Normal Foaling

Foaling is the process of giving birth. Understanding what normal foaling looks like allows you to recognize problems and get help when needed. Most mares foal without complications. They go into labor, progress normally, and produce a healthy foal within a couple of hours. But some foalings have problems that require intervention. Knowing the difference is essential.

Horses are unusual in that most foaling happens at night or early morning. Mares often wait until darkness to foal. Evolution probably explains this—in the wild, mares foal at night when predators are less active. Understanding this pattern helps you know when to watch for foaling. If your mare is due, watching carefully in the evening and through the night increases your chances of being present for foaling.

A normal foaling happens quickly once labor is established. Most mares go from initial contractions to delivering the foal within a couple of hours. Unlike humans, whose labor can last many hours, horse labor is usually rapid. This speed is by design—a mare lingering in labor is vulnerable to predation in the wild.

Understanding the stages of labor helps you know what's happening and when to worry. Stage one is early labor and preparation. Stage two is active labor and delivery. Stage three is delivery of the placenta. Each stage has expected characteristics. Knowing what's normal in each stage helps you identify problems quickly.

Watching for signs of impending foaling is useful. Knowing when your mare is likely to foal soon helps you be prepared. Foaling can be unexpected, but many mares show signs beforehand. Recognizing these signs helps you be ready.

Stage one labor begins when the mare's body starts preparing for birth. Contractions begin—the uterus contracts to move the foal into position and open the cervix. The mare might appear restless or uncomfortable. She might sweat, especially around the flanks and neck. She might walk back and forth, get up and down repeatedly, or seem distracted. Some mares show these signs mildly. Others are dramatic. Duration of stage one varies from a few hours to longer. It ends when the cervix is fully dilated and the mare enters stage two.

Signs of stage one include the mare being off her feed, appearing irritable or anxious, and showing physical signs of discomfort. Her tail might be elevated. She might have difficulty focusing on normal activities. She might frequently move to the back of her stall or paddock. If the mare has a foal nursing, she might try to move away from him repeatedly. Many mares show these signs in the evening or night before foaling.

Waxing is a sign that foaling is very near—within 24-48 hours usually. The mare's udder, which has been enlarging as foaling approaches, develops wax-like crusts on the ends of the teats. These look like little pearls of dried, waxy material. Waxing indicates that colostrum is present in the udder and foaling is imminent. Some mares wax and foal hours later. Others wax and take a day or more. Not all mares wax noticeably.

Milking out happens when the mare begins leaking milk before foaling. Some mares' udders drip or stream milk in the day or hours before foaling. Some leak colostrum noticeably. The appearance of milk or colostrum indicates foaling is very close. A mare that's streaming milk or dripping significantly might foal within hours or even minutes.

Stage two begins when the cervix is fully dilated. Contractions intensify. The mare moves into active labor. She typically gets down and strains. She might get up and down repeatedly—lying down to push, getting up to shift position, lying down again. The foal enters the birth canal and starts moving down toward delivery. This stage usually lasts 15-60 minutes from the time the mare lies down in serious labor.

What you'll see in stage two is the mare lying down and straining hard. Her belly contracts visibly. She might sweat heavily. She might make noise—groaning or grunting with effort. She might get up between contractions, circle, and lie down again. This is all normal. Most mares are focused on the work of labor. They might ignore you or acknowledge your presence—either is normal.

A water bag appears—a fluid-filled sac that's the foal's outer membranes. It's grayish or clear and breaks open as the foal descends. Once the water bag breaks, you should see the foal's front hooves appear. The foal's front legs should emerge hooves-first, with the foal's head resting on top of the legs in a diving position. This positioning is critical. If hooves are presented backward or if the head is twisted back, the foal's position is wrong and problems arise.

Once the foal is positioned correctly—front hooves leading, head following—labor progresses quickly. The mare pushes, the foal slides out. The shoulders, then the barrel, then the hindquarters. Once the hindquarters are out, the foal is delivered. The umbilical cord is still attached to the placenta, which is still in the mare. The foal takes his first breaths. The cord breaks either naturally as the foal moves away or when the mare and foal separate.

Stage three is delivery of the placenta. After the foal is delivered, the mare continues to have mild contractions. These push the placenta out. Normally this happens within an hour or two of foaling. The placenta is large, dark red, and shaped like a giant kidney. Once it's expelled and intact, stage three is complete.

Preparing for foaling means having supplies ready before foaling happens. Towels for drying the foal. Iodine or other treatment for the foal's navel. Backup colostrum in case the mare doesn't have adequate. Milk replacer in case supplementation is needed. A thermometer for checking temperatures. Clean water. Your veterinarian's contact information. Having these things ready means you can respond immediately if problems arise.

Preparing your foaling area is important. If foaling indoors, ensure clean bedding—deep, soft straw is traditional. Remove anything the foal could injure himself on. Ensure good lighting so you can see what's happening. Have water available for the mare. Have your supplies within reach. An outdoor foaling area should be enclosed safely, free of hazards, and with good footing.

Managing the mare during labor involves mostly watching and letting the mare do her job. Don't disturb her unless necessary. Let her labor in privacy if possible. Some mares are fine with you present. Others prefer you to be nearby but not hovering. Some mares need space. Respect the mare's preferences. Most mares focus on labor and don't need much from you other than your presence if she wants it.

Watching for problems is important. Normal labor progresses steadily. The mare continues making progress. If labor stops, if the mare seems stuck with no progress, if you see the foal's tail coming first instead of the hooves, if the foal's position looks wrong, or if the foal emerges and doesn't start breathing—these are problems. Knowing what's normal helps you recognize what's not.

