How can you tell if a horse is in labor or going into it?

Question

because my uncles friemd a horse that was pregnot and i ewas just wondering how you can tell or if you can tell without going to a vet.this is firecrackers granddaughter once again

Answer 1

Hi, how exciting for you! Ok, as correctly answered before, there are 3 stages to the foaling. Stage 1...The mare will have no appetite, and there are no active or obvious abdominal contractions at this time. The mare may get up and down a lot, to aid the foal in the turning process readying for the delivery, also the waters will break at the end of this stage. Stage 2 consists of very powerful contractions, generally lasting between 15-60 seconds, then resting for 2-3 minutes. She will be positioning herself by getting up and down, don't stop her. You will then see the Amnion sac at the v***a. This is a bluish white colour and looks like a balloon. Through the membrane, you will see (hopefully)the foetal feet and legs, one foot should be 4 inches behind the other. The head will be resting on the cannon or knee. This is a very fast process, and should not last more than 30 minutes, the average is 17 minutes. The actual foaling from this point can last between 15-60 minutes. Ensure that the foal is breathing...clear nostrils,and move it round to a very tired mare. Let the umbilicus rupture naturally, the mare may need to rest for 30-45 mintutes, during which time they will bond together. Stage 3, this is the final stage and is the expulsion of the placenta. Now this may occur immediately after delivery of the foal although the average time is 1hr. It should not take more than 2 hours, if there is no sign of the placenta  after 3 hours, call your vet. Now, if the placenta is hanging from the mare, and she is upset by it, tie it up, do not pull it! The whole placenta has to detatch from the uterus. Apart from which, if your vet calls the next day after foaling, they will undoubtably want to look at it. The placenta can tell you a great deal about how well the foal has fared during the pregnancy. Good luck, and I do hope it all goes to plan.

Answer 2

Horses have the ability to shut down the whole birthing process. Do not stress nor panic. She will naturally do what she needs to do, if you are there during this process.

Signs are:

Two weeks to two hours, Wax teats begins. Yellowish sticky drop wax and crust over.

The doc of the tail and the croup will soften 2 weeks to 2 hours. They soften due to hormone releasement.

Within hours, her teats will begin to swell and become a warm tempt to the touch.

Once detect signs, it should be soon.

Stage one labor usually consist of: sweating over the chest, neck and flanks, urinating and small amounts of manure, increase heart rate and respitory rate. This can last at least a day actually.

Stage two labor is when the mare's contractions are much stronger, her legs may strain and grunt (as my mare did with each push). Wiatt's feet came about roughly about 3 minutes. It is normally roughly 15 mins normally for mares once lay down. I wasn't sure how long she was down for when I showed up.

Just watch for the foal's front feet to be slightly crooked (one more forward than the other) that allows the shoulders to slant through the birth canel.

I do not agree with aiding the mare if she doesn't need it. but people do, so if you do, only pull gently on the front two legs down to her hocks angle, only with her contractions as it can cause tearing and harm to the foal.

Once that process is done, the foal comes out quickly. Help remove the mucous and make sure the foal is breathing on his/her own. foal will be exhausted him/herself, so a lot of movement isn't always present. Allow the mare to stand up to break the umbilical cord.

My mistake was freaking how it was suppose to break and I paniced when my mare wanted to get up. She got up and it broke and the vet said it was natural, which reassured me greatly.

Trying to break it on your own can cause infection and even death and giving blood is flowing through it to the foal.

Stage three is the passing of the placenta. Usually 10 mins to an hour later. Allow the placenta to come on it's own. My mare's came roughly 15 mins later. some mare's will get long and drag and best to tie it so it doesn't drag on the ground while it is still being passed.. allow vet and yoursel to take a look at it to make sure it is healthy and no tears.

If doesn't pass with in 1.5 or so hours, call vet.

If mare doesn't have the foal within 30 to 40 mins of pushing, call the vet asap as the foal might be positioned wrong.

I normally just kept her tail wrap, but that day, she unwraped it by getting up and down while I was gone. Keeping her tail wrap during labor helps get it out of the way (especially if it is thick).

Once the foal is born, do have a vet present and have Iodine solution or tincture to douse the foals naval stump to help prevent infection.

My vet gave my foal some stuff to help aid him in passing the meconium.

When your mare gets up and down a lot, rolls and shows sign of discomfort, do keep an eye on her and not allow her to fully roll. She could be colicky, to which is common when getting ready to foal.

I hope I helped.

Answer 3

well right before a horse goes into labor it poops a LOT... so if you see mounds of poopoo coming out it means that something else will be coming out soon too... the gift of life...life...

is there anything more wonderous

so good luck and watch for the poo to know when its due