Post by Michelle Clarke on Feb 26, 2010 12:36:23 GMT -5
After watching a horrible foaling this morning on Marestare (my latest internet addiction and for those of you who hate stupidty - do yourself a favor and stay off it...), I thought maybe those who are experienced in foaling out mares can share some information that could hopefully help someone not kill a mare or foal.
One of the things I am always surprised at is mares' not having a large enough area to foal out in, especially if you are not going to be there 24/7 to help out if needed. A double wide stall is usually sufficiant. We have both large, double wide stalls and 30 x 30 covered pens we use, depending on the mare.
I know that alot of people have the opinion that "mares have been foaling forever and don't need help..."; but if you are a breeder, not only is it your responsibility to make sure things DO work out, but losing one foal or even a mare should NOT be a casual option. This happens even in the wild - foals get stuck, mares die or abandon their foals. Nature is cruel and if we choose to breed that mare, lock her in a stall to have a baby, then we need to be there to make sure things go as planned; and if they don't, we can help or get the right help.
Make sure competent , experienced help is a nearby or a phone call away and you can calmly take instruction over the phone and do what is needed.
Educate yourself on all you can: how the mare should shape up to foal, what is normal foaling and abnormal (so you can summon help), and what you should do in case of...
Most mares don't need help, but when they do you should have a clue on what to do. This morning I watched a mare in distress, so obviously the foal was stuck or turned wrong. The gal was in the stall the whole time and the mare could not get into position (maybe to reposition the foal) and the gal kept hitting and kicking her to make her get up and move to another spot in the stall. As soon as the mare laid down, the gal grabbed the legs and started yanking right away. She was pulling in the wrong direction and even pulling when the mare was not pushing. She then ran out and grabbed a rope and tied the babies legs and started hauling - it made me want to puke. Even after it was obvious the foal was dead, she kept on. If the foals' back leg or hip was stuck, the she could easily rupture that mare and tear her up inside to where her repro life is over. She should have waited for the vet to sedate the mare, put the foal back in, turn it and bring it right out without harming the mares' internal structure...or whatever was needed to be done at that time BY A PROFFESSIONAL. And if her vet was on the phone telling her this, then she needs a new vet!
Mares need to move, especially close to foaling, because the inertia of moving is what gets that baby turned in the proper foaling position. Mares locked in stalls the last few weeks of pregnancy have more foaling issues than ones left to foal out in the pasture.
This is a very good forum specifically for breeding that is a good place to start learning:
www.equine-reproduction.com/board/messages/board-topics.html
Just in the sad case a foal should die, it should be left in the stall for the mare to have closure and deal with it her own way. Taking the foal away only causes much more stress and trauma...
One of the things I am always surprised at is mares' not having a large enough area to foal out in, especially if you are not going to be there 24/7 to help out if needed. A double wide stall is usually sufficiant. We have both large, double wide stalls and 30 x 30 covered pens we use, depending on the mare.
I know that alot of people have the opinion that "mares have been foaling forever and don't need help..."; but if you are a breeder, not only is it your responsibility to make sure things DO work out, but losing one foal or even a mare should NOT be a casual option. This happens even in the wild - foals get stuck, mares die or abandon their foals. Nature is cruel and if we choose to breed that mare, lock her in a stall to have a baby, then we need to be there to make sure things go as planned; and if they don't, we can help or get the right help.
Make sure competent , experienced help is a nearby or a phone call away and you can calmly take instruction over the phone and do what is needed.
Educate yourself on all you can: how the mare should shape up to foal, what is normal foaling and abnormal (so you can summon help), and what you should do in case of...
Most mares don't need help, but when they do you should have a clue on what to do. This morning I watched a mare in distress, so obviously the foal was stuck or turned wrong. The gal was in the stall the whole time and the mare could not get into position (maybe to reposition the foal) and the gal kept hitting and kicking her to make her get up and move to another spot in the stall. As soon as the mare laid down, the gal grabbed the legs and started yanking right away. She was pulling in the wrong direction and even pulling when the mare was not pushing. She then ran out and grabbed a rope and tied the babies legs and started hauling - it made me want to puke. Even after it was obvious the foal was dead, she kept on. If the foals' back leg or hip was stuck, the she could easily rupture that mare and tear her up inside to where her repro life is over. She should have waited for the vet to sedate the mare, put the foal back in, turn it and bring it right out without harming the mares' internal structure...or whatever was needed to be done at that time BY A PROFFESSIONAL. And if her vet was on the phone telling her this, then she needs a new vet!
Mares need to move, especially close to foaling, because the inertia of moving is what gets that baby turned in the proper foaling position. Mares locked in stalls the last few weeks of pregnancy have more foaling issues than ones left to foal out in the pasture.
This is a very good forum specifically for breeding that is a good place to start learning:
www.equine-reproduction.com/board/messages/board-topics.html
Just in the sad case a foal should die, it should be left in the stall for the mare to have closure and deal with it her own way. Taking the foal away only causes much more stress and trauma...
