Caring for a pregnant filly can be tough if you make it difficult. Simplifying the process will be beneficial for you, the mare and the foal.
Steps
Step 1. Check that you have a large enough paddock for the mare to exercise in the months before calving
This will also be where the mare will live for the first eight and a half months. There must be water available 24 hours a day, a shelter and a suitable fence.
Step 2. The months to come are important for the growth of the foal
If the mother receives inadequate nutrition and hydration, the foal could be aborted from inherent and natural causes. Likewise, a fat filly will have a difficult delivery and the calf is at risk of limb deformities. Regular light exercise is necessary for the pregnant mare!
Step 3. Check the appropriate vaccination schedule for pregnant mares
In this way she will pass the correct immune defenses to her little one.
Step 4. Beware of safety and nutrition
The mare should not be supervised 24 hours a day. However, it will need to be checked daily to make sure that everything is going well. Its feeding program must consist of forage and foods rich in vitamins and minerals. For a 152 cm mare, an approximate diet can be 7 kg per day of GOOD quality hay. If it grazes high-quality grass, then the quantity can be reduced. A balanced concentrate of bran, mineral supplements and high protein food is what you need. Many are specially balanced for pregnant mares and should be mixed with bran. Follow the dosage instructions - some foods are more concentrated than others, so giving them a "bucket" is not the right approach. Her needs change as her pregnancy progresses so always based on the packaging.
Step 5. When the mare eats, give her enough to finish
Hay at will, ALWAYS. Avoid feeding her in the morning, in the evening and no snacks - if she does not have access to pasture, give her hay in the nets to extend the feeding time as much as possible. This applies to all horses, especially stable, because it reduces the risk of intestinal ulcers and colic.
Step 6. Get the mare to exercise
If it's a saddle, you can ride it until it gives birth, but it's up to you. Alternatively, you can lead it by hand and groom it to get the blood flowing. If she is used to pampering and attention, she will be less aggressive or unfriendly once she gives birth. Touching her belly and nipples is a great idea; mares not used to this type of contact can kick the foal when it tries to feed!
Step 7. When the mare is about a month after calving, move her to a smaller area where she can still move, but which is sheltered and confined to protect her from dogs and other predators
Give her a little more food, but don't add anything to her diet as it could cause her colic and other problems.
Step 8. Recognize the symptoms of childbirth
- About two weeks before giving birth you will see the belly that will no longer be hanging but will fill up on the hips.
- When there is a week left you will see the udders get bigger, but that doesn't always happen, it depends on how many foals she has had.
- About four days earlier, the foal will be in position.
- 24 to 48 hours before birth, the mare's teats will become shiny. This is due to the first milk or 'colostrum' that contains the immune cells vital to the health of the foal. In fact, young horses are not born with already immunized blood, which is why they need colostrum. If you follow the correct vaccination routine for the mother in the months before birth, the mare will transfer the cells to the foal. As the birth approaches, the nipples may stretch and milk may come out of them, you will see it flowing on the paws. If the mare loses a lot of milk before giving birth, she could lose colostrum and deprive the foal of the necessary immunity. This will leave him weak and susceptible to infections. Your vet can easily check his levels with a blood test every 24 hours. If you suspect that the mare has lost colostrum before giving birth, ask your vet for a glutaraldehyde serum test (IgG test), it is cheap, easy and can make a big difference to the foal's health.
Step 9. You will likely miss the birth as it usually occurs in the early morning hours, between midnight and 5am
If you are lucky enough to be able to attend though, stay on the sidelines as you could lead the mare to stop pushing and alter the natural birthing process. Don't scare her with a camera flash or with too many people around. Eventually, she will become restless and prepare for childbirth by kicking, biting to the ground and rolling around. Then he will lie down and start pushing. The first visible thing should be some kind of bluish and white membrane, then the front hooves and the nose. From this point it will take about 20 minutes for the delivery to complete. If more time goes by or if something else shows up besides the front legs and nose, you should call your vet. If the membrane is light red, the mare is having an "allantoid" birth, meaning the placenta has already separated from the uterus. This implies that the foal no longer receives oxygen through the placenta and could be life threatening (Neonatal Maladaptation Syndrome). It is important that the foal is delivered as quickly as possible in this case. Call the vet.
