Foaling season is an exciting time, full of hope and promise. Every foal born is the result of not only a year of waiting, but in many cases, years of planning and careful breeding. While a foaling can be one of life’s sweetest miracles when it goes well, it can be devastating when something goes wrong. Happily, most foalings do have a happy ending, and proper mare care and preparation – including preparation for problem foaling – will increase your chances of producing a healthy foal.

Before Foaling

Producing a healthy foal begins long before the mare goes into labor. According to Dr. Emily J. Miller, DVM of the Cleveland Equine Clinic in Ohio, it starts with having a healthy mare.

“The mare should be vaccinated and in good health before she’s bred, then vaccinated against rhinopneumonitis at five, seven and nine months of pregnancy, and finally a booster on all her vaccines four to six weeks before the foal is due to make sure she has good antibodies to pass on to the foal,” says Miller.

She suggests using a foal tracking system to help keep track of what the mare and foal need and when. She likes www.foalcare.com, which not only has a calendar of when you need to do something for the mare, but allows you to keep records. There is also a wealth of helpful information on the site.

Dr. Linda Lauper of H.A.P.P.E.E. Horses, Inc., in Clements, California adds, “Deworm on a regular schedule through the pregnancy and once again 30 days prior to foaling with an Ivermectin product. Also vitally important is nutritional support – good quality hay and a vitamin-mineral supplement is essential. Grain is not part of the support – a horse’s gastrointestinal tract is truly not designed for high carbs likes grains. If you need to add calories, increase hay, add low carb substitutes, omega 3 fatty acids, flax, rice bran, etc.”

When the time for foaling is drawing close, Lauper says that colostrum test kits can help pinpoint the time of foaling generally within 24-48 hours. She suggests spending time each day grooming the mare, including the udder area – especially for first timers – to prepare her for the foal’s contact.

“It’s always a good idea to have a good relationship with your vet before the foal comes,” says Miller. “Talk to them so you know what to expect, and make sure you know the best way to contact them in an emergency.”

Lauper shares this special hint: “Write down all of pertinent behaviors of the mare in the weeks prior to the foaling and the night of the foaling. Mares tend to follow a pattern, such as waxing up a certain amount of time prior to foaling. This can help a lot in the future pregnancies of this mare. This is not always true but can guide you.”

It is also vital to have your foaling kit ready well before the foal is due, so you are ready for anything. Some typical items in a foaling kit include:

• Fleet enemas

• Nolvasan (chlorhexidine) solution to dip the navel (“Nolvasan is preferable to betadine, as chlorhexidine is much more tissue-friendly for sensitive navels,” says Lauper). The case from a 10 or 20 cc syringe is easily available and sterile, making it a good dipping vessel.

• Umbilical tape (or even a new shoe string) in case the umbilicus is prematurely detached after foaling or is bleeding excessively

• Sedation

• Lauper likes to include “Rescue Remedy,” which is a calming flower essence combination that is given orally – for horses or humans.

• Banamine and Dipyrone to be given at the veterinarian’s direction should you have any post-foaling pain/colic

• Clean towels

• Rubber exam gloves, which can be filled with water and tied to the placenta if it is retained

• Oxytocin to be given at the veterinarian’s discretion to help eliminate a retained placenta

• Your veterinarian’s phone number in the kit for quick and easy access

Finally, have a plan in case the worst happens and either the mare rejects the foal or something goes wrong during labor and you lose her. Know where you can get a nurse mare or colostrum if necessary. Even in perfectly normal deliveries, from time to time a mare will not produce enough colostrum. Big breeding farms often bank colostrum, and veterinary clinics sometimes carry it. In the event the mare rejects the foal or is lost and no nurse mare is available, you may need to teach the foal to drink milk from a bucket. In any case, knowing how you will handle the more common catastrophes will diminish their impact on you and the horses.

“Horses at higher risk for problems include first time mares, mares that have been dripping milk for many days prior to the foaling, older mares, mares with endocrine problems like hypothyroidism, insulin-resistance or Cushing’s Syndrome,” explains Lauper.

During Foaling

When a mare is foaling, it can be tempting to jump in and help her and the new foal, especially if things are going more slowly than you expected. However, while it is a good idea to be available in case she needs you, most mares can and will foal entirely without help, and the natural bond between mare and foal will usually develop on its own.

