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Miniature Horse Prenatal Care:

A good nutrition program is crucial for a healthy miniature mare and her unborn foal. It's important to provide the pregnant miniature mare with enough food and supplementation for her to maintain good health, weight, and for the foal to develop well while in utero. If a mare doesn't get enough to eat during the pregnancy, then nature will step in and the mare's body will take from her own reserves to provide for the foal. When this happens the mare will end up in poorer condition after delivery and may not be healthy enough milk for her new foal.

Pay close attention to not over-feeding your miniature mare during this time. A healthy miniature mare will not need to be fed more because she is eating for two. Actually research has shown that mare's in the first five months of pregnancy really do not need more than the amount they were eating prior to pregnancy. During the second half of the pregnancy you can slowly increase the mares grain/strategy in my case to help with lactation and then feed this also during the weanling stage to help your mare keep her weight on.

It's very important for the overall health of your mare and foal that she doesn't gain to much weight while pregnant. Two much weight gain could lead to obesity and foaling problems as well as other problems down the road.

Proper vaccinating is also important during pregnancy. The general thought is that a mare who is vaccinated 4-6 weeks prior to foaling will produce a higher quality of colostrums for her foal. Colostrum is the first milk a foal receives, and is very rich in antibodies. These antibodies are what help to protect the foal from contagious diseases during their first few months of life.

Three Stages of Labor: These stages are talked about more in the article below

Miniature Horse Foaling Problems = Dystocia written by I Am Ranch, and used with their permission.

Breeding season is approaching and as it does, my research continues on how to deal with problems during the birthing process. We have been blessed to not have any problems yet, but know that it may happen. I want to share what we are learning and will continue to update this page. I am always open to hearing what others have dealt with if anyone wants to email me more. It is IMPERATIVE that you keep a close watch on your expectant mares. You just never know when it's going to happen.

I can't say enough about the book called, The Complete Book of Foaling. We had read that and then went to Dr. Laura Harris' clinic on Sunday here in Phoenix. She is THE vet in Phoenix that all of the big mini breeders have used for years and years. Some of these mini breeders have had hundreds and up of foals.

by Lisa Dales (age 14) 

On February 10^th, 2008 a clinic was put on about how to foal out a Miniature Horse. It was hosted by the Miniature Horse Association of Arizona and the guest speaker was Dr. Laura Harris, DVM. This clinic was extremely well done and very educational, especially as we have 6 mares due to foal this spring. Miniatures have many more problems than big horses due to their size and to being bred down. The notes below are the notes that I plan on having with me the night our mares deliver, just incase a mare is having problems with dystocia. Remember that I am only 14 years old and these are only my tips. You should not take my recommendations, but call a vet!!

I. Normal Birth

   A. You should see two forelegs and a nose

         1.  The two forelegs should be staggered 3”-6” apart

             2. The nose should be right behind the hooves, about the level of the

                 knees, with the ears the level of the elbows

             3. If the mare has been pushing for 20 minutes and there is no          

                 progress, enter mare to assess problem or call for help

   B. Stage I – Positioning

         1. Starts with the mare going into labor and ends with the water

                 breaking

             2. This time period can range from a short interval up to 24 hrs and

                 still produce a live foal

   C. Stage II – actual birth

             1. Starts with water breaking, ends with delivery of foal

             2. Duration from 15 minutes - 1 hour. If foal is

                 not out in an hour, CALL VET

             3. White sac should appear after a couple hard contractions; if

                 there is no sac, reach in mare and find out why

   D. Stage III – Passing of placenta

             1. Duration: 5- 45 minutes is normal

             2. If placenta is not delivered within 3 hrs, CALL VET

II. Abnormal Presentations of foal (dystocia)

   A. Critical Things to Remember:

         1. Before putting your hand in the mare, ALWAYS WASH carefully

                 and LUBE generously!

             2. If you know there is dystocia, keep mare from pushing

                