Horse Breeding

 Horse Fertility and Horse Breeding for Horses in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley

 Your bundle of joy is on the way!

However, when foaling doesn’t go to plan, you need to be know when immediate veterinary assistance is required.

There are a number of things that can go wrong during and following foaling that can adversely affect the health and well-being of your mare or newborn foal. The first 48 hours post-foaling are crucial to ensure your mare and foal are thriving.

What is the normal process of foaling? 

Usually, a mare will be able to foal on her own without human intervention. There are three distinct stages to foaling, including:

1. Stage One is generally the longest stage and may take 1-4 hours. Your mare will be restless, often mimicking the common signs of colic. If this behaviour continues for more than 4 hours, you should call a veterinarian immediately.
2. Stage Two is where the water breaks prior to foaling. This stage normally takes 15-20 minutes. Uterine contractions will begin and your mare will most likely lie down if she hasn’t already. A front hoof will emerge, followed by the other front hoof and nose of the foal.
3. Stage Three is where the mare expels the placenta after foaling. It may take 1-3 hours for this to occur. When the placenta has been expelled, you must check to ensure it’s intact. There should be one hole and no signs of tearing.

During foaling, you should only intervene if you notice a problem. When the foal has been born, you may approach them only to break the white membrane so the foal can breathe. Your mare and her newborn foal should be given ample room to bond.

What are the most common problems during foaling? 

There are a number of problems that can arise during foaling.

Call a veterinarian immediately if you notice:

• 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

What are the most common problems after foaling? 

There are a number of problems that can arise after foaling.

Call a veterinarian immediately if you notice:

• Your mare colics after foaling
• Your mare is refusing to let the foal drink
• The foal has been delivered sitting in a dog-like position
• The foal has not stood within three hours
• The foal has not consumed milk within four hours

What are the milestones that I should look for during the first 48 hours? 

Most likely, foaling will proceed smoothly. There are several important milestones your foal will exhibit if they are healthy. These include:

• Within 30 seconds – regular breathing
• Within 5 minutes – foal attempts to sit up on sternum
• Within 5 minutes – foal should be righting itself
• Within 20 minutes – foal should start the suckle reflex
• Within 1-3 hours – foal should be attempting to stand
• Within 1-3 hours – foal should be able to stand unassisted
• Within 4 hours – foal should be wanting to or already nursing
• Within 1-3 hours – foal should be interested in following the mare
• Within 2 hours – foal can start frisky movements
• Within 3 hours – foal will have its first sleep before nursing again
• Within 8-9 hours – foal should have urinated
• Within 24 hours – foal should have passed all meconium
• As early as 6 hours – foal can start galloping about
• As early as 24 hours – foal may start to groom
• As early as 24 hours – foal may start to nibble grass
• As early as 10-15 days – foal may show interest in solid food

Your Next Steps

If you notice anything unusual during foaling, call us immediately on (07) 5411 4554. For after hours emergency assistance, call 07 5411 4554.