FOALING

 By Dr Robert Upholt

Foaling time is just around the corner and I have good News and bad news. The good news is that horses rarely have foaling problems. The bad news is that when they do it happens in a hurry.

          Ninety nine percent of the time the mare will foal with no assistance or problems. From the onset of obvious labor it should take a short amount of time for labor to proceed. The mare will become restless, get up and down, and paw at the floor. You should see a white fluid filled sac protrude thru the vulva.  Within that sac you should see one foot followed by a second foot and then the foal's nose. During this time the mare may  continue to get up and down a few times. From this point the expulsion of the foal should be completed within 20 minutes. If not completed within 40 minutes there may have been complications. Finally the placenta should be passed within 90 minutes.

          You should first call your vet a couple of weeks before the expected foaling date. The vet may want to examine the mare, and open her if she has had a caslick's operation, or at least know that the date is near so you can make arrangements for another vet if yours is expecting to be unavailable for the due date. Next, when the mare shows signs of obvious labor you should notify your vet because by the time the vet arrives the foaling will probably be over and the vet can examine the mare and foal. If there are problems the vet will get there in time to hopefully treat them successfully. If you feel comfortable in waiting to call the vet until problems arise or the foaling is complete, there are several things to watch for. Among them, any presentation other than described, such as a red sac, no foot visible, nose first, or one foot and then the nose. If forceful contractions have begun and no foal has presented within 20 to 30 minutes the vet should be called.

          Predicting the exact foaling date is not possible. The color of the milk as well as its calcium content and the amount of relaxation of the pelvic musculature can help narrow it down. The mare has the ability to delay labor for as long as 2 weeks. Because of that it can be difficult to be present during foaling. Frequent checks or staying in the barn near the mare may cause her to delay labor. The best alternatives are a closed circuit TV camera or one of the several foaling monitors available so that the mare can be monitored from a distance.