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Outdoor foaling
For breeders, it's one of their most gratifying moments: the birth of the foal. For months, now, the breeder has wai-ted to see the actual results of a well considered choice of partners. There are several reasons why many breeders want to be present at the birth of a foal, one of the most important being to make sure that everything runs smoothly. Although most births are spontaneous and smooth, help is sometimes necessary. Hygiene and safety are very important for the birth process. Foaling in a properly enclosed paddock has advantages. Here, the mare and foal will have plenty of room. There is also less chance of infection in the open air than in a stall.
Predicting foaling from physical signs
The birth of a foal is announced by typical phenomena in the mare. These are: ten-sion in the udder, waxing, hollows on eit-her side of the tailhead, swelling of the vulva, and restless behavior. For several weeks before the expected date of birth, the udder can become gradually fuller: at first only fuller and larger, but as time progresses, it also becomes more taught as the tension increases. 'Waxing' means that the first sticky droplets of colostrum have appeared on the teats. Look closely since they can be very small. As soon as waxing starts, you should be on the alert since many mares do not display waxing until the day they foal. Another symptom of an approaching birth are the hollows on either side of the tailhead. This happens with all mares but can vary from mare to mare; in mares that are a bit more muscled, it might not be very visible, but in leaner mares or ones with less muscle, this is often easy to see. We frequently see this phenomenon fairly far in advance of the birth. Often, the mare's vulva also changes as the birth approaches. It then starts to swell somewhat. Almost two-thirds of the mares will display this phenomenon fairly far in advance of the birth. Over 90% of the mares start sweating right before and during foaling.
Predicting foaling from the mare's behavior
A very important signal is the changing behavior of the mare immediately before foaling. This is especially easy to observe when the mare is loose in a paddock or pasture. Taking restless steps alternated with some grazing is the most conspi-cuous sign. Although we cannot see it yet, the first contractions have started already. Other behavior associated with an onco-ming birth include lying down and stan-ding up again, rolling and pawing. To make the best interpretations, monitor the mare's behavior as often and as inconspi-cuously as you can.
Interpreting
These preliminary signs vary widely. One mare will display the phenomena, while in another they will be barely visible. What's more, there is a great disparity in lengths of time. One mare will start waxing sever-al days before foaling, while another will skip this sign altogether. Some mares will be walking around will a full udder for a long time before foaling (e.g., for two weeks beforehand), but the filling of the udder can also occur during or immediately following the birth. Nevertheless, the large majority of mares show definite udder development for at least a few days previous to foaling. Due to these great differences in these preliminary signs (and whether or not they will even be displayed), predicting the time of foaling is difficult. And, predicting is made even more difficult due to a wide variation in gesta-tion length, a week longer or shorter than the average eleven months is no excep-tion. The trick is in correctly interpreting the changes in all the phenomena. This applies most to the size, tension and ful-lness of the udder; waxing; and definitely behavior. For this reason, keep a close eye on all the signs displayed by the mare.
I would like to make one additional comment about the role played by weather. At our equine research center, we have noticed that a mare's udder often seems less full during cold weather than in warm weather. A mare that has displayed a large udder can have a much smaller one at the time she foals if the weather has turned cold by then. Behavior can also be less conspicuous during colder weather, so increase your alertness at these times.
The birth itself
Usually, the birth of a foal occurs quickly: the time between when the water bag becomes visible to the breaking of the umbilical cord lasts an average of less than 30 minutes. Once the position of the foal has been checked as being normal, it is best to allow the birth to take place as naturally as possible. Help is often unne-cessary. After the water bag, the amnion is quick to follow. Usually, this membrane breaks on its own, but sometimes you have to help make a hole for the foal's nose. While still in the birth canal, one of the foal's legs is positioned a little in front of the others so that the shoulders are a bit askew as the foal's body makes its exit. This position is logical, though, because the foal thus takes up less space in the birth canal. Often, the foal is lying behind the mare and thrashing about within 10 minutes after the appearance of the amnion. Sometimes it takes longer, but if the foal is correctly positioned in the birth canal, this should be no cause for alarm. At that time, it should be possible to feel two legs and the nose. If in doubt, it is advisa-ble to call for professional help. It is always a good idea to note the time at which the water broke and when you saw the amnion/parts of the fetus so that you can report this to the person who comes to help. During the'heat of the action', how ever, it is sometime hard to keep track of the time.
