Foaling Facts

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Late Pregnancy

• Booster vaccinations are recommended 1 month before foaling
• Length of pregnancy: 335 days, but can range between 321 & 365 days!
• Udder development starts 1-2 weeks before foaling
• Waxy material may appear on the teats 2-4 days before foaling.  Mare may lie down more
• Milk may drip from the udder in the last 24 hours. NB IF FOALING DOES NOT OCCUR IT IS WISE TO MILK OUT THE MARE AND FREEZE THE VALUABLE COLOSTRUM FOR THE FOAL!

When foaling is imminent ring the practice so that the duty vet knows how to find you.

Foaling
NB. It is very important that foaling is allowed to occur as naturally as possible.  Untimely interference may inhibit the mare and excessive handling of the foal may agitate her and, in some cases, cause her to reject the foal.  If you are lucky enough to witness the mare foaling then one person, who is familiar to the mare, can observe from a distance.

• Stage 1: The mare is restless, sweaty and may roll and watch her flanks.  May last minutes or hours! Put a tail bandage on the mare but TAKE CARE!
• Stage 2: Starts with the ‘waters’ breaking.  The mare may lie down.  Foaling should occur within 30 minutes (ring the surgery if it has not occurred after 15 minutes).  Foal is usually ejected forcibly.  The foal is born in a sac and should break out on its own (assist it if it fails to).  Treat the foal’s navel with antibiotic spray and repeat this several times during the first day.
• Stage 3: Passing of the afterbirth.  This should occur in the first 6 hours.  Ring the surgery if it has not occurred by 4 hours to avoid serious illness.

                                  
The Foal

• Foal’s suck reflex appears in the first 5-10 minutes
• Foal stands 1-3 hours after birth
• Foal first sucks 2-4 hours after birth

Colostrum:  It is vital that the foal receives adequate colostrums.  1½-2 litres should be drunk in the first 6 hours.

• Foal sucks 5-7 times an hour
• Urination usually occurs 8-12 hours post foaling
• Meconium (the chocolate brown foal dung) is passed in the first couple of days.  Completion of its passing is only confirmed by the appearance of milk dung (soft and yellow).  Ring the surgery if the foal persists with unsuccessful straining