MANAGING THE NEW FOAL

The arrival of a newborn foal is one of the most exciting aspects of horse ownership, but it can also create tremendous anxiety. Knowing what to expect during the delivery and understanding how to care for the foal will help to make it a positive and healthy experience for horse and owner.

 

ANTICIPATING THE ARRIVAL

A clean, well-bedded foaling stall should be provided with minimum dimensions of 12’ X 12’. Clean straw is excellent bedding material. A dirt or sand floor that has been cleaned and limed provides a good base for safe footing and proper drainage.

Gestation length is approximately 11 months and can range from 305 to 400 days so it is difficult to accurately predict the exact date foaling. Previous gestation lengths for a particular mare can be helpful but close observation of the following signs are the best indicators of parturition:
1 Mammary development will usually begin about four weeks prior to foaling
with a major increase in the size of the udder occurring in the last two weeks.
Maiden mares can delay udder development until just prior to foaling.

  • Two to three weeks before foaling the mare’s abdominal muscles relax, the udder fills with colostrum, the flank region hollows and the mare may show reduced activity.
  • One week prior to foaling the muscles around the tail head relax but this is often difficult to observe.
  • Four to six days prior to foaling the nipples begin to fill with milk and protrude from the udder.
  • One to two days prior to foaling “waxing” of the udder can be seen. This is a secretion of colostrum that forms on the teats and is often the most reliable sign of impending parturition. Wrap the tail and clean the vaginal area of the mare when you see this.
  • Calcium concentrations in the mammary secretions can be measured and will rise just prior to foaling.
  • Two to three hours before actual delivery the mare will become restless and nervous. She may paw at the ground, nibble at hay, urinate frequently, sweat, and lay down often. This indicates the first or “preparation” stage of delivery and can be interrupted and prolonged if she is disturbed. It is best to minimize commotion and excessive human disturbance during the delivery.

 

DELIVERY OF THE NEW FOAL

The end of the “preparation” stage of delivery is marked by the “breaking of the water bag” or amnionic sac. Usually several gallons of clear to straw-colored amnionic fluid is released at this time. This marks the beginning of the “activation” stage. The front feet and transparent membrane of the amnion will appear and protrude from the vulva within 10 to 15 minutes. If no progress in the delivery has been made within 30 minutes of the water bag breaking, there may be a problem with the presentation and you should call a veterinarian for assistance.

Stage three is the actual delivery of the foal. The mare will usually lie down and increase labor contractions. In a normal presentation the front two feet come first with the soles pointing downward. The foal’s head follows resting on top of the knees. If there is variation from this normal presentation or if no additional progress is made in 30 minutes you should call a veterinarian. The mare can be walked to stop the delivery until the veterinarian arrives. After the foal is born, clear the nostrils and allow the umbilical cord to break on its own. If it does not break on its own, manually break it about six inches from the body. Dip the navel in 1-2% iodine or 0.5% chlorhexidine. The mare may remain lying down for about ten minutes as she rests after delivery.

The final stage of delivery is expulsion of the placenta. It usually occurs within the first hour after foaling. The mare may experience mild colic as her uterus contracts. If the placenta is retained for more than four to six hours call a veterinarian for assistance. Uterine infection and founder are the most common complications and can be quite serious. Save the placenta so that it can be examined by the veterinarian later.

 

CARE OF THE NEW FOAL

The normal newborn foal should be breathing within one minute after birth; it should stand within one hour; and it should nurse within two to three hours. Behavior outside these standards may indicate a problem that would require veterinary attention.

The first milk produced by the mare is called colostrum. It is thicker than normal milk and contains most of the antibodies (disease-fighting proteins) that the foal needs to remain healthy the first two months of life. The foal’s own immune system will begin to take over after that. It is important that the foal ingest an adequate quantity of good quality colostrum within the first twelve hours of life. If the mare was leaking colostrum prior to delivery, if she had mastitis or no milk for other reasons, or if the foal is unable to nurse, it is important to administer stored colostrum or hyperimmune serum via stomach tube. A simple blood test for IgG (Imunoglobulins) at one to two days of age will tell us if the foal received adequate colostrum. This test should be run on all foals. If the IgG is low, we can still administer hyperimmune serum intravenously.

It is a good idea to schedule a veterinary visit for a new foal exam the day following delivery. We will conduct a physical examination on the foal to determine if there are any congenital defects and to see if there are any health problems that may have to be addressed. Special attention is given to determine if the foal became infected with a bacterial infection while still in the uterus or shortly after birth. A blood sample is drawn for an IgG test and, in some cases, a complete blood count. The placenta is carefully examined to make certain that none of it was retained in the mare. Abnormalities or pathology of the placenta can indicate that the foal received inadequate nutrients during the gestation that could put the foal at higher risk. An enema can be given if the foal has not had a bowel movement. Retained meconium is the most common cause of colic in young foals. The mare should also be examined. We look particularly for evidence of vaginal tears, hemorrhage, colic, mastitis and adequate milk.

We look forward to being a part of the welcoming committee for your new foal. Enjoy the new addition to your equine family!

 

HOME I STAFF I SERVICES I LOCATE US I LINKS I WELLNESS I EDUCATION CENTER