Protective Mare Wont Eat if Baby Is Laying Down

Preparing your mare for breeding season

Is your mare set?

It's important to brood your mare when she's in her best physical condition.

When evaluating your mare'southward condition consider:

Is she having regular heat cycles?
Does she have a uterine infection?
Is her body condition ideal?
Is she up-to-engagement on vaccines, dewormers and preventative dental piece of work?

Regular heat cycles and supplemental lighting

Increasing your mare's exposure to daylight 2 to 2.5 months prior to breeding can ensure regular oestrus cycles and ovulation.

To breed in February, first supplemental lighting in belatedly November or early December.
Mares not previously exposed to supplemental lighting may take a longer time to bicycle naturally.
For a March or Apr foal, lighting can begin as early as January because some mares won't naturally cycle until early May.

Guidelines to supplemental lighting

Add supplemental lighting in the evening and in the winter until eleven p.g.
Provide xvi hours of continuous lighting daily.
Use a 200-watt incandescent bulb or two 40-watt fluorescent tubes; you lot should be able to comfortably read a newspaper anywhere in the stall.
Expose pregnant mares, due early in the flavour, to lighting as they may cease cycling following their foal heat.

Rule out infections

Many stud farms require a uterine culture (pre-breeding swab) on open mares to rule out infection. Uterine cultures can also do good the mare owner by identifying undiagnosed infection. Infections can waste several estrus cycles.

Occasionally, maiden windsucking mares volition accept an infection. For more information on windsucking and other unwanted behaviors run into unwanted behaviors and vices in horses. A complete veterinary exam of the reproductive tract can check these mares for injuries and structural defects that affect fertility and cycling. Barren mares probable underwent examination at the end of the previous season and are gear up for a recheck.

Body condition

We recommend breeding your mare when she's in moderate body condition (body condition score of 5 to vi) and adding simply a little weight. Mares in moderate to good condition are more likely to cycle and conceive than mares that are too thin or grossly overweight. Managing your mare'south nutrition tin can help you plant the ideal torso condition. Learn more virtually trunk status scoring.

Breeding emergencies

Make sure you lot have prepared for whatever convenance emergencies that may occur, peculiarly during natural comprehend. During breeding, contact your veterinarian right away if the stallion has:

Blood on the penis.
Damage to the penis.
A swollen scrotum.
Colic.

While you wait, safely:

Try to locate the drain source, check both the mare and stallion.
Accept the vital signs you're comfy with on both horses.
If the penis is out, apply common cold h2o using a hose.

Care of the broodmare

Now that your mare is significant, the goal is to keep her healthy through pregnancy and and so deliver a normal, good for you foal.

Biosecurity tips

Keep mares in small groups with others at a similar phase of pregnancy.
Separate long-term resident mares of the farm from exterior mares.
Isolate meaning mares from horses likely to shed illness (e.g. show horses, weanlings, etc.).
Isolate pregnant mares from recently bred mares.
Isolate significant mares using separate barns.
Don't share water or feed sources.

Pregnancy exams and normal loss rates

Days fourteen to xvi: get-go pregnancy exam

Ultrasound performed.
Twin pregnancy corrected.
Rebreeding planned if the mare isn't pregnant.
Mares take a vi percent chance of aborting past day 40.

Days 24 to 25: Pregnancy Test (occasionally done)

Embryonic heartbeat found

Days 30 to 35: Second pregnancy exam

Confirms the mare is all the same pregnant.
Yous tin can rebreed the mare successfully if abortion occurs earlier this fourth dimension.
You tin't rebreed the mare if abortion occurs following 35 days; she volition be infertile for 3 to iv months due to endometrial cup formation in the uterus.
Mares have an viii pct chance of aborting afterward day 40.
Older mares (xx years old) have an 21 percent adventure of aborting at day 40, and 15 percent after twenty-four hour period 40.

