time to blink the mare has already moved onto stage two of labor. The end of stage one is reached as the mare’s breaks water when the fetal membranes rupture and fluid rushes out of the mare.

Stage two is the actual delivery of the foal.  This is a quick stage that should last no more than 15 to 20 minutes if all goes well.  In normal foal presentations, both front feet should be presented slightly offset with the soles facing downward, and the foal’s nose should be resting on top of the front legs.  If the presentation is any different, as in only one foot, no nose seen, soles facing upward, or the mare pushing hard with nothing presenting at all, a possible dystocia is occurring and a veterinarian should be called to assist, particularly if the 20-minute mark of labor has passed. Also, should the front legs and head have come out but the mare is pushing hard with no further progress, the foal may be “shoulder-locked” or “hip-locked”, meaning the shoulder blades or hip bones have gotten stuck on the mare’s pelvis and she is unable to dislodge the foal further with her contractions.  Oftentimes, a gentle but steady slightly downward pull of the front legs while the mare is pushing could assist her, but again, time is critical at this stage and a veterinarian should be contacted for assistance.

The labor process reaches stage three when the foal is safely delivered and on the ground. If the foal is breathing and moving and the mare does not show any signs of distress, they should be left alone for several minutes.  At this time, if the umbilical cord wasn’t broken during birth it may break as the mare or foal start moving around but may require you to break it.  DO NOT CUT the cord as that may cause severe bleeding from the umbilicus. There is a narrow part of the cord about 1 inch from the foal’s umbilicus.  Grasp the cord on either side of that region and gently twist and pull apart to break.  The umbilical stump should be dipped in a betadine or chlorhexidine solution at that time and twice daily for another few days. To complete stage three, the mare should pass the placenta (afterbirth) within one to three hours of birth.  After the placenta is passed it should be carefully examined, preferably by a veterinarian, to ensure that it has passed intact and complete and is normal in color and thickness.  We need to be certain no part of the placenta remains in the uterus, which could cause severe illness in the mare, and an abnormally-appearing placenta may indicate infection which will affect the foal’s health.  If the placenta hasn’t passed after three hours, a veterinarian should be called for help as a retained placenta can cause severe infection and laminitis, possibly being fatal, if left untreated.

            Now that the three stages of labor are complete we can turn our attention to the foal.  Within five to ten minutes of delivery, normal foals will be sitting up on their sternums and most foals are able to stand and nurse on their own within an hour or two.  Monitor to be sure the foal is urinating easily and that the meconium – the first feces consisting of small hard balls – is passed. Foals and mares both should be examined by a veterinarian to check for any abnormalities after foaling.  An IgG test is also recommended on the foal to ensure proper transfer of antibodies from the mare’s colostrum to ensure healthy development of the foal’s immune system.

            Foaling season has always been my favorite time of the year, but it is a season that can be difficult and stressful on a person.  If you are in the foaling business or are just expecting the one foal out of your favorite mare, I cannot encourage you enough to develop a good relationship with a veterinarian that you can depend on and trust.  There are never any unnecessary or even dumb questions to ask your veterinarian about a foal or mare’s health as time is critical in decision-making when issues do arise.