All mares are different, hence the problems we have from time to time. I couldn’t count the times people have said to me, I had no idea the new mare I bought was in foal. Suddenly there were two of them. I am sure you have heard of cases too.
Some of the signs of a mare getting ready to foal are when the muscles over the hindquarters loosen up, the vulva could be swollen or relaxed, her belly can droop and there is sometimes a line down her side. Waxing up, is a term when the fluid from her teats coats the udder. Sometimes you can actually see milk dripping from her teats.
They can change in their attitude towards you, she might be a bit irritable, just like us, she can roll sometimes, rub her tail, bite at her sides or even kick at her stomach.
Just before the foal is due to arrive, she could become very agitated, lie down, get up, pace about, lift her tail, paw up the bedding, even break out in a sweat. Don’t expect all these things, some mares don’t show any signs, most mares will usually show some of them.
We always bed our expectant mares on straw, some people believe there is more chance of foals picking up infections from shavings. When the mare is ready to foal, see she has a good bed but not too deep. Nothing sharp in the stable obviously, low mangers are not a good idea either, just think of a foal being born into a manger. Some people actually take out water buckets too and at the Sanctuary a little foal was born into a bucket of water on a very cold night, luckily we were there.
Ponies that foal outside are fine if the weather is not too cold or wet. Problems outside are electric fences, a struggling foal can get caught up in this and the consequences dreadful, just think about it, having an electricified wire wrapped all round you and not being able to get out of it. There is a good chance of a foal dying in pain and shock. Ordinary fences are o.k. and post and rail fine as long as the foal isn’t born on the wrong side of it or if the foal rolls through. Post and rail with stock fencing is probably better. Another problem I’ve seen in Devon, are steep hills, and we were lucky enough to see a neighbour’s foal born on the side of hill and roll down into a deep ditch where it would have stood no chance of getting out if one of our girls hadn’t been alert to the problem.
Rosemary
