What do you do?

[supercob1]

I am currently in two minds about what to do when my mare is due to foal. She is currently turned out 24/7 as she can get rather stressed in the stable. Do you foal out in the field or is it too dangerous?

[sarahp]

It's your choice. I always let them foal out in the field, and was told years ago by my vet (a horsebreeder himself) that they had fewer complications that way, which I firmly believe is the case. On the other hand, it's dark and you can't see what's happening if you feel you want to keep an eye on her, and it makes any human intervention, should it be necessary, more complicated trying to do it in the middle of a field at night! They do normally, but not inevitably, foal in the very early morning.

If yours gets stressed in the stable it's possible that she might hang onto it until you turn her out and she feels safe enough to have it anyway!

[vjc]

I have a set up that works very well for me and the foaling mare. My stables open up onto a small fenced grass paddock which is ideal as i leave the mare to decided whether she wants to take herself indoors or foal on the grass outside the stable, most prefer to foal outside but are quite happy to be ushered into the stable after to rest. I think foaling outside has the advantage of the mare not going down to close to the stable walls and making the job difficult for her, also i think it is a far cleaner and natural environment. Here is a picture of Eduardo being foaled last year under the moonlight and moments later back in the stable being cleaned up by mum ;D

[horseyll81]

Stunning foal vjc!
My mare has chosen to foal in the field on both occasions, once at 7am and once at 2.30pm (just as I went on the school run!!)
She was stabled (and out in the day) for 6 weeks before foaling, yet chose to foal in the field after being turned out. I have been extremely lucky that all has gone well with her.
Do whatever you think is best for your mare x