During pregnancy

Feed your mare to maintain moderate to good body condition throughout pregnancy and lactation. You can expect your mare to gain 9 to 12 percent of her trunk weight during pregnancy. The mare will gain two-thirds of this weight in the terminal three months when the majority of fetus growth occurs.

During the first eight months of pregnancy, a mare's nutritional requirements remain the same as when she conceived. In the last trimester, the mare'south requirements increase faster than her need for energy and so you lot will need to supplement her diet for the post-obit:

Poly peptide (requirement: viii percent in early pregnancy, eleven to 12 pct in late pregnancy)
Calcium
Sugars
Phosphorus

Free admission to loftier quality, young grass or alfalfa will usually run across the mare's free energy and protein requirements. Merely neither of these forages volition meet her increased demand for phosphorus. Grass forages volition also exist too low in calcium. To correct this, mares should receive a daily salt-calcium-phosphorus mineral mix supplement. Y'all can buy supplements specific to the blazon of forage y'all feed.

Supplement with vitamins and trace minerals for fetal development. Copper, zinc, manganese, and iron are stored in the fetal liver. Research shows mares that did not get a copper supplement in the concluding trimester had less sound foals than mares that did become copper. Feeding supplemental copper to the nursing foals didn't correct the problems.

Give mares natural vitamin E daily, 30 days before foaling, to increment the passive transfer of antibodies from mare to foal.

During lactation

Once lactation starts, the mare'southward free energy and protein needs increase further. High quality forage with a mineral supplement can meet these needs, but near mares should also receive a grain/protein mix. You can feed these mixes around 0.5 to ane pound per 100 pounds of body weight daily.

Most mares are re-bred effectually this fourth dimension, and fertility is best when the mare maintains condition. Afterward iii months of lactation, a mare'due south milk production declines. Y'all should start slowly decreasing her grain before weaning to help her dry out up.

Well-nigh mares benefit from do during pregnancy. Many owners apply their mares for rigorous able-bodied contest (including racing and jumping) up to 5 months with no issues. You tin can continue light trail riding until the beginning of the last month of pregnancy. You may need to notice a saddle that matches her new shape. We recommend you turn out mares for at least six hours per 24-hour interval if you aren't riding them.

Deworming

Most dewormers are prophylactic for employ in significant mares, simply always carefully read the characterization. Pregnant mares generally remain on the aforementioned deworming schedule as other mature horses. Many owners unremarkably give their mares a dose of ivermectin on the day of birth to assistance prevent transmission of worms to the foal.

We vaccinate broodmares for several reasons:

To protect the mare from illness.
To prevent abortion.
To protect the foal by passive transfer of immunity through colostrum.

Vaccinations

Don't give your mare vaccines in the first sixty days of pregnancy. Ideally mares have completed their primary class of vaccination before pregnancy. Vaccinating mares in the last 3 to half dozen weeks of pregnancy ensures maximal protection of the newborn foal.

In Minnesota, vaccinate your broodmare confronting the following:

Tetanus.
Equine Canker Virus-ane (EHV-1).
Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis (EEE + WEE, sleeping sickness).
West Nile Virus (WNV) (belatedly summertime booster).

Fortunately, the concluding month of pregnancy usually lines upwardly with the best fourth dimension to give spring boosters for EEE, WEE and WNV.

Other diseases to vaccinate broodmares against:

Influenza
HV-iv
Canker virus abortion
Rabies
Strangles
Rotavirus
Potomac equus caballus fever

Your vet tin advise you on which are best for your state of affairs and when they are best administered. Due to the number of diseases involved, your veterinarian may recommend splitting up the pre-foaling vaccines, giving half six weeks and half three weeks earlier the foal is due.

Consider the following when transporting your broodmare

How far along in pregnancy your mare is.
Reliability of the vehicle and person trailering your mare.
How well the mare travels.
Weather condition condition.

