Horse breeding is a challenge. Knowing how the birth of a foal mare proceeds will not only help the foal to be born, but will also allow you to recognize possible problems that may arise during labor.
Instructions
Step 1
Pregnancy in a mare usually lasts about 342 days, that is, about 11 months. But don't rely heavily on the calendar. In general, pregnancy is considered full-term if birth occurs within 321 to 365 days from the date the mare is covered by the stallion.
Step 2
In the last days before giving birth, the mare needs increased attention from the owner. Careful hoof care, adequate amounts of healthy food, and easy walks will help her stay healthy and gain the strength she needs for this challenging endeavor. During pregnancy, it is necessary to vaccinate the mare against herpes. On the one hand, such a vaccination will prevent miscarriage, on the other hand, viral antibodies will also pass into the mare's milk, becoming a reliable protection for the foal in the first weeks of its life.
Step 3
2-4 weeks before delivery, the udder will begin to increase in size. The genitals are enlarged, and spontaneous secretion of colostrum may begin immediately in front of the nipple from the nipples. The animal becomes restless, the time comes for immediate preparation for childbirth.
Step 4
A mare's birth can be divided into 3 periods. The first of these is characterized by the appearance of contractions. The horse may become nervous and its behavior becomes similar to that of an animal with colic in the abdomen. The mare constantly turns to her stomach, restlessly moves her legs, begins to sweat, and can periodically defecate in small portions.
Step 5
The second phase - the immediate birth of the foal - lasts about 30 minutes. The mare lies down, strong abdominal contractions become noticeable. If after half an hour the baby is still in the womb, a veterinarian must be called in immediately to determine the possible incorrect position of the fetus. The forelegs are the first to appear, with one hoof slightly overlapping the other. Next come the nose, head, neck and shoulders. If the sequence of appearance of body parts deviates from normal, this is also a reason for the immediate intervention of a specialist. Before the hind legs are born, the umbilical cord may break, this is quite normal. If the umbilical cord does not break, the mare will bite it herself at the right time, you should not interfere with this process. The only thing that should be taken care of is disinfection of the umbilical stump within 24 hours after childbirth in order to avoid infection. If the baby's face is still covered with a bubble, it must be ripped open to prevent the foal from suffocating. The remnants of the bladder will be removed by the mother while licking the cub.
Step 6
The third phase of labor in a mare is characterized by expulsion of the placenta and can last from 1 to 2 hours. If after 3 hours nothing happens, the horse must be shown to the veterinarian. The born afterbirth should be immediately transferred to a bucket and taken out of the pen so that the mare does not eat it.
Step 7
The newborn should rise on its legs within the first hour and, at the latest, 2-3 hours after delivery, start drinking milk from the mother's udder. During the first 24 hours, the foal should lose meconium. If the cub is pushing, shaking its head, but still cannot squeeze anything out of itself, it needs a specialist examination. Any deviation from the norm should be a cause for concern and possible action.
