How to Deliver a Foal
After waiting 11+ months, it is time for your foal's arrival. Once the mare starts showing signs that foaling is imminent, she should not be left unattended. This could mean several sleepless nights but is mandatory to avoid possible loss of mare and foal.
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Instructions
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Stage One
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Common signs that a mare is getting ready to foal is pawing, sweating, rolling, looking or kicking at her belly.
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Be very quiet during foaling. Mares will interrupt labor if disturbed.
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Before delivery, wrap mare's tail with a gauze wrap, wash perineum and wash udder with providine soap scrub or with mild liquid soap.
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Avoid above step if mare is stressed, nervous or if it is a maiden mare. Leave mare alone.
Stage Two
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Understand that this stage can last from 5 minutes to 1 hour and begins with the mare's water breaking. She will expel a large amount of a clear to cloudy yellowish liquid. The mare will then usually stand for several minutes, walk around and lick fluid off bedding until delivery.
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Record the time at which fluid is expelled. This is very important.
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Within 5-10 minutes of loss of fluid, observe for appearance of opaque, white amniotic membrane at the vulva.
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Observe whether, as more membrane becomes exposed, you can see more of foal's feet. They should be staggered with one foot several inches in front of the other so that shoulders are aligned properly, followed closely by the muzzle.
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Observe whether the nose of foal and both front fetlocks are out and 5-6 inches clear of vulva. If nose is not visible, call veterinarian immediately.
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Look for fast, forceful and obvious abdominal contractions. With each contraction you should see more of the foal.
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Tips & Warnings
As membrane becomes exposed the mare will lie down and may get up again.
Entire delivery stage should not exceed 30-40 minutes.
Call veterinarian immediately if you cannot see membrane after 10 minutes of loss of fluid. This could indicate an abnormal foal position.
Retention of the head or one foreleg could lead to fatal consequences for both mare and foal.
Call veterinarian immediately if contractions are forceful but are not causing noticeable progress.
Early intervention in abnormal delivery may be critical for survival.