Don't force help unless something is obviously wrong. The temptation to help is strong, but interference during normal foaling can create problems. Let the mare and foal do the work. If progress stops or something looks wrong, then intervene or call the vet. But most foalings progress fine without interference.

Once the foal is delivered and the cord has broken, immediate care involves making sure the foal is breathing, that his nostrils are clear, and that he starts moving around. The foal will shake his head and start breathing within moments. Help dry him if he's very wet. Keep him warm. Watch for him to begin attempts to stand.

The placenta should be expelled within a couple hours. If the mare has severe straining and nothing's being passed, or if hours go by with no placenta, call the vet. Retained placenta is a serious problem. But don't panic if a couple of hours pass—that's normal. The mare continues mild contractions until the placenta comes out.

Once the foal has nursed and the placenta is delivered, the immediate foaling period is complete. Monitor the mare and foal closely for the next 24 hours as discussed in newborn foal care articles. But the active foaling is done.

Dystocia—difficult labor—is the main complication. The foal might be positioned incorrectly. The mare might have contractions that don't progress labor. The foal might be too large for the mare. The mare might have structural problems preventing normal birth. These situations require veterinary intervention. The vet might manipulate the foal into correct position, might use traction to help deliver, or might perform a cesarean section if vaginal delivery isn't possible.

Incorrect foal positioning is a common dystocia. A foal that's coming backward (rear hooves first) can sometimes be delivered but more often requires intervention. A foal with his head twisted back is in serious trouble—his head blocks the birth canal. These positioning problems are emergencies. The sooner you recognize the problem and get veterinary help, the better the outcome.

Laboratory labor happens when contractions stop progressing. The mare strains but nothing happens. Hours pass with no progress. This is a vet emergency. Prolonged labor is dangerous for the foal and the mare.

Hemorrhage can happen if there's severe trauma during foaling. The foal or mare can bleed internally or externally. Severe bleeding is an emergency requiring immediate veterinary attention.

Fetal distress—lack of oxygen to the foal—can develop during difficult labor. The foal's umbilical cord might be compressed, preventing oxygen flow. A prolonged labor without progress can deprive the foal of oxygen. These situations are emergencies. The sooner the foal is delivered, the better.

Retained placenta happens when the placenta doesn't deliver after the foal. The mare might strain and make some progress but can't expel it completely. Retained placenta is dangerous—it can cause uterine infection or other problems. If the placenta isn't passed within a few hours, veterinary attention is needed.

Uterine rupture is a devastating complication where the mare's uterus tears during labor. This is usually fatal for the mare if not immediately surgically corrected. Signs include severe pain, shock, and internal bleeding. This is a true emergency if it occurs.

Foal trauma can occur during difficult birth. The foal's head, limbs, or body might be injured during difficult delivery or manipulation. Some injuries are minor. Some are severe. Once the foal is born, assess his condition carefully and get veterinary evaluation of any injuries.

Having a veterinarian present at foaling is ideal for first-time breeders or for mares with history of problems. The vet can handle complications as they arise and assess the foal immediately after birth. For experienced breeders with low-risk mares, vet presence might not be essential, but having a vet on call is smart.

Consuling with your vet before foaling season is valuable. Discuss your mare's health, any concerns about her ability to deliver normally, and your plans for foaling. Your vet can advise on whether the mare is likely to foal normally or whether complications are likely. They can also advise on what to watch for and when to call them during foaling.

If problems arise during foaling—if labor stalls, if you see incorrect positioning, if the foal isn't breathing, if the placenta doesn't deliver—calling the vet immediately is critical. Complications can become emergencies within minutes. Professional intervention often makes the difference between life and death for the foal or mare.

Post-foaling evaluation by a vet is valuable. Checking the mare for tears or other damage, checking the foal's condition, and ensuring everything is normal gives you peace of mind. If problems exist, early detection and treatment improves outcomes.

Newborn foal exams within the first 24 hours were discussed previously. This vet check is valuable for identifying any birth-related issues in the foal.

If the mare retained the placenta, the vet needs to evaluate her. Treatment might be necessary to prevent infection or other complications. If the mare had a difficult foaling with known trauma, vet evaluation confirms that damage is minimal and that the mare will recover normally.

Costs of veterinary involvement vary. Vet presence at foaling might be several hundred dollars. Emergency service if complications arise might be more. Post-foaling exams are typically fifty to several hundred dollars. These costs are usually much less than the cost of losing a mare or foal to preventable complications.

Normal foaling is relatively quick once active labor starts. Stage one can take several hours. Stage two usually takes less than an hour. Stage three takes a couple hours. Knowing this timeline helps you recognize when something is taking too long.

Night foaling is normal. Most mares foal at night or early morning. Expecting foaling at night helps you be prepared. Some mares foal during the day too. Either is normal.

Trusting the mare to do her job is important. Most mares foal without problems if left alone to labor. Interference usually creates problems rather than solving them. Watch, be ready to help if needed, but mostly let the mare foal.

Recognizing normal from abnormal is critical. A foal coming front hooves first with the head following is normal. A foal coming rear hooves first is abnormal. Slow, steady progress is normal. Labor stalling for hours with no progress is abnormal. Knowing the difference helps you know when to call for help.

Being prepared with supplies and vet contact information means you can respond immediately if problems arise. Having towels, colostrum, and vet contact information immediately available helps you handle problems quickly.

Remember that most mares foal normally without complications. Complications are the exception, not the rule. Being prepared and watching carefully means that if complications do occur, you can address them quickly. But most foalings progress without problems if you let the mare do her job and are available if help is needed.