Equine Reproduction

Breeding is one of the most rewarding and exciting times. It can also be the most stressful
as concerns mount as delivery date grows near. During the first 11 months of pregnancy,
regular vet checks, innoculations and recommened supplements help safeguard your mare
against possible complications. It is important to get your vet involved at the earliest stages
of pregnancy to ensure that your mare gets consistent and complete vet care.

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you’re almost home free. Labor
and delivery, while momentous, are generally uneventful. In most cases, you will simply need
to be a quiet observer – if, that is, you are lucky enough to witness the birth. Mares seem to
prefer to foal at night in privacy, and apparently have some control over their delivery. Because
most mares foal without difficulty, it is usually best to allow the mare to foal undisturbed and
unassisted. What you can do, however, is prepare your mare for a safe and successful delivery.
Follow these suggestions from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help
the new mother and baby get off to a great start:

Write down your veterinarian’s phone
number well in advance of the birth and
keep it by all phones.

Keep a watch or clock on hand so you
can time each stage of labor. When you
are worried or anxious, your perception
of time becomes distorted. The watch
helps you keep accurate track of the
mare’s progress during labor.

Wrap the mare’s tail with a clean wrap
when you observe the first stage of
labor. Be sure that the wrap is not
applied too tightly or left on too long,
as it can cut off circulation and perma-
nently damage the tail.

Wash the mare’s vulva and hindquarters
with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

Clean and disinfect the stall area as
thoroughly as possible and provide
adequate bedding.

Consider using test strips that measure
calcium in mammary secretions to help
predict when the mare will foal. Sudden
increases in calcium are associated with
imminent foaling.

(Left - Karly and Vicki run plasma to a
newborn foal that is at risk)

(Below - Charlie is healthy and awake!)