Foaling Information Questions & Answers. 340 Day Gestation Table (scroll down for the Table)
Gestation:
The average gestation period for the horse is 340 days. Mares foaling days will vary between 320 –380 days. Foals born prior to 320 days of gestation are considered premature. Foals born prior to 300 days of gestation are considered an abortion. I keep a record of how many days gestation each of my mares carry their foals and I record the time of birth. This gives me an idea of when to expect her foal the following year.
Preparing the mare:
It is imperative that the foal receive necessary antibodies from good quality colostrums. I freeze colostrums from my gentle mares every year and use then in emergency situations. There are colostrums products on the market for foals. Since foals are not born with any circulating antibodies in their bloodstream they can not fight off infection. Foals absorb the antibodies from the colostrums during the first 12 hours of life. Foals are born with an intact immune system.
I believe it is a good practice to have your mares exposed to the environment which the foal will be born in for at least 60 days prior to foaling.
I do not believe in giving any vaccinations within 60 days of the due date. I feel it is important to avoid any changes in the mares diet, and environment, during the last 60 days of pregnancy. I know most people recomend giving all booster shots to the mare 30 -60 days prior to foaling. I don't recomend this. I feel undue stress can sometimes contribute to abortions.
I deworm my mares regularly and I deworm my mares 60 days prior to foaling with a mild wormer (such as anthelcide) This is the last time I will worm the mare prior to her foaling.
Good nutrition is essential to a healthy foal. Our area is deficient in copper. It is important to ask your vet what min/vit your area is deficient in. We feel it is very important to supplement our mares with copper and vitamin A. Some supplements can cause problems if the balance isn't right for the feed you are feeding. Such as too much iron can be a bad thing.
How Can I Tell When My Mare Is Close To Foaling?
The following is a typical mare. 2 to 8 weeks prior to foaling the mares udder will start to enlarge. The teats will usually begin to extend 4 to 6 days prior to foaling. This is caused from the udder letting the colostrums down into the teats.
What is waxing and when will it begin?
Waxing is when the teats become covered with colostrums which is seeping from the teats. This typically occurs 2 – 4 days prior to foaling. I find the average occurance is 12 – 24 hours prior to foaling. Some mares will have lots of wax and some will have a barely noticeable amount of wax and some mares will not have any. I have seen mares wax for 20 days.
My mare has milk running out of her bag, and she hasn’t foaled yet?
If you can collect the colostrum you should and have that available to feed the foal when it arrives. You need to refrigerate or freeze the colostrum.
Will my mares muscles relax prior to foaling?
A mares croup muscles will become soft and her vulva will relax and lengthen.
My mare is pacing the fence what does that mean?
Some mares especially those with other horses will become very restless and will walk the fence line and/or stall.
Why is my mare urinating so frequently?
It is very normal for a mare to urinate more frequently and to clear her bowels.
Is it okay for my mare to foal with other horses?
Most mare will try to go off by themselves to foal. I try to have my mares by themselves prior to foaling because I have seen several incidences where other mares have stolen the foal from the mother. This can result in tragedy.
What time do most mares foal?
Most mares foal when there is the least activities going on. Most statistics will say usually between 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. But, I am having more and more mares foal between 4:00 P.M & 10:00 P.M. & I have some mares that foal during the day.
I just checked my mare and she is breathing hard and sweating – what does that mean?
Most of the time the mare will foal within an hour or so. When my mares are sweating or breathing hard I stay with them. Occasionally the mare is experiencing discomfort or what I call false alarms.
What position is the foal in at birth?
Prior to delivery the foal will turn from lying on its back, to its stomach with its head positioned between its front feet. The foal should position itself with front legs and head pointing towards the birth canal when the mare has her first uterine contractions.
How long will it take my mare to have her foal?