If you are sure that the foal is presenting abnormally (e.g., with one foreleg pointed backwards) and the veterinary is not yet on the way, you should get the mare up and walk her. This way, the contractions slow down, the foal retreats a bit back-wards into the birth canal, and this takes a little of the pressure off. The mare would rather lie down, however, so you someti-mes have to be forceful and force her to stand up and move around.
Outdoor foaling
Many foals are born in a stall, and with bad weather you have no choice but to do so. The stall must be as roomy as possible: at least 3.5 by 4 meters but preferably larger. The larger the stall, the smaller the chance that the mare will have her hindquarters right up against the wall during the birth and kill the foal by crushing it. A spacious stall is also of importance in the unfortu-nate event that help is needed during the delivery. But what can you do if you have no large box stall available? A good alter-native is foaling in the paddock, at least if certain precautions are taken: a nice dry mat of grass to keep the foal from landing directly in the mud, and good fencing (especially if there are water-filled ditches in the vicinity). At the 'De Waiboerhoeve' equine research center in Lelystad in the Netherlands, special foaling paddocks measuring 60x25 meters have been provided beside the stall. These are partially fenced with rubber strips. A spotlight has been mounted on the outside wall of the stall so that sufficient ligh-ting is available if necessary. After all, most foals are born at night. Monitoring is done with a 'Birth Alarm' girth that also works outside. In this paddock, the mare and foal have plenty of room, and there are no walls against which a foal can be crushed to death. Outside, the preliminary signs such as waxing and restlessness can be observed better, and the environment is more hygienic. Hygiene is important for both mare and foal during delivery.
Once the foal has been born, it will soon make attempts to stand, a process often accompanied by falling down and totte-ring before success is achieved. A thick bedding of grass, therefore, often provides better protection from injury than the floor of a stall. You can take advantage of these many benefits of outside foaling as long as the foal isn't born too early in the season. Although cold is not so much of a pro-blem, heavy rains are. Puddles and mud in the paddock are reason enough to revert to having the birth take place in the stall. Before April, it is usually still too wet.
After the birth, lave the brand-new mother alone. As long as she is lying down, the umbilical cord is still forming a connection between mare and foal. This connection can easily last more than five minutes. Once the umbilical cord has broken, however, check to see that the foal doesn't continue to bleed, and disinfect the stump of the umbilical cord. A bleeding stump can be closed off simply with an umbilical cord clip (available from the druggist), so make sure that you have one of these handy.
Delivery of placenta
The placenta (afterbirth) is usually expelled within 30 to 60 minutes after the birth. Check to see that no pieces have been retained within the mare's body. This can be done by laying the placenta out on a flat floor and looking to see that it is entire. The opening from which the foal emerged will be visible on one side, but there should be no other holes. If in doubt, always keep track of the mare's temperature for a few days. If she has a fever (> 38.5oC), this may be the result of pieces of retained placenta. If the placenta has not been expelled within five hours of birth, you must consult your vc1eflinary. He/she may then administer are injection of oxytocine. This substance is also produced by the mare, its purpose being to ensure the contracting of the uterus so that the foal is born and then the placenta is excreted. The injection helps the mare along in this process. If this injection is inef-fective, the veterinary will attempt to detach the placenta manually. If the placenta has not been expelled (or not been entirely expelled) after a certain length of time, this can lead to serious problems for the mare since poisonous substances are generated that can make the mare seriously ill. Foun-der is one of the dangers, as well as uterine infections which will keep the mare from becoming pregnant. In this latter case, vete-rinary treatment will be needed during one or more of the mare's cycles.
Colostrum
Normally, foals are standing within an hour and nursing within two hours after birth. The colostrum supplies the foals with antibodies. These maternal antibo-dies can be absorbed through the foal's intestines only for the first 24 to 48 hours following birth. They protect the foal from disease during its first months of life. This means that proper inoculation of the mare is advisable since sufficient antibodies in the mare's bloodstream will mean sufficient antibodies in the colostrum. It sometimes happens that foals get little if any colostrum from their mother. Prema-turely born foals belong to the risk group that could use extra care. You should also keep a close eye on young mares (without, of course, becoming overly concerned). Sometimes, colostrum should be provided as a supplement, preferably from mares at the same stables. You can freeze colostrum in the freezer. If there is no colostrum from your own stables, you can also use colostrum from another location. Sometimes, a center for orphan foals can help, and there is also artificial
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