help needed please

[meg&pip]

i am asking for any advice anyone can offer my friends mare is in foal she bought her in foal and didnt now we noticed she put weight on and was getting very stubborn so we got the vet out who checked her and did an internal and confirmed she was in foal but it was to late in the stage as she could feel his head, anyway this was 8 weeks ago we still waiting for the foal her back end has gone very soft and we can see movement in her back end she constantly swishes her tail and banging her back legs together ? i have been reading about bagging up and waxing i am sorry to sound thick but i nor my friend have had any dealing with mares n foals !!!!! today her udders are very large and swollen hard to touch how long could we be waiting and would the mare be better to go out in field and foal or keep her in stable ? also we need info for after the foal is born what to do etc etc thanks for your help any help is very much appreciated x

[stormyskies]

if her back end is slack and she is bagged up its not too far off. waxing is a sign that foaling is imminent, i.e. next 48 hrs. there are different types of wax and it forms on the end of their teats. when you pick it off if it crumbles then its not a proper wax sign. if you can roll it between your fingers and it sticks together softly then its proper wax and you need to get ready for a bubba!!

mine are out during day but bring thm in at night for foaling as i like to keep an eye. but it depends on what mare is udes to and what is in field with her. if she is happy to be stabled at night then i personally would stable her. you need a biggish box, depending on your size of mare. keep haynets out of way, deep bed or matting with bedding, water bucket not too full. no rugs on mare.

signs of foaling vary, from mare pacing to getting up and down. when labour starts she will be uncomfortable and just leave her be but keep an eye. when her waters break the foal should then present itself with 1 front foot in front of the other and head on topof legs. if the foal is not in this position call the vet imediately. she will strain and strain and foalie will hopefully pop out. if you feel she is struggling call vet. once out clear muccus and bag away from nose and mouth and dont move as you dnt want to snap cord prematurely. you can dry baby off with straw to get circulation going. some move baby under mums nose or mum will get up after a bit to lick foal all over. spray where cord has broken off wioth iodine or purple spary or powder. check sex!!! leave them to bond.

foal should be trying to get on its feet fairly quickly which is a fun and frustrationg process to watch. make sure nothing in stable to hurt utself on. once on feet it will try to suckle. it needs frst milk called colostrum as it contains anti bodies that foal needs so you need to keep watch to make sure it gets enough. you also need to watch and see if it is pooing and weeing. it has to pass hard droppings which sometimes it struggles with so we give ours an enema - now idea how to spell that!!!!

bit of a brief guide but hope it helps. we are a friendly bnch on here so can give daily help and instructions. holiday and vjc are very useful to have online!!! lol

a good book to buy is 'from foal to full grown' by janet lorch. my copy comes into the stable with me!!

[holiday]

Stormyskies, has covered everything well!!!!! I would just add the foal MUST drink the colostrum and I like them to have drunk within an hour but up to two is ok, if he doesnt get that drink he will not be covered with an immune system as he gets that from mum. We always have a bottle and teat in our foaling kit and will milk the mare if needbe and bottle the foal. If you are unsure he has drunk properly even after working quite hard to get him on (some foals are a nightmare others jump up find the teat and suck like mad!!!) have your vet test his blood at 36 hours and do an IgG test to make sure hes ok.

I personally foal in a deep straw bed and check ever hour if she is looking close as if foaling goes wrong you only have minutes to get things sorted. If two feet and a nose are not presented ring the vet and gently put your hand into the mare and feel for the other leg or nose, if it is not forward cup the hoof and gently ease it forward into position often they are not far back, but time is of the essence.

Good luck!!!! My honest opinion is to send her to a local stud to foal down if unsure I would be happy to chat to you if you wanted to give me a call, my number is on my website xxxxxxxx

[babsr]

Would prefer your mare foals in stable in case of needing a vet

However if she lives out permanently, would be better if she is in a small safe paddock and preferably not with other horses who can become a nuisance when foal is newly born and cause stress to your mare

She sounds very close to foaling, you must be with her in case things go wrong. As you have no experience, it will be a good idea to call the vet out even if foaling goes well as he can check your Mare and foal over and ensure the afterbirth has been
dropped and is all in tact.

Any part of the afterbirth which remains in uterus, can very quickly putrefy and can kill the mare if not removed

If your foal (particularly more so if a colt) continues to keep straining and passing nothing it may need an enema to help pass the hard meconium droppings. Again, failure to pass the meconium can also prove fatal. Suggest you go to chemist and ask for a Micro Enema before foal is born. Best to be prepared....just in case!!

If foal has suckled several times and seems to be really struggling too much. Place the enema in a cup of warm water Get someone to hold the foal, apply a little K-jelly to nozzle of enema and gently introduce into the rectum and squeeze out You will see the results within five/ten minutes

Observation is the important factor......but try not to interfere unless you have to...and stay quiet at all times, so as not to
disturb the mare

Good luck......hope all goes well Pics please when baby arrives

Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud

[meg&pip]

thanks everyone for your advice she had a healthly coloured colt on friday night sat morn ? we went to check on her late friday night went back sat and there he was stood next his proud mummy x x x he is very cheeky and like a spring chicken full of himself and not scared by us what so ever x x x

[anotherdeal1]

Congratulations xx

[holiday]

Glad everything went well x

[vjc]

Congratulations, so glad all went well , looking forward to the piccy`s

[Billybob]

congratulations :-) xx we need pictures!!!!!!

[Guestless]

Jul 26, 2010 17:53:31 GMT meg&pip said:

we went to check on her late friday night went back sat and there he was stood next his proud mummy

Sounds as if she knew what she was doing and spared her new owner some anxiety