06/07/2024
⚠️PRE FOALING CHECKLIST ✅
It is important that as your pregnant mare is awaiting her foal to be born to start planning, to help ensure the best outcome for both mum and foal.
📅Calculate your mare’s expected foaling date:
The average gestation length in a mare ranges from 320 to 362 days. Most mares will foal within 330-345 days of successful breeding; however some foals can be born as early as 320 days or as late as 390 days.
💉Immunizations:
Plan to vaccinate your mare with 2in1 Tetanus Strangles 4 weeks before she is due to foal. The antibodies from these vaccines will be passed on to the foal through colostrum.
🪡Caslick:
It is important that if your mare has been caslicked at the time of breeding that this be opened in the lead up to her getting ready for foaling. Failure to open the caslick may result in unnecessary vulval tearing or a potentially difficult birth.
👶🏻Maiden Mares:
Often first time mums are not use to having their teats touched and are often extremely reactive. Regular handling of the mare around the udder area can help desensitize the mare to this stimulation and in turn assist with the nursing process.
🐄Udder size:
The most notable change in the lead up to a mare getting ready to foal is in the mammary glands. The udder will usually begin to fill 2-4 weeks prior to foaling with milk and typically let down into the teats 4-6 days prior to foaling. In the 48 hours prior to foaling small secretions of colostrum may dry up on the end of the teats which is commonly known as ‘waxing up’. Some mares may also run milk from the teats 24 hours before foaling; if the running of milk however continues beyond 24 hours then your veterinarian should be advised.
🧘🏻Hindquarters changing shape:
The ligaments over the pelvis and under the tail head relax slightly giving a 'dropped' appearance to the hindquarters in the approximate week prior.
It is important to remember that every mare is different and their changes can vary from horse to horse and each mare should be assessed accordingly.
