Most mares will foal without any assistance, but if there should be any complications, help must be immediately available. For this reason, keep the mare by herself in a clean, protected environment. Clean straw is the bedding of choice for a foaling stall. A heat lamp may be needed in very cold weather.

Signs of foaling can vary tremendously. A mare usually "makes a bag" (develops an udder) during the last 3-6 weeks of pregnancy. Some mares will also "stock up" or get swelling of the legs in the weeks before foaling. Most will "wax up" or start to drip colustrum 24-48 hours before foaling. Very few mares will "wax up" several days ahead of delivery. Pelvic relaxation and swelling of the vulva occur about 12-18 hours before foaling, but many mares foal without any warning. An individual mare is often consistent from one foaling to the next, so it is a good idea to record these occurrences in a permanent record.

Some items to have on hand at the time of foaling are warm water, soap, roll cotton, clean buckets, clean towels, and an iodine antiseptic for the navel.

Basically, there are three stages of foaling:

Stage I (preparatory) lasts from 30 minutes to 4 hours. The mare may appear very uncomfortable and show mild signs of colic. The mare's vulva and udder should be washed with warm, soapy water followed by rinsing and drying. The mare's tail should be wrapped with a clean bandage, During this stage the cervix dilates and the foal repositions for birth. Stage I end when the "water bag" or chorioallantoic membrane ruptures.

Stage II or active labor lasts from 5 to 40 minutes and starts when the membranes first appear. If active labor does not produce a foal within 30 minutes, then call a veterinarian and walk the mare until he or she arrives. 5% of mares will try to foal standing up and must be assisted to prevent damage to the foal, but most mares will foal lying down. Many mares will stand up and reposition themselves and lay back down during stage II. Correct presentation of the foal is both front feet first, hooves pointing down, and head following. Stage II ends when the foal is born.

Stage III is expulsion of the placenta and lasts 15 minutes to 2 hours. Always save the placenta so a veterinarian can make sure that it is complete. Call the veterinarian if the placenta has not been delivered within 2 hours.

Foal care beings just after birth. First make sure that the foal is breathing. Use a clean towel to clear away any fluid or membranes from the nostrils. Massage the chest to stimulate breathing in necessary. Leave the naval cord alone and allow it to break naturally a few inches from the foal. The foal then can receive up to one liter of blood from the placenta if the cord is not broken immediately. Soak the navel cord for 30 seconds in an iodine antiseptic solution. Leave the foal alone with its mother and observe things at a distance.

Most foals will nurse for the first time between 30 and 120 minutes after birth. A foal is born with sufficient antibody protection and will only receive adequate antibodies by drinking 1-2 pints of high quality colostrums during the first 6 hours of life. This passive transfer of antibodies is the most important means of disease prevention during the first several weeks of life. No amount of antibiotics, vitamins, or vaccines is a substitute for this form of protection. Some first time mothers will not allow the foal to nurse, especially if the udder is sore. They may squeal and give small kicks, etc. to keep the foal away from the udder. If this occurs for more than 1 to 2 hours or if the foal shows no signs of nursing, call a veterinarian.

The mare and foal should receive a through physical examination by a veterinarian within 24 hours after foaling. The placenta, mare's reproductive tract, and the foal should be evaluated. Many veterinarians routinely administer an enema to the foal to ensure passage of the dark, pasty meconium or first manure.