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 foal is
different, most go through these stages after foaling.
|
Behavior |
Usual Time of Occurrence |
|
Foal lifts and shakes head |
½ to 3 min. after birth |
|
Foal sits up, i.e., rolls from side onto sternum |
1 to 10 min. after birth |
|
Umbilical cord breaks |
3 to 13 min. after birth |
|
Foal sucks fingers placed in its mouth |
2 to 20 min. after birth |
|
Pupils respond to light and startle reaction to light flash* |
10 min. after birth |
|
Foal moves ears and head, following sound |
10 to 40 min. after birth |
|
Mare stands (3-10 % don’t lie down to foal) |
5 to 25 (average 10) min. after foaling |
|
Placenta passed |
15 to 90 min. after foaling |
|
Foal stands |
15 to 180 min. after foaling (fillies average 40, colts 65) |
|
Foal walks well |
3 to 9 min. after standing |
|
Foal seeks care, approaches and follows mare |
10 to 20 min. after standing |
|
Foal nurses mare and passes meconium (first stool) |
½ to 6 hours and usually 1 to 2 hours after birth, or 30 to 90 min.
after standing |
|
Continued defecation by foal |
Once in 10 hours, increasing to 3 to 5 times per day |
|
Foal lies down |
½ to 1 ½ hours after nursing |
|
Foal drowsy and sleeps, usually on its side |
80 to 100 min. after nursing |
|
Foal stretches, trots, gallops and grooms itself |
4 hours after birth |
|
Foal first urinates |
3 to 15 hours after birth; average 6 for colts, 10 for fillies |
