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Q5) How do I know when my mare is close to foaling?
The most clear and concise guide we've found to answer this question comes
from Lon Lewis' Feeding and Care of the Horse. While every mare is
different, most go through these stages before foaling.
While this is a great quick reference chart for foaling, many people also
prefer to have a good book or DVD on foaling nearby to answer more in-depth
questions. Some thorough, non-technical and fairly inexpensive choices are
listed below the chart.
Signs and Stages of Foaling
From Feeding and Care of the Horse by Lon D. Lewis
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Signs and Stages |
Usual Time of Occurrence |
|
Distended udder (minimal in many maiden mares) |
2-4 weeks before foaling |
|
Dropping of the abdomen (more with age), followed by relaxation evident
on each side of tailhead |
1-3 weeks before foaling |
|
Teats fill with a clear, watery secretion |
4-7 days before foaling |
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Secretions become cloudy and wax-like and cover end of nipples
(waxing-over), and calcium exceeds 320 ppm (8mM/L) |
1-4 days before foaling |
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Vulva becomes loose, soft, and relaxed and no evening drop in rectal
temperature |
½ -1 ½ days before foaling |
|
Foaling stage 1: Stop eating; pacing,
restlessness, lying down and getting up which helps get foal into position
for birth. Tail switching, sweating and frequent urination. If disturbed,
mare can delay progression for many hours. Membranes rupture and several gallons of fluid are expelled. Mare now
can no longer delay foaling. |
Begins 2-5 hours before delivery and 2-3 hours before water breaks |
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Foaling stage 2*: Amnion, forefeet soles
down, then nose appears. If not, provide help. Mare usually standing. |
5-15 min. after fluid expelled. If over 20-30 min., help needed. |
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Foaling stage 3*: Most mares lie down, and
labor using abdominal effort begins. |
15 min. or less before delivery |
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Foaling stage 4: Expulsion of the placenta
(fetal membranes) |
15-90 min. after delivery |
* Some define stage 2 as what is given here as stages 2 and 3, which then
makes expulsion of the placenta stage 3.
Other References & Suggested Reading:
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