[FanceyLace]

my mothers horse is about to give birth.....and SHE'S LEAVING FOR HAWII ON MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!! ........so basically im going to be left home alone with her and she's most likely gonna have it when my mom is gone, iv witnessed one of our other horses give birth...maybe like ten years ago, so im not really sure im prepared...any advice?????..i know that you have to tie the placenta to its self..but thats about it..HELP PLEASE!?!?!?!?

[RowdyRio1324]

Let the mare have the foal,I would just watch and let her do it, and unless she was having problems, I stepped back. Now when the foal came , I checked the placenta so it was like a butterfly shape to make sure it was all out of the mare.

Just hope the birth goes smoothly, and unless something happens, let her do it, but if the foal is turned the wrong way, then you have to help it. BUt luckily most (besides teh one I lost) my mares has a smooth birth and I didn't need to help her.

Is this her first foal?

Originally Posted by FanceyLace

my mothers horse is about to give birth.....and SHE'S LEAVING FOR HAWII ON MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!! ........so basically im going to be left home alone with her and she's most likely gonna have it when my mom is gone, iv witnessed one of our other horses give birth...maybe like ten years ago, so im not really sure im prepared...any advice?????..i know that you have to tie the placenta to its self..but thats about it..HELP PLEASE!?!?!?!?

[Nickori]

My mare was fine in the evening. Eating and acting normal. I came out in the morning to a beautiful appy filly. Happily drinking away. Placenta was cold. Betadyned the cord, and all is well. Nature has a way of making things work out ok if we leave it alone.

[Blistering Winds]

Stay out of her way.....be quiet, don't intervene.

When you know the water broke, time it 20 minutes. no baby, call vet ASAP

once baby is born, 20 more minutes and the placenta should deliver

Call vet if no placenta in that time frame.....(fyi, fast work and a good vet will save a mare with a retained placenta....proof is standing at the barn right now. She retained, went down hard, and is now munching away alive and healthy again after a week at the vet's).

Keep banamine on hand as a precaution....

[Acme Acres]

20 minutes? That's all you guys give them to pass it? Shoot, we go up to 5 hours w/out concern and have mares go 8 hours w/out incident.

Fancy, will anyone else be home at your house while they're gone? Check with your neighbors too and let them know the situation if you feel comfortable with them so they aren't surprised when you come over to get them. Make sure to have a bag or bucket of water to put the placenta in, a few towels (not mom's good ones either! lol) handy, a bottle of Nolvasan solution diluted properly or betadine solution and of course a good halter and lead for the mare in the event you have to tie her up or need to walk her around. Most mares will have it w/out incident, but it never hurts to be there. We always help the mares when they're pushing, we break the sack and get the fluids off their faces right away, but that's us and it's after a lot of births too. Being by yourself, you should be careful, wouldn't want to find you hurt when mom came home

[pantha11]

Congratulations on your new baby filly.
how is mum and bub???
If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

[Miss Neigh]

The mare hasn't foaled yet "Nickori" was just telling of her past foaling experience.

Just keep out of the mares way, stay quiet, and try not to interfere.
Be sure to clear the foals air ways, and rub with towel.
If i were you i would try getting in contact with someone who has foaled out mares before, so if you feel something is not right you can contact them for assistance.
Chances are you will miss the birthing process, and wake up to find a foal already up and nursing.

[cassidy]

i would leave the mare to it

an just keep on eye on her an if you think she is struggling or having complications call the vet

[pantha11]

Originally Posted by Miss Neigh

The mare hasn't foaled yet "Nickori" was just telling of her past foaling experience.

Just keep out of the mares way, stay quiet, and try not to interfere.
Be sure to clear the foals air ways, and rub with towel.
If i were you i would try getting in contact with someone who has foaled out mares before, so if you feel something is not right you can contact them for assistance.
Chances are you will miss the birthing process, and wake up to find a foal already up and nursing.

oops!!! I feel like a dunce...lo
Can you get any pics of the mare, at this point.....side on, virgina.

[pantha11]

Is the mare on her own, if not I would suggest you do that, other horses have been known to take foals away from mum, or even hurt them.

Signs of her getting closer-
Looks like she has lost heaps of weight,
Virgina become stretched and smooth....not wrinkly,
Her rump will get like jelly,
Udder is swollen and may have wax at the end of the nipples.

When she is really close-
She will get wrestless,
may sweat up,
get up and down,
look at her belly,
her faecus (poo) will get alot smaller,
she will urinate more.

As the others have stated when she is foaling leave her alone.
Many of us have had many night with no sleep during foaling season....I prefer to be there just in case.

When to call a vet-
when the membrane....(the bag the foal is in) is not a clear colour,
only one foot is present
more than two feet are visible
feet are upside down...(sole shoud be down, towards mum hooves).
the nose does not appear
the nose appears without the front feet.
When the waters have broken and its been more than 20 mins, and no sight of foal.
After foaling if the placenter has not passed within 2 hrs...Call the vet.

Things to have ready-
pen and paper so you can write things down, when water breaks, how far contractions are apart.
torch and bateries.
towels (in case you need to dry foal)...or stimulate breathing.
A watch....(to keep track of time during foaling).
a cordless phone....(in case you need to call a vet).
Mare's halter and lead...(In case the mare must be encouraged to stand).
Shovel and a large, heavyweight trash bag to remove the placenta. (Your vet may ask you to save the placenta so that it can be examined, to see that all the pieces are present, ensuring that infections and problems will not crop up later.)
camera or video camera....it is fantastic if you can get pics.

Colts are prone to constipation, so if it has not pood within a few hrs and seems miserable and not happily trotting, cantering, call the vet.

By the way don't be alarmed if the mare gets up, while the foal is half way out, she won't hurt it.

I hope this helps,
If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask.