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GALLERY & BROODMARE RESOURCES

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I will be adding other articles and links to helpful Broodmare Management topics.
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LET'S GET STARTED!!

ARE YOU READY FOR FOALING??

The game is on.  As we head into February we find ours elves in the foaling and breeding season again.  Now is the time to prepare.  Have you check your foaling kit? 

    Here is a list of things I like to have on hand:

Lots of towels

ob sleeves

iodine

enema for the foal if needed

foal blanket (for extreme temps)

latex gloves

ace/banamine (just in case)

string or binder twine to tie up the placenta

small bottle and nipple or dose syringe to feed small amount of colostrum to foal, if needed

clean bucket and roll cotton to wash mare

mild detergent

Vetrap to wrap mare's tail

extra straw handy for cleaning stall and bedding down after delivery

pitchfork to keep stall nice and tidy

bucket for placenta disposal

mare's halter

twitch or lead with chain for mare, just in case

cell phone! Veterinary phone numbers

large blanket to carry foal, just in case(just put the foal on a large heavy blanket and carry)

heat lamp for stall if correctly installed in safe permanent fixture

sharp straight scissors to open a sutured mare (in case she wasn't opened yet) or

to open fetal membranes in an emergency

When is she going to foal?

 The text book answer of_336__ days is one answer. Most mares will foal within 10 days either side of that date.  I usually just go with 11 months.  It's a pretty safe bet.  A lot of other factors can contribute to a mares gestation length.  Does she have an early foaling date like Feb or Mar? 

Or is she later like June?  Mares tend to do the same thing each year, meaning, if she's two weeks over, she will most likely have that same pattern again the next year. Keeping good foaling and breeding records is essential to being a successful broodmare manager.br

  It's those mares that run over that tend to drive broodmare managers a little crazy.  Especially if they tend to have small bits of wax for prolonged periods before actually foaling.  You can bet that the minute you decide to run an errand she will start to foal.  Most mares, however, foal between 10pm and 2 am., under cover of the night.  Foaling at night is natures protection from predators. 

Just watching your mares and knowing their everyday routines is the best way to know when she might foal.  Mares tend to start really walking 2-24 hrs before foaling.  This helps get the foal into position.  Whether they are in a stall or in the paddock they will most likely start walking.  Sometimes they will try to "back into" something with their hindquarters, like a fence or a stall wall.  Mares will also try to "nest".  You might see them sort of nosing around their bedding or even outside in the pasture.

 "Waxing up" is another good indicator that foaling is eminent.  Some mares wax up a little for a few days and then it gets heavier and finally a little milky as well.  Other mares might wax up a few hours before and then stream milk.  I foaled one mare that had a decent amount of wax for a week and then had wax that looked like pretzels hanging from her teats!  She drove me crazy for 2 weeks.  Some mares may not wax up or even drip milk at all before foaling.  Those are the tough ones to manage.  The key to those mares is just to watch them and check them frequently and checking them every couple of hours is a safe bet.

 Another thing to watch for is the relaxing of the muscles over the tailbone.  Prior to foaling these become super relaxed and the tailbone is actually more prominent.   This is not always a reliable sign because some maiden mares (and some older foaling mares as well) may not relax those muscles until the are actually foaling.  It can happen pretty fast.

 One of the best signs is if your mare starts to sweat for "no reason".   Hard labor is usually close at hand.  Mares will usually try to lay down and it seems that when they do their water tends to break at this point (or when they stand again) and then  your waiting is over!  Good luck to all of you this year!  Feel free to email with any questions about your mare.

Diane