Guidelines for trailering your broodmare

Clean and disinfect the trailer between trips.
Check the trailer for good ventilation.
Brand sure the trailer has expert shock absorption.
Drive smoothly.
Plan a road and time that avoids heavy traffic.
Provide absorptive bedding, water, and hay for longer trips.
Haulers schedule to stop every five to eight hours.

Inquiry shows that ship (9 hours in moderate temperatures) doesn't increase the miscarriage rate for mares in early pregnancy (16 to 38 days). In belatedly pregnancy, you should complete long-distance transport at least xxx days before the foal is due. Ensure your mare is at her foaling site four to six weeks earlier her due date. Mares need time to settle and develop immunity to local organisms.

Foaling

Signs of approaching foaling

The length of a normal pregnancy is unremarkably 335 to 342 days, but occasionally can range from 315 to 400+ days.

Virtually a calendar month before foaling, many mares start to develop swelling low forth their abdomen. Additionally, the udder slowly starts to enlarge and volition rapidly grow two weeks before term. During early development, the udder remains business firm.

A few days before foaling, the udder gradually softens and fills with fluid, which slowly changes in advent from watery, to thick colostrum. Colostrum is by and large present 1 to 2 days before nativity. The average mare produces about 2 ½ to 5 liters of colostrum.

Softening of the pelvic ligaments progresses and the mare's tail head may appear more than elevated. Wicks of dried mammary secretion (waxing) usually appear about one day before birth and in the final few hours some mares will drip milk.

Preparation for foaling

Provide the mare an expanse to foal; grassy paddocks or well-bedded stalls work well.
Strip-out, disinfect, and re-bed foaling stall.
Use bedding that is safety for the fall; nosotros recommend clean straw because there is less chance the foal will breathe it in.
Acquaint maiden mares to having their udder handled a few weeks before foaling.
Wash your mare's vulva expanse, inner thighs, and udder when foaling is imminent; you could give her a whole-body bath.
Wrap your mare's tail when foaling is imminent.

Things to have available during foaling:

Phone and numbers for your vet and a close experienced neighbor.
A clock or sentinel, notepad and pencil so you can proceed track of the timing (estimating time accurately during and afterward a foaling can be tricky).
Old clean towels for drying off the foal.
Disinfectant in a small-scale cup to dip the navel (your vet can help with an appropriate solution).
Saucepan, soap, and warm h2o for clean-up.
Potent trash bag for the placenta.
Plastic or rubber gloves to keep your hands make clean.

Monitoring the mare prior to foaling

Monitoring your mare tin ensure yous're there for foaling. Aside from changes in her udder, advent of milk, and waxing, you can too examination the milk's calcium content. While not foolproof, this test can give a reasonable approximate of when the mare may foal. Most mares foal late at dark, so milk tests taken in the evening give more accurate results.

Foaling monitors are bachelor that will transport a indicate to a pager or telephone. Over again, while not foolproof, these exercise provide a good estimate.

Foaling stages

We usually divide foaling into 3 stages.

Phase one: Pre-delivery

The mare'due south neck gradually relaxes.
The mare'southward uterus starts to contract, pushing the placenta, foal, and fluids against the cervix.
The mare's cervix dilates.
The mare's h2o breaks.

This process lasts 1 to 6 hours and may go unnoticed. Your mare may appear mildly colicky with signs including:

Looking at her flank.
Stretching out.
Urinating and passing manure oft.
Lying down repeatedly.
Dripping milk.

Stage 2: Delivery

The mare lies on her side. She may stand up and lie downwards several times before you evangelize the head. The mare actively strains, usually in serial of 3 or 4 followed by a short rest.

Within about 10 minutes of her water breaking, a whitish translucent fluid-filled airship (the h2o bag or amnion) should appear.

Delivering the feet

A foot will appear in the amnion. The soles of the feet should point to the mare's feet (i.e. the foal is the same way up every bit the mare).
It is normal for the legs to protrude further every bit the mare strains and then slide back in when she relaxes. This gradual movement is of import for proper dilation of the birth culvert.
Don't immediately grab the legs and pull when they appear. Pulling can damage the cervix and vagina and affect hereafter fertility.