Step 10. If you find that your mare has given birth, make sure the placental membrane is complete, place it on the ground and look for a single long tear from where the foal came out
Any missing pieces could have remained inside the uterus, causing infections and blood poisoning. If this is the case, your mare will have colic symptoms and a fever will appear in the following days. The membrane should be pink, while a yellow or green tendency is a symptom of placentitis; brown spots indicate that the foal has lost some meconium during the birth process, usually a sign of a long and difficult birth. If the membranes are turned inside out, then an allantoid delivery is possible. Sometimes it takes a while for the mare to expel the membrane - never pull on it as you could tear it apart or cause it to bleed. If she crawls on the ground or gets stuck between her legs she can be tied into a ball.
Step 11. Make sure the foal is alive and walking
The foal should stand up almost immediately upon birth and latch onto the breast within two hours at the latest. Monitor his reactions and look for black fibrous droppings (called meconium) in the paddock, the first to be expelled. It can be difficult for the foal, especially if he has a very narrow pelvis. If the baby shows signs of meconium retention (tail wagging, fatigue) give him an enema or call the vet.
Step 12. Check that the foal is drinking and urinating
If he doesn't, observe him for the next 24 hours and call your vet if necessary.
Step 13. At first I should keep mother and calf in a small pen, but after about three days move them to a larger paddock and let the foal start exercising
Step 14. Leg deformities are common in young foals and some find relief from prolonged confinement
If your foal has weak tendons (i.e. he walks on his heels, hocks or crampons and the hooves point upwards), it is best to keep him at rest and not let him run so as not to damage his legs. This condition will resolve itself as soon as the foal strengthens. Contracted tendons, with the foal appearing to be walking on hoof, may require splinting to reduce the risk of ligament contractures.
Advice
- Don't be alarmed if the mare's appetite decreases - her belly is occupied by the foal so there's no room for too much food. If it changes behavior suddenly or stops feeding altogether, then you will need to be especially careful.
- To be able to attend the birth, set the alarm so you will notice any problems or simply enjoy this show.
- Try to find someone who has experience with horse parts to spend time with, to learn the ins and outs you don't find in the books. Volunteering on a farm is an excellent way to learn and cleaning a few barns in exchange for first-hand experience is a fair price to pay.
- Clean the mare of blood to prevent flies from arriving.
- Make sure he has food and water available at all times. The mare will drink after giving birth and may lose milk if she is dehydrated.
- Foals can get sick in no time. Observing is the key to understanding if there are problems. If you have any concerns or questions, call a vet.
Warnings
- Resist the temptation to treat the foal like a baby. It's a horse: Bad habits, such as smacking, are tolerated in a cute little foal, but become dangerous with a grown horse. These behaviors can lead to developing herd instinct and social hierarchy, and if your foal learns that he can bite you or disrespect you, you may be considered less dominant and have problems.
- Some mares can become overprotective or too proud of their foal, so much so that they are aggressive towards people and other horses. A lot of affection and cuddles before birth will show her that you are not a threat and therefore you will be able to enjoy her company and that of her foals!
- Give mom a lot of attention, but accept the fact that she may not want anyone around.
- Tie the foal for the first few months when you want it to move, so it gets used to people and contact. Teach him to raise his paws, to be groomed and cleaned.
- If the mare is primiparous, keep her close to another relaxed female. She will feel less lonely and the paddock does not need to be crowded. Better not to put it with other horses that could make it snowy (usually they leave the group to give birth alone) and some sometimes try to steal the foals of others. Sometimes, due to the proximity of a curious horse, they can get up prematurely, breaking the umbilical cord early and interrupting the flow of blood that the foal should receive.
- Make sure there is some grass to graze. In some farms, fescue is also present in the pasture. NOT good for mares for at least the first three months of pregnancy because it causes the amniotic sac to harden: the foal may not be able to get out and would die if no help is needed. What herbs are present in your area? In Missouri, for example, mares are put in a dry pen with lots of high quality hay.
- Check that you know all the contact details of your veterinarian. Must be experienced with horses, NOT with pets, such as cats and dogs.
- Make sure the mare is separated from the stallion and other horses when she is ready to give birth.
