With a newborn foal ready to make his entrance, owners of a pregnant mare have quite a bit to accomplish.
Although preparing a mare to foal might not be as exciting or nerve-wracking as caring for a pregnant woman, it is certainly a momentous event. Horses can experience complications in foaling just as easily as human beings in birth, and newborn foals require a great deal of attention and care.
Preparing the Stall
Pregnant mares need a larger stall than you would normally provide for a horse, and while the experts are divided when it comes to the dimensions of a foaling stall, 12-by-12 is considered the minimum. Some owners prefer at least 20-by-20, while others might even want more. Whatever the case, she needs enough room to move around and to care for her foal after the birth.
The stall should be thoroughly disinfected, which requires you to strip out all of the padding and sawdust, then spray everything down with a Lysol disinfectant concentrate, according to Debbie Moors of EquiSearch.com. Make sure there are no cobwebs in the corners of the stall, or any sharp nails or other implements that might injure a newborn foal after he is born.
Establishing a Watch
It isn’t necessary for owners of a pregnant mare to sit bedside every minute of every day until the birth, but it is a good idea to keep a watch on her for signs of distress or labor. Ideally, the foaling stall will be established next to another stall where owners, trainers and veterinarians can observe without disturbing the mare.
Checking on the pregnant mare once every two hours or so should be sufficient, but don’t crowd her. A nervous or agitated horse will stress, which might lead to colic or stillbirth, so make sure she’s reasonably comfortable. Food should be provided up until she begins the first stages of labor, and make sure to follow your veterinarian’s advice on fat and carbohydrate content.
Contacting the Vet
Some horse owners and breeders are confident to help a pregnant mare give birth by themselves, but a veterinarian on call is the best course of action. Of course, one vet might have hundreds of patients, and he might be busy when your mare begins foaling, in which case you should have a “back up” vet to call in an emergency.
Make sure you have everything the veterinarian might need on hand, including iodine, betadine, hot water, and bandages. He will bring most of his supplies with him, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Attention & Love
As mentioned above, it is never a good idea to crowd a pregnant mare, but this doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with her. In the weeks leading up to the birth, spend a couple of hours each day grooming her, walking her around the property, and letting her graze. No more than two people should be in the stall at the same time, and it’s best that she’s kept company by the person with whom she is the most comfortable.
And, of course, you'll want to give that same attention to her newborn foal.