Once the water breaks the foals front legs should appear within 15 minutes. I check at this point and make sure the foal is in the correct position. At this point the foal is pushed through the birth canal. The maximum time to expect from the time the water breaks until delivery of foal is 40 – 60 minutes. After this time the foal is at serious risk of death. I have pulled a lot of foals over the years. Because of the distance involved from our barn to the nearest vet I don’t have time to wait. If a foal is in the wrong position, you can try to walk your mare while you wait for the vet. Sometimes walking the mare will slow down the birth process. If you are going to try to pull a foal yourself make sure you pull in time with the mares contractions and never attach any mechanical devises to the foal.
This page is a work in progress. Please email me with your questions & I'll try to answer them.
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340 day
gestation table |
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Bred Date |
Day 340 |
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Bred Date |
Day 340 |
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Bred Date |
Day 340 |
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Bred Date |
Day 340 |
|
Bred Date |
Day 340 |
|
Bred Date |
Day 340 |
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Bred Date |
Day 340 |
|
Bred Date |
Day 340 |
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|
Feb.
1 |
Jan.
8 |
|
Mar.
1 |
Feb.
7 |
|
Apr.
1 |
Mar.
9 |
|
May.
1 |
Apr.
8 |
|
June.
1 |
May.
9 |
|
July.
1 |
June.
8 |
|
Aug.
1 |
July.
8 |
|
Sept.
1 |
Aug.
9 |
|
|
Feb.
2 |
Jan.
9 |
|
Mar.
2 |
Feb.
8 |
|
Apr.
2 |
Mar.
10 |
|
May.
2 |
Apr.
9 |
|
June.
2 |
May.
10 |
|
July.
2 |
June.
9 |
|
Aug.
2 |
July.
9 |
|
Sept.
2 |
Aug.
10 |
|
|
Feb.
3 |
Jan.
10 |
|
Mar.
3 |
Feb.
9 |
|
Apr.
3 |
Mar.
11 |
|
May.
3 |
Apr.
10 |
|
June.
3 |
May.
11 |
|
July.
3 |
June.
10 |
|
Aug.
3 |
July.
10 |
|
Sept.
3 |
Aug.
11 |
|
|
Feb.
4 |
Jan.
11 |
|
Mar.
4 |
Feb.
10 |
|
Apr.
4 |
Mar.
12 |
|
May.
4 |
Apr.
11 |
|
June.
4 |
May.
12 |
|
July.
4 |
June.
11 |
|
Aug.
4 |
July.
11 |
|
Sept.
4 |
Aug.
12 |
|
|
Feb.
5 |
Jan.
12 |
|
Mar.
5 |
Feb.
11 |
|
Apr.
5 |
Mar.
13 |
|
May.
5 |
Apr.
12 |
|
June.
5 |
May.
13 |
|
July.
5 |
June.
12 |
|
Aug.
5 |
July.
12 |
|
Sept.
5 |
Aug.
13 |
|
|
Feb.
6 |
Jan.
13 |
|
Mar.
6 |
Feb.
12 |
|
Apr.
6 |
Mar.
14 |
|
May.
6 |
Apr.
13 |
|
June.
6 |
May.
14 |
|
July.
6 |
June.
13 |
|
Aug.
6 |
July.
13 |
|
Sept.
6 |
Aug.
14 |
|
|
Feb.
7 |
Jan.
14 |
|
Mar.
7 |
Feb.
13 |
|
Apr.
7 |
Mar.
15 |
|
May.
7 |
Apr.
14 |
|
June.
7 |
May.
15 |
|
July.
7 |
June.
14 |
|
Aug.
7 |
July.
14 |
|
Sept.
7 |
Aug.
15 |
|
|
Feb.
8 |
Jan.
15 |
|
Mar.
8 |
Feb.
14 |
|
Apr.
8 |
Mar.
16 |
|
May.
8 |
Apr.
15 |
|
June.
8 |
May.
16 |
|
July.
8 |
June.
15 |
|
Aug.
8 |
July.
15 |
|
Sept.
8 |
Aug.
16 |
|
|
Feb.
9 |
Jan.
16 |
|
Mar.
9 |
Feb.
15 |
|
Apr.
9 |
Mar.
17 |
|
May.
9 |
Apr.
16 |
|
June.
9 |
May.
17 |
|
July.