Delivering the caput

The nose should announced next, lying on top of the legs. Passage of the head often takes a trivial longer in maiden mares every bit the vagina stretches over the poll. Allow time for dilation to occur.

Delivering the chest

The chest is the widest function of the foal. As the chest enters the birth canal, the mare often strains harder.
The feet should remain one in forepart of the other rather than even. This minimizes the width of the shoulders, making them much easier for the mare to pass.
Once the chest is out the balance of the foal commonly passes easily, and the mare often stops straining.
With normal, healthy foals the water pocketbook usually ruptures by the time the chest is passing and so the foal can breathe. If it doesn't, tear it open and articulate it away from the caput.

Leave the mare and foal alone unless the mare is kick at the foal.

The mare generally rolls onto her chest and stands within 15 minutes and the umbilical cord breaks one to two inches from the foal's abdomen.

Stage 3: Passing the placenta

Passage of the placenta occurs within 1 60 minutes after the foal'south birth.
The mare may exist slightly crampy while passing the placenta.
Save the placenta and then it can be checked for abyss and for any signs of infection.

When to call for assist - signs of a problem

During foaling

The full time, from water break to the finish of commitment, usually takes about 20 minutes. Occasionally this time may extend to an hour. Experience is the all-time guide to potential bug. Whatsoever fourth dimension the mare isn't making reasonable progress, a trouble may exist present. It's always improve to telephone call for help rather than to expect and run into. Fourth dimension is of the essence if we are to become a normal foal.

Phone call your veterinarian immediately if:

The amnion or a foot has not appeared in about 10 minutes after the water breaks.
Simply one human foot appears and isn't followed by the other.
The feet are upside down.
The nose appears outset.
One or both feet are over the elevation of the caput.
A red purse appears.
The mare made progress but stopped for more than x minutes.
The mare colics afterwards commitment.

While y'all wait and if it'south safe:

Wrap the mare'due south tail.
Clean the mare's vulva with balmy soap and water.
Open the membranes if the foal is visible or if y'all see a thick red sac.
Keep the placenta, the mare should laissez passer it inside 3 hours.

Afterwards foaling

Call your veterinarian immediately if the foal,

Has astringent diarrhea.
Is lethargic or depressed.
Isn't sucking.
Isn't standing within 3 hours.
Starts to nurse merely seems to forget how.
Has swollen joints.
Is built-in greater than 1 calendar week before its due appointment.
Isn't allowed to nurse past its dam.

While y'all wait, milk out the mare if it'south safe, and proceed premature foals quiet.

Newborn foal nursing. — A salubrious foal will stand and nurse inside two hours.

Caring for the newborn foal

Signs of a healthy foal include:

A very active fashion.
Standing and nursing within ii hours.
Passing urine and orange-dark-brown manure (meconium) within six hours.

When the umbilical cord breaks, dip the omphalos stump in dilute chlorhexadine diacetate to prevent infection. Echo this every eight hours for 48 hours.

The mare'due south offset milk (colostrum) is very important for the foal. Information technology contains antibodies needed to ward off infection. If the mare leaks her colostrum, or if the foal fails to nurse well in the start 12 hours, it will be at high risk for life-threatening infections. Newborn foals tin can develop serious illness quickly. Contact your veterinary right away if the foal:

Fails to stand up and nurse soon subsequently birth.
Shows signs of low.
Doesn't nurse as much.
Is dehydrated.
Persistently strains to urinate or defecate.

Even if the birthing goes well and your foal appears good for you and normal, we strongly recommend a health check and blood test for antibody levels in the kickoff 24 hours.

Reviewed in 2021

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Source: https://extension.umn.edu/horse-health/caring-your-mare-during-breeding-and-foaling