THE HORSE GAZETTE
foaling
knowing when, as well as the stages of foaling
By Sherri L. Barclay of Barclays Arabians
Foaling season is
little discomfort. I do however
the mares colostrum is in and at
of her feed, begin to pace, lay You will notice that
her contractions to expel the
upon us and many of our read-
have one mare that this causes
this point the mare is put into the
down then get up several times the baby is born inside a thin
placenta.
ers are expecting foals in 2009.
severe discomfort to and I
foaling stall.
and pass several small piles of translucent sack called the
Once passed I prefer
As many of us know each mare
have to place warm cloths
Once in the stall you
manure and or urine. She may amniotic sack. Once the foal
to check it for any discolor-
follows her own book and a
on the area to relieve her
should start to monitor your mare
also look at her side, begin to has been delivered passed it’s
ation, tears or missing areas that
few of them follow no book
pain. Some mares however
for impending stages of labor.
sweat in her neck, shoulder and shoulders you should tear the
may mean she retained part of
what so ever! It is important
would find this offensive so
There are things you should have
flank area and just seem restless sack and pull it back from the
the placenta. Also, if your mare
however to understand the dif-
be careful.
ready when the day approaches
overall. Some mares will even foals face to allow it to breath.
has not passed her placenta in
ferent stages of foaling and be
I can gauge when
so you are not caught off guard.
begin to drip milk just prior to This is only necessary if the
three hours, consult your vet
ready when the time arrives.
my mares are due to foal by
You should have a
delivery. Each mare is differ- sack did not break on it’s own.
as this is considered a retained
The normal gesta-
expressing the liquid out of
foaling kit ready. If you plan
ent and although they may not Delivering the shoulders is one
placenta.
tion period for a mare is be-
their udders into the palm of
on taking care of the foaling
exhibit all of these symptoms of the hardest parts of delivery
Once the foal is born
tween 320 to 360 days. Most
my hand. At first there will
yourself there are certain things
you should be able to notice for the mare. She may roll up
it will pass a blackish poop
mares will foal in the 340-day
be no liquid even when there
you need to do once the foal is
a difference in their overall and down several times before
called Meconium. Once they
range.
is a HUGE bag present. Then
delivered. You will need the fol-
behavior. pushing past the shoulders.
pass this stage they will pass
I have been able
you will begin to express a
lowing. A Tetanus anti-toxoide
Your mare will also Once she has done so she may
a yellowish or butterscotch
to catch almost every mare
clear liquid. This liquid will
shot, umbilical cord wash and
get very loose in the hindquar- lie and rest for several minutes,
colored poop. I only will give
within a day or two of foaling.
then progress to a still clear,
an enema if you and your vet feel
ters, her vulva will become nuzzling her newborn and call-
an enema if the foal is strain-
You will first notice that your
yet now milky colored, liquid
it should be given. I personally
elongated and enlarged and her ing to it softly.
ing. This will help them to pass
mares bag is getting large.
that begins to feel sticky. You
wait to see if the foal is straining
tail can be flipped almost over You will notice the
what is in their systems if there
Some may even resemble a
will finally be able to express
before giving the enema. I will
her back with little effort. This umbilical cord attached to the
is a problem.
Jersey cow. You may also no-
a thick, white (sometimes
describe the types of poop later
shows that her body is getting foal. This will begin to die once
Always consult your
tice that they get swollen just
yellowish), extremely sticky
in the article.
supple in anticipation of deliv- the foal is delivered and will
vet if you have question prior
in front if their udders. This
liquid which means you are 12
Stage One: This is
ering her foal. be broken either by the mare
to your mare foaling. Ask them
is typically the milk glands
- 48 hours from having a new
normally the longest stage of
Stage Two: This standing or the foal kicking free
about the signs of a stressed,
swelling and normally causes
family member. This means
labor. Your mare may go off
stage will begin when your and trying to stand on it’s own.
red bag or other delivery is-
mares water breaks. It will then You should NEVER break this
sues you may encounter. Also,
end when the foal has been yourself. Although I have seen
remember to always have a
Accredited Bachelor of
delivered. Normally this takes it dozens of times I still cringe
phone with you during delivery
anywhere from 15 - 20 minutes every time the cord break loose.
with knowledgeable peoples
“Breyer State University”
however one of my mares will There will be some blood how-
numbers programmed that
get through this stage in 10! ever not a huge amount.
can answer question for you
Earn y
our accr
edit
ed Science Degree
ee
The membrane will rupture If it is cold outside
as well as your vets number if
Bac
helor of Science Degr
in Eq
uine S
tudies
In Equine Studies and following will be a gush and your mare is comfortable
needed. You may “think” you
com
plet
ely on-line, s
tart an
y
water called allantoic fluid. with you in the stall you can
have it memorized however
time, s
tudy at y
our o
wn pace, no
Completely Online! Once this happens your mares help dry the foal off. This will
in the heat of the moment you
com
pletion deadlines. Ge
t one-
contractions will begin almost help to keep it warm and not use
may forget and loose valuable
on-one ins
truction fr
om leading
immediately. Some mares water up what strength it has left after
minutes running to the house
prof
essionals
.
THIS IS “NEW SCHOOL”
will break while standing while being born trying to keep warm.
to look it up.
others will rupture when they It also helps to stimulate the foal
If you feel more
lay down on the ground. If they to get up and nurse.
comfortable some local breed-
Convenient: Start
ruptured while she was standing Stage Three: This is
ers may offer a foaling service
she will almost immediately the expulsion of the placenta.
for a fee. That way you don’t
anytime, work at your
lay down. There will be three sections
have to worry as much and
pace; no completion
The mares will typi- hooked together. The Amniotic
you can pay a professional for
deadlines. Study with
cally lay flat on their sides and sack the foal was in, the cord
their years of experience. They
begin to push. The foal is in a which attached to the baby and
can help deliver and recognize
Affordable: No
Fast: You can
award-winning faculty.
“dive” position and will emerge finally the placenta. I prefer to
potential challenges before it
need for student
assure your career and
feet first, one slightly back from tie this up so it does not drag
is too late for your 11+ month
the other and then the head will on the ground and run the risk
investment.
loans. Earn a
financial future in less
Leading provider of
emerge around the foals knee of the mare stepping on it and
diploma for less
than 24 months if you
equine study courses for
area. Your mare may come to tearing it pre-maturely.
than $7,500. Each
colleges and universities
start today!
her haunches and even stand Your mare may nudge You can contact
worldwide.
to re-position herself during and even nip at the foal trying
course just $350.
Sherri at Barclay Arabians,
delivery. This may be nerve to get them to nurse. She is not
830-931-0984 or visit www.
racking for you however it may being mean to her baby. Nurs-
www.HorseCoursesOnline.com
barclayarabians.com
be helping the mare position the ing helps your mare to continue
baby for an easier delivery.
Left: Blossom, coming 7-year-old
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at 210-698-1322.
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8:30 am - 6:30 pm
• Supplements • Grooming Supplies
Sunday and so much more!
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Above: Jenny is a 5-year-
• Horses • Saddles
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Above: Thee Ringo Star.
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Sire: Thee Asil (Thee Des-
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hands. Jenny is a gentle,
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Farms in England. Dam
Boarding and Training
- the good mare, Trina.
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- www.GreatWesternHorses.com
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jmlightning35@hotmail.com
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