The foaling process

The normal gestation period for a mare is 335 days, or around eleven months. Some mares will go less, some will go more, but that's a good average.

Here are some of the things that we are watching as indicators of how close our mare is. Remember, each pregnancy can be different, but this is the rough outline that I have been shown.

Signs of impending foaling:


Size and movement of abdomen.

It's important to remember that you need to watch not only the size of the abdomen, but also the movement of the foal as it moves down towards the birthing canal. I actually watched this movement last night, you can see the foal actually shift towards the rear of the mare.

Udder Development.

In preparation for foaling, the mare's udder will start to fill ("bagging up") as early as a month before she foals. But some mares won't develop a bag until after she has foaled. Often mares that have developed a bag will start to drip a clear fluid that gradually turns white. Within the last 24 hours or so before foaling the substance will turn sticky and creamy.

Waxing:

Once the mare has developed a bag, she may exhibit a honey colored, waxy substance on the nipples. Some mares may wax a couple of weeks before foaling, while others don't show anything until after they have foaled.

Softness of the croup.

The muscles in the mare's hindquarters will relax, allowing softness if you feel the area, as well as an almost complete flexibility of the tail, you can almost completely flex it back against the back.

Behavior.

During the last few weeks of gestation, the mare may become cranky and restless. She may also want to be alone. As she starts into the first stage of foaling she may switch her tail, stamp her feet and kick at her abdomen. These are also signs of colic, but if she is still eating, drinking, defecating and/or urinating she is probably started into labor.

We'll look at more as the process unfolds.