9 |
June.
16 |
|
Aug.
9 |
July.
16 |
|
Sept.
9 |
Aug.
17 |
|
|
Feb.
10 |
Jan.
17 |
|
Mar.
10 |
Feb.
16 |
|
Apr.
10 |
Mar.
18 |
|
May.
10 |
Apr.
17 |
|
June.
10 |
May.
18 |
|
July.
10 |
June.
17 |
|
Aug.
10 |
July.
17 |
|
Sept.
10 |
Aug.
18 |
|
|
Feb.
11 |
Jan.
18 |
|
Mar.
11 |
Feb.
17 |
|
Apr.
12 |
Mar.
19 |
|
May.
11 |
Apr.
18 |
|
June.
11 |
May.
19 |
|
July.
11 |
June.
18 |
|
Aug.
11 |
July.
18 |
|
Sept.
11 |
Aug.
19 |
|
|
Feb.
12 |
Jan.
19 |
|
Mar.
12 |
Feb.
18 |
|
Apr.
13 |
Mar.
20 |
|
May.
12 |
Apr.
19 |
|
June.
12 |
May.
20 |
|
July.
12 |
June.
19 |
|
Aug.
12 |
July.
19 |
|
Sept.
12 |
Aug.
20 |
|
|
Feb.
13 |
Jan.
20 |
|
Mar.
13 |
Feb.
19 |
|
Apr.
14 |
Mar.
21 |
|
May.
13 |
Apr.
20 |
|
June.
13 |
May.
21 |
|
July.
13 |
June.
20 |
|
Aug.
13 |
July.
20 |
|
Sept.
13 |
Aug.
21 |
|
|
Feb.
14 |
Jan.
21 |
|
Mar.
14 |
Feb.
20 |
|
Apr.
15 |
Mar.
22 |
|
May.
14 |
Apr.
21 |
|
June.
14 |
May.
22 |
|
July.
14 |
June.
21 |
|
Aug.
14 |
July.
21 |
|
Sept.
14 |
Aug.
22 |
|
|
Feb.
15 |
Jan.
22 |
|
Mar.
15 |
Feb.
21 |
|
Apr.
16 |
Mar.
23 |
|
May.
15 |
Apr.
22 |
|
June.
15 |
May.
23 |
|
July.
15 |
June.
22 |
|
Aug.
15 |
July.
22 |
|
Sept.
15 |
Aug.
23 |
|
|
Feb.
16 |
Jan.
23 |
|
Mar.
16 |
Feb.
22 |
|
Apr.
17 |
Mar.
24 |
|
May.
16 |
Apr.
23 |
|
June.
16 |
May.
24 |
|
July.
16 |
June.
23 |
|
Aug.
16 |
July.
23 |
|
Sept.
16 |
Aug.
24 |
|
|
Feb.
17 |
Jan.
24 |
|
Mar.
17 |
Feb.
23 |
|
Apr.
18 |
Mar.
25 |
|
May.
17 |
Apr.
24 |
|
June.
17 |
May.
25 |
|
July.
17 |
June.
24 |
|
Aug.
17 |
July.
24 |
|
Sept.
17 |
Aug.
25 |
|
|
Feb.
18 |
Jan.
25 |
|
Mar.
18 |
Feb.
24 |
|
Apr.
19 |
Mar.
26 |
|
May.
18 |
Apr.
25 |
|
June.
18 |
May.
26 |
|
July.
18 |
June.
25 |
|
Aug.
18 |
July.
25 |
|
Sept.
18 |
Aug.
26 |
|
|
Feb.
19 |
Jan.
26 |
|
Mar.
19 |
Feb.
25 |
|
Apr.
20 |
Mar.
27 |
|
May.
19 |
Apr.
26 |
|
June.
19 |
May.
27 |
|
July.
19 |
June.
26 |
|
Aug.
19 |
July.
26 |
|
Sept.
19 |
Aug.
27 |
|
|
Feb.
20 |
Jan.
27 |
|
Mar.
20 |
Feb.
26 |
|
Apr.
21 |
Mar.
