What to do if your horse is in labor?

Answer 1

You know when a female horse is about to deliver because typically they usually always deliver in one special month. And, by the way, the foal doesn't have to be a colt- it can be a filly, too. Colt means a young male horse.

Answer 2

Most mares manage to foal without help from their owners. During a normal delivery it's best to stand back and let her get on with it. The mare might appreciate some reassurance, but if you do not have a close connection with her you should not approach her at this time. It's a good idea to write down the time that the mare lies down and starts straining hard, and then the times that various parts of the foal are visible, the time that the foal stands and the time that it suckles. If something goes wrong this information will be very helpful to the vet. If the mare strains for more than half an hour and the foal does not appear, or the membranes surrounding the foal appear and the foal itself is not visible for over ten minutes, call the vet. Some breeders help pull the foal after the head has appeared on the contraction of the mare, but doing this does require some experience in the matter. Watch the mare in the birthing process to make sure the foal is in the proper position - usually the front legs extend outwards with the head and neck resting on them. Sometimes a foal will present wrong, that is, be in the wrong position to be born. Its front legs may be tucked up under its body, its head twisted, or it might be presenting back legs first or breech. If you are experienced with horses and have seen mares foal before, and the vet cannot come immediately when the mare experiences difficulty, you might attempt to help her. Wash your arms thoroughly with disinfectant and feel inside the mare. If the foal is jammed because it is too big, a caesarean might be necessary - a job for the vet. If the foal's legs are back, you can try to pull them around, but this is a fiddly job. You must wrap the foal's hooves in cloth or they can cut the inside of the mare as you twist them around. It's always best to call the vet. Never try to 'help' a mare unless she is in some distress and the vet cannot come.

Answer 3

the signs that a mare is going into labor are that on her teats, this waxy colostrum will gather, her udder will be more full, the mare will be very restless, the muscles under her tail would be very relaxed, the mare will start sweating. You might also feel the foal moving steadily in the mare's stomach. These are the signs of a mare going into labor.

Answer 4

Just pet her and whisper softly in her ear, and tell her how good she's doing and to keep going. Whatever you do, though, DON'T HELP HER! I know it might seem like she needs help but don't give it to her. It is supposed to be natural. Humans should not be crowding around her or trying to pull the baby out. Having alot of people around her could distract her or stress her. Also, don't pull the baby out. The baby is very fragile and just one little pull could kill it or break bones. Once your mare is done, she will get right to work cleaning the baby. If you have to cheer you can =D, but not too loudly. I hope this helped you! P.S. You could also call a local vet.

Answer 5

What would i do? Well .. I would stay there with him/her and make sure that the little foal makes it out the right way. The first thing make sure its head first, and .. make it warm get some blankets/sheets and rap the little foal in it. 2nd, Make sure that he/she is breathing clear & good. Check the little body over just in case.

Answer 6

Feed as normal through the first half, maintaining good weight but not over feeding. Provide vitamin / mineral supplements as needed if your hay is lacking. Provide good foot care as she will soon be carrying more weight than usual and doing so full time. Pnuemabort (killed rhino virus) vaccinations at 5, 7, and 9 months to prevent rhino caused abortions. Do fecal egg counts and treat as indicated for whatever species of parasitic worms your horse may have (rotational deworming is no longer the recommendation). Exercise is good...not hard riding but plenty of moving around and light to moderate riding if she's broke and used to working. Do NOT put into heavy training or work if she's not already used to this. Most can be ridden (if broke) up to within a month or two of delivery...she'll tell you when it gets too uncomfortable for her. Increase her feed by about 10% each month for the last 3 months (when the foal does most of its growth)....so if she normally gets 20 lbs of good hay a day (and is maintaining well on that) bump her to 22-23 lbs in month 9, about 25-26 lbs in month 10 and 29-30 lbs or so in month 11. Try to make it so that feed is available to her full time as she can't eat large meals due to lack of room and is going to be much more comfortable being able to snack all day long. Some mares will need grain to maintain, others won't....or you can add concentrated feeds or improved quality hay (from grass to alfalfa for instance). If the mare has any health issues she should be followed by your vet and should probably get a check up or two along the way anyway. Her routine shots should be boosted at about month 10, being sure to include tetanus and if you have West Nile in your area include that as well.

Answer 7

They pace a lot, some go and lie down, get back up. Constantly moving, flicking their tail.

Answer 8

The mare will usually want to stay away from people and horses, her tail will droop, and she will lie down.

Answer 9

call a vet