How do I know when my mare is about to foal?

  • The foaling date should be approximately 11 months from the last date of cover though there tends to be quite an individual variation in the actual length of gestation in mares.
  • In other words, some mares tend to carry longer than others.
  • Also the mare’s pre-foaling and foaling pattern of behaviour and her individual tendencies tend to vary with each individual mare.
  • For this reason, it is important to record details on each individual mare’s pre-foaling and foaling pattern as their future foalings will tend to take the same pattern each year. So this information will always be valuable for other handlers especially for new owners where the mare is sold on.

    • What are the main signs of an imminent foaling?

    The pre-foaling mare will usually, though not always, show some or all of the following signs when she is near foaling:

    1) “Bagging Up”

    2) Waxing

    3) Dropped pins

    4) Relaxation of the bearing

    How soon before foaling does a mare start to “bag up”?

    The gradual increase in the size of the maiden mare’s udder or “milk bag” usually starts approximately one month before foaling. Mares that have had a foal start to bag up approximately two weeks before foaling.

    2. When does waxing start to show?

    The tiny beads of the wax-like substance on the tips of the teats of the udder usually appear approximately 24 hours before foaling. However, some mares may wax three-four days before foaling.

    The “wax“ is a honey-like sticky substance that can be seen to appear and remain on the tips of the teats.

    In some less commonly seen cases, a mare may not show any signs of waxing. The absence of waxing is not usually a major cause for concern. However, it is important to be aware of the possibility that a mare showing no waxing signs could still be very close to foaling. In other words the handler may be taken unawares by this mare foaling sooner than anticipated. This pre-foaling pattern of not waxing is likely to be repeated by that mare in future foalings, so it is useful to record it.

    3. When do the pre-foaling mare’s “pins” start to drop?

    This is relaxation of the pelvis or dropping of the sacro iliac ligament on each side of the croup of the tail. It usually occurs approximately 24 hours before the mare foals. This sign is easier to see in cows than in mares.

    4. At what stage does relaxation of the bearing occur in the mare before foaling?

    This may be seen at approximately 12 to 24 hours in advance of foaling commencing.

    My mare has gone one month over time, is this a cause for concern?

    It can be normal for a mare to carry a month over time. If the mare is quite healthy and happy then the owner should not be worried.

    Is a mare that carries a month over time likely to have an over-sized foal?

    No. Unlike cows, mares rarely have over-sized foals.

    My pony mare was covered with a fairly big stallion, is she likely to have an over-sized foal?

    No. Nature will usually ensure that the size of the foal is developed in proportion to the size of the mare, rather than the size of the stallion.

    In veterinary practice, why are there so many more difficult calvings resulting from over-size than foalings?

    This is due to the fact that over-sized calves are commonly encountered but rare in foaling. In some cattle veterinary practices, a high percentage of difficult calvings is attributed in many cases to the progeny of certain bulls and breeds.

    My mare carries for over 12 months on each foaling resulting in increasingly later coverings for her each year. To avoid this, can I get her to foal sooner?

    This can be a problem, as most large breeding enterprises do not like to cover on the foal heat. Therefore, even with the most fertile of mares, it may be necessary to have to skip a year every three-four years as this mare will be running too ‘late‘ in the year for covering.

    Some advocate the use of artificial light to help shorten the length of pregnancy.

    How can I use artificial light when my mare is constantly kept outdoors at pasture?

    There is a new device system called “Equilume” which, when attached to the mare’s head, uses a time lighting system. The device is attached to a head-collar and works on a timed system giving light into one eye. It has proven to work quite effectively to initiate early cycling of mares in February, March and also helps to shorten pregnancy. It is very useful in mares at pasture as it pre-empts the need for overnight stabling in order to carry out this programme.

    It should be noted that a mare has to be under artificial light for approximately 50 days before its effects ‘kick in’.