Prior to your mare foaling there are a couple of things to take into consideration.  It is advised to decide well in advance where the mare will foal-down.  This needs to be a safe, clean and easy observational area, i.e. large stable with deep straw bed (or paddock if no stable available). The mare should be brought into this area every night about one month prior to the foaling date.  On average,  pregnancy lasts for 340days so knowing the covering date is important. Your mare should also have had an ultrasound scan in early pregnancy to determine a single pregnancy.  It is also recommended that an influenza and tetanus vaccination is given to your mare one month prior to foaling so that antibodies are provided in the colostrum which is then passed onto the foal.  Worming the mare should also be done at this stage with an ivermectin based wormer.

The mare could show a variety of these signs upto a couple of weeks prior to foaling.  Growth of the udder with major enlargement in the last two weeks. Lengthening and relaxation of the vulva occurs a couple of days before birth.  Slackening of pelvic ligaments and softening of the muscles either side of the tail head. White flecks may be seen on the teats a few days before waxing up (clotting of colostrum beads at the end of the teat).  Most mares will wax up 24 hrs before birth.

Stage one of labour

• Mare may show signs of low grade colic.
• She may be restless and pace the stable, sweating is likely and looking back at her flanks.
• The mare may get up and down frequently as well as curling the upper lip.

Stage two of labour

• Stage two of labour is indicated by the breaking of the water bag and a yellowish fluid being discharged.
• Uterine and abdominal contractions will be more forceful. 
• The first part if the foal to appear will be one foot closely followed by the other front foot.  Then the nose and the face. 
• Once the front feet and head are passed it may be necessary to clean the membrane from the foal’s nostrils.
• Second stage labour finishes when the foal is born, the hind legs may still be in the birth canal.
• The mare may lie on her side quietly or sit on her chest for 20 minutes or so. During this time the placenta is still attached allowing as much blood from the placenta to be retained by the foal. 
• The second stage of labour may last for 20 minutes. Iif the foal has not been produced after this time or if a red bag appears before the foal, call the vet immediately for emergency treatment. The foal may be in the wrong position or the placenta (red bag) may have separated early.

Stage three of labour

• This involves the passing of the placenta.  When the mare stands the placenta should be knotted or tied up so that it doesn’t get damaged by the mare standing on it.
• The umbilicus will break as the mare stands. DO NOT cut or clamp the umbilicus as this increases the risk of infection and complications.

The placenta is usually passed in 1-3 hrs. The placenta needs to be examined once passed, to check for abnormalities and to check that there isn’t any retained as this can cause infection and complications for the mare.  If the mare hasn’t passed the placenta within three hours the vet will need to visit to assess and treat accordingly. 

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New Born Foal Check

• The foal should start to sit in sternal (upright) within minutes and will be standing within 60 – 120 minutes of being born.
• The foal will start looking to suckle and some gentle steering in the right direction may be required. If your foal has not suckled within 4 hours consult your veterinary practice.
• The umbilicus should be sprayed with antibiotic spray.
• The foals first droppings (meconium) are usually passed within 6 hours of foaling and these can be very dark in colour (green or black) and very hard.  Failure to pass the meconium is the most common cause of colic in new born foals and your vet will need to be contacted.
• Most foals will urinate within 8 hours of being born. This needs to be monitored to check that urine isn’t running from the umbilicus.

If the foaling has run smoothly and the mare has cleansed and foal suckled, the best time for the vet to examine the new born foal is approximately 12-24 hrs after foaling.  At this stage the vet will examine the placenta to check that it is complete but will also check the foal for hernias, limb deviations and also to take a blood sample to test the foal’s IgG level. This is to measure the quality of colostrum that the foal has received to boost its immunity.  If this level is low, treatment can be given.  Tetanus anti-toxin (to assist the prevention of tetanus in new born foals) is also given at the time of this examination.