Foaling Down

24/7 Foaling Down Services in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley

The prospect of a sound, healthy foal is very exciting.

Foaling Down Service

Predicting the exact foaling time for your mare is made easier with our foaling down service at our purpose-built clinic in Hatton Vale. Most mares arrive 2-3 weeks prior to their due date to ensure they settle in and build up antibodies for the new environment to pass onto their foal.

Your mare is cared for daily, with the support of our veterinary team. A qualified veterinarian with experience in foaling down is on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and fitted with foaling alarms to ensure delivery goes smoothly for your mare.

Prior to foaling, your mare’s pH levels in your mare’s colostrum will be checked daily to determine her foaling time. When the pH drops to 6.2, foaling is imminent. If your mare or foal encounter any problems during foaling, our capable veterinary staff are on-site to assist without any delay.

Common Foaling Problems

At our clinic, we receive a high number of maiden (virgin) mares who are foaling down for the first time. With their first foal comes an increased risk of problems.

Aside from birthing problems, some maiden mares reject their foal or won’t allow their foal to nurse. Nursing within the first two hours of life is crucial to the health of your foal. Our team closely monitor your foal until they nurse, and both mare and foal show no signs of distress.

During foaling, there are a number of problems that can occur. Without swift support, the consequences can be devastating. These include:

A red bag situation where the placenta is being delivered before the foal
Only one hoof appears, but no other hoof or nose of the foal
The nose of the foal appears first
The hoof appears but it’s upside down
The water breaks but no foal within 20 minutes
The mare is foaling, but has stopped for more than 10 minutes

Your Next Steps

To find out more about our foaling down service, call us today on (07) 5411 4554 to speak with a qualified veterinarian about your mare. For after hours emergency assistance, call 1300 641 007.