Stages of Pregnancy in a Mare and Foal Birth

Pregnant Mare Stages

Spring is here, and the long wait is coming to an end. Your mare's due date is approaching. Normal gestation for a mare is 335-360 days, so you have about 10 days' leeway on your foaling date even if you have kept careful records noting the days she was bred. So don’t get too nervous if day 360 rolls around without a newborn foal appearing. Some mares do go 12 months without a problem. But, if you are approaching day 360, it is a good idea to have your vet check on the

 mare to be sure all is well.

The Mare's Last Trimester

It is the last third of your mare’s pregnancy when you begin to observe changes. During the last trimester, you should move your mare to the

 area where you want her to deliver. This is so she is exposed to particular bacteria and viral antigens and her body can produce the antibodies to them. She can then pass them onto her foal during birth. Also, she will be comfortable in her new surroundings before the due date.

In the late stages of pregnancy, you will notice the mare’s belly has enlarged and she will be less active than normal. In the last two to three weeks, the abdomen muscles become more relaxed and the foal will “drop.” This is usually more obvious in older broodmares.

In another week’s time, the muscles on either side of the tail head