Stages of Pregnancy in a Mare and Foal Birth
become very soft, somewhat like Jell-O. In the last two-week period, the mare’s udder will begin to enlarge until during the last week the
teats fill out. When you can see a clear secretion, you are approaching the last week or days of pregnancy. By the last two days, the secretion becomes thick and cloudy, sometimes leaving a milky droplet on the end of her teats. This is what is called “waxing.”
Do not be alarmed if in those last days your mare experiences edema along the center of her underbelly—called ventral edema. Turning her out in a larger area to move around more a few hours a day or hand walking her will help with this. It has nothing to do with her milk as some old wives' tales indicate.
4 Stages of the Foal's Birth
The birth of the foal happens in four stages.
Phase 1
In phase one, the mare will be restless and even seem to have mild
colic. She will lay down, get up, nibble hay, swish her tail, and repeat. This indicates the last couple of hours before foaling.
Phase 2
In the second phase, her water will break. The mare is usually standing up when this happens. The front feet of the foal will appear in this phase, which takes about fifteen minutes. If 20-30 minutes go by and the feet do not appear, call the vet because she may be having trouble. Most mares deliver easily and quickly. If you need the vet, walk your mare until she or he arrives.