28 |
|
May.
20 |
Apr.
27 |
|
June.
20 |
May.
28 |
|
July.
20 |
June.
27 |
|
Aug.
20 |
July.
27 |
|
Sept.
20 |
Aug.
28 |
|
|
Feb.
21 |
Jan.
28 |
|
Mar.
21 |
Feb.
27 |
|
Apr.
22 |
Mar.
30 |
|
May.
21 |
Apr.
28 |
|
June.
21 |
May.
29 |
|
July.
21 |
June.
28 |
|
Aug.
21 |
July.
28 |
|
Sept.
21 |
Aug.
29 |
|
|
Feb.
22 |
Jan.
29 |
|
Mar.
22 |
Feb.
28 |
|
Apr.
23 |
Mar.
31 |
|
May.
22 |
Apr.
29 |
|
June.
22 |
May.
30 |
|
July.
22 |
June.
29 |
|
Aug.
22 |
July.
29 |
|
Sept.
22 |
Aug.
30 |
|
|
Feb.
23 |
Jan.
30 |
|
Mar.
23 |
Feb.
29 |
|
Apr.
24 |
Apr.
1 |
|
May.
23 |
Apr.
30 |
|
June.
23 |
May.
31 |
|
July.
23 |
June.
30 |
|
Aug.
23 |
July.
30 |
|
Sept.
23 |
Aug.
31 |
|
|
Feb.
24 |
Jan.
31 |
|
Mar.
24 |
Mar.
1 |
|
Apr.
25 |
Apr.
2 |
|
May.
24 |
May.
1 |
|
June.
24 |
June.
1 |
|
July.
24 |
July.
1 |
|
Aug.
24 |
Aug.
1 |
|
Sept.
24 |
Sept.
1 |
|
|
Feb.
25 |
Feb.
1 |
|
Mar.
25 |
Mar.
2 |
|
Apr.
26 |
Apr.
3 |
|
May.
25 |
May.
2 |
|
June.
25 |
June.
2 |
|
July.
25 |
July.
2 |
|
Aug.
25 |
Aug.
2 |
|
Sept.
25 |
Sept.
2 |
|
|
Feb.
26 |
Feb.
2 |
|
Mar.
26 |
Mar.
3 |
|
Apr.
27 |
Apr.
4 |
|
May.
26 |
May.
3 |
|
June.
26 |
June.
3 |
|
July.
26 |
July.
3 |
|
Aug.
26 |
Aug.
3 |
|
Sept.
26 |
Sept.
3 |
|
|
Feb.
27 |
Feb.
3 |
|
Mar.
27 |
Mar.
4 |
|
Apr.
28 |
Apr.
5 |
|
May.
27 |
May.
4 |
|
June.
27 |
June.
4 |
|
July.
27 |
July.
4 |
|
Aug.
27 |
Aug.
4 |
|
Sept.
27 |
Sept.
4 |
|
|
Feb.
28 |
Feb.
4 |
|
Mar.
28 |
Mar.
5 |
|
Apr.
29 |
Apr.
6 |
|
May.
28 |
May.
5 |
|
June.
28 |
June.
5 |
|
July.
28 |
July.
5 |
|
Aug.
28 |
Aug.
5 |
|
Sept.
28 |
Sept.
5 |
|
|
Feb.
29 |
Feb.
5 |
|
Mar.
29 |
Mar.
6 |
|
Apr.
30 |
Apr.
7 |
|
May.
29 |
May.
6 |
|
June.
29 |
June.
6 |
|
July.
29 |
July.
6 |
|
Aug.
29 |
Aug.
6 |
|
Sept.
29 |
Sept.
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar.
30 |
Mar.
7 |
|
|
|
May.
30 |
May.
7 |
|
June.
30 |
June.
7 |
|
July.
30 |
July.
7 |
|
Aug.
30 |
Aug.
7 |
|
Sept.
30 |
Sept.
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar.
31 |
Mar.
8 |
|
|
|
May.
31 |
May.
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Aug.
31 |
Aug.
8 |
|
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