Dr. George McCommon, DVM at Fort Valley State University in Georgia explains, “[The mare] should be monitored at the time of foaling, but it is best if she is left undisturbed if all is going well. Often, too much human interference simply upsets the situation. The foal should stand and nurse within the first two hours. The colostrum in the initial milk can only pass through the stomach wall during the first 18-24 hours of life. If the foal does not get the colostrum which contains the antibodies then this is failure of passive transfer and is a very serious life threatening condition.”

How do you know when to step in and help the mare? “Once the mare’s water breaks, you should see progress within 10 to 15 minutes, meaning one foot, the muzzle, and then the other foot,” says Miller. “The foal should be born within about 20 to 30 minutes.” She suggests using a watch to time the labor to make sure it is proceeding at an appropriate speed, because it is easy to lose track of time. If no progress is made within that 10 to 15 minutes, she says you should don one of the rubber gloves from the foal kit and reach inside to check the presentation. You will probably need to consult your veterinarian at this point.

“Don’t forget to have straw available for the foaling stall if you are using the barn to foal in,” adds Lauper. “We foal in pasture, which is my personal preference because I like the mares to continue exercising, and I like the natural approach – though it is much more difficult to monitor.”

After Foaling

Once the baby is born, “Follow the One, Two, Three Rule,” Miller suggests. “The foal should stand within one hour, nurse within two hours, and the mare should pass the placenta within three hours.” Failure to pass the placenta within a reasonable period of time can lead to a variety of problems, such as infections.

McCommon says, “It is often a good plan to have the veterinarian come at approximately 12-18 hours and check the immunoglobulin level of the foal’s blood. This is an easy procedure that can be done on the farm. It is good to have the veterinarian examine the placenta and check the perineal area for tears. The veterinarian should also examine the foal.”

Examining the foal and checking his immunoglobulin levels can aid in identifying early problems in the foal and making sure he has received the colostrum he needs.

Lauper warns, “Monitor first time mothers very closely – some will reject the foal aggressively. In these cases, there are some ways to help, including Rescue Remedy, light sedation, administering Banamine to reduce any pain associated with nursing, tying the mare up before the first nursing, incorporating a twitch to slow the mare down a bit, or offering the mare a small amount of grain in a bucket while the foal nurses as a positive reward for good nursing behavior.”

She also suggests allowing the foal to lie quietly as long as possible while the umbilicus is attached to the placenta to prevent premature detachment and to allow the mare to process what just happened in a quiet manner. “This is important bonding time, too,” she says. “Once the detachment has occurred, if the situation is quiet, you can go ahead and dip the navel for the first time. I generally will dip it again later once the foal is up and nursing and sometimes daily with the chlorhexidine for the next couple days.”

The mare may experience some mild cramping after foaling while the uterus prepares to and eliminates the placenta. This is normal and does not always require medication – in fact, administering Banamine or Dipyrone when not necessary can actually slow down or interrupt this important process.

“This is different than true colic pain signs, which are more severe in nature,” Lauper says. “However, if the cramping continues long after the placenta is eliminated or increases in severity, then veterinary involvement is necessary.”

She also says to check the placenta post-foaling to make sure the horns of the uterus aren’t missing any pieces. It should be checked to make sure it is of normal weight, color and consistency. If you are unsure whether the whole placenta is there or think there may be something wrong with it, save it for your veterinarian to check. If possible, double bag it and keep it refrigerated (although, you might not want to use your family’s fridge!) until the veterinarian arrives.

“Uterine discharge for a day or so following foaling is normal,” Lauper adds. “It will be dark, thick and mucus-like in consistency. If it continues more than a week or is malodorous, veterinary intervention is important.” In general, she says you will want to watch mare closely for signs of colic, abnormal uterine discharge, laminitis, weight loss or excessive weight gain. “Once again, grain is not a necessary supplement,” she says. “Good hay, a quality vitamin-mineral supplement, a trace mineral salt block, and good water are the necessities.”

Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge and preparing for your new foal before you even breed your mare is a great way to give your mare the best possible chance at having a normal, healthy foal. Even if something does go wrong, being ready to handle it can turn a heartbreaking event into a happy one.

Photo: Helen Peppe

The health of a mare, ensures a better pregnancy and a healthier foal.

Photo: Helen Peppe

Taking the time to properly prepare for your foal can be hard work, but it is worth it in the end.