When is foal due

However, mares have successfully foaled with gestation lengths outside this range. Please Note: The Mare Gestation Calculator is intended for use only as a foaling date estimation tool for horses. It does not consider differences between individual mares. Mare Gestation Calculator. What date was the mare bred? Estimated foaling date: Select a breeding date in the calendar to see the estimated foaling date range. Note: This calculator gives a gestation range of days from breeding adding a day for ovulation to a to day range.

Individual mares tend to have their own gestation length tendencies. Ponies, on average, tend to have shorter gestation periods than full-size horses.

This calculator is not intended for gestation estimation in donkeys or other equids—only horses. Dead space. Stage II of labor, the Active Stage, is clearly marked by the water breaking. Most mares are recumbent during Stage II but they may sit sternal and sometimes roll as they try to ease the pain of the uterine contractions. The average length of Stage II is minutes.

Once the water breaks, the amniotic membranes should be visible at the vulvar lips within minutes. The fetus is now in the birth canal and this further stimulates stronger abdominal contractions. At this point of the foaling, experienced foaling personnel may choose to hygienically palpation sleeve and lube palpate the mare vaginally to confirm a normal dorsosacral position.

As the abdominal contractions continue the feet will be observed extending from the vagina through the amniotic membrane. The amniotic membranes generally rupture when the foal is midway through the birth canal and they should be ruptured or opened if they come out intact and over the foals airway. The nose should rest on the forelimbs or knees and the head and neck are extended.

This is analogous to a diving foal. If the nose of the foal is not observed, only one hoof is present or the hooves are upside down, the foal is not in the correct position.

This is an emergency and your veterinarian should be contacted right away. Time lost during Stage II can greatly jeopardize the survivability of your newborn foal. Assuming a normal position, the abdominal contractions may be assisted with gentle manual traction on the front legs in a downward direction toward the hocks until the foal is delivered. As contractions continue, the hind feet are the last part to be delivered and indicate the end of Stage II.

It is important to stress that Stage II should progress fairly quickly once the foal enters the birth canal. Deviations from normal put the foal at risk of a hypoxic lack of oxygen insult. Please contact your veterinarian if you think your foal experienced a hypoxic event during foaling. The mare and her newborn foal should be allowed to lie quietly as the last transfer of blood passes through the connected umbilical cord to the foal. When the healthy newborn struggles and flails its legs trying to stand or as the mare stands the umbilical cord will break on its own.

The cord should not be cut with scissors or a scalpel blade. We want the foal to save some energy as it learns to nurse. Nursing: The foal should nurse within two hours of birth. Watching a foal learn to find the mammary gland and nurse is always interesting.

Foals develop their suckle reflex soon after birth, usually within 20 minutes. Some will start exercising their suckle reflex on their own legs, on the wall, or on various body parts of the mare. Some seasoned mares position themselves for the foal, while other mares need a little more time to get used to the foal as it learns to coordinate its suckle and tongue curl.

Home About Bellwether Magazine. View Penn Vet Extra - March In the late stage of gestation Mares can display a variety of behaviors in the weeks just before giving birth. At the time of foaling There are three stages of parturition giving birth : Stage 1 is the period of uterine contractions that initiates foaling. Veterinarian involvement during birth Monitoring: With close monitoring, we are able to detect some of the more subtle signs of labor.

After foaling Many actions happen simultaneously once the foal is born. Whatever the choice of foaling locations, the environment should be clean, have adequate space, and be reasonably quiet. During warm weather, many producers choose to allow their mares to foal in grassy paddocks or pastures. Avoid dirt lots, if possible. An 8- to inch-thick bed of straw will decrease dust, chances of infection, and is easier to clean. Safety to the mare and foal should be kept in mind when selecting a foaling stall.

Stalls should be constructed to allow isolation of the mare and safety to the newborn foal. Thorough disinfection of the stall prior to bringing in the mare will help prevent disease. The mare should be allowed ample exercise up to foaling.

Stall confinement for an extended period just prior to foaling may predispose the mare to impaction colic and abnormal swelling. Mares foaling in paddocks or pastures should either be isolated or have sufficient space to separate themselves from any other horses in the pasture.

A shelter should be provided in case of wet or cold weather. Regardless of the place, the foaling area should be isolated and quiet, with safety of the mare and foal paramount. The cleanliness of the foaling area cannot be stressed enough.

Foaling in contaminated areas can predispose the foal to bacteria invasion and neonatal septicemia via the navel stump. Preparations for Foaling — Caslicks Removal. Early in gestation, some mares require a Caslicks operation to partially suture together the lips of the vulva. Caslicks are used to prevent problems in mares that have abnormal vulva conformation. Mares that have a Caslicks must have the lips of the vulva opened at least 30 days prior to foaling.

If the Caslicks is not opened, there is the possibility of oblique tears to the vulva or vagina which are difficult to repair and may result in a deformity that leads to uterine infection.

Inducing Parturition? With the great variability in determining the foaling time in mares, the question of labor induction frequently arises. Only in extreme situations, such as a life-threatening condition to the mare or foal or some type of medical emergency, is parturition induction recommended, and should only be done under supervision of an experienced veterinarian, in order to prevent severe complications to both the mare and foal.

If conditions warrant labor induction, induce the mare only if certain criteria are met. First, the mare must have reached a gestation length of at least days. Substantial mammary development with colostrum present is critical. Additionally, the cervix must be soft and dilated the width of one to two fingers. If these conditions are not in place, the mare may not be close enough to parturition for a safe induction.

There are various methods your veterinarian may choose to induce labor. It is important to remember that induction of parturition in mares should not be practiced routinely, due to the risks involved to both mare and foal. References and recommended reading:. Anderson, Kathleen P. The Foaling Mare. University of Nebraska Extension Publication G Evans, W. The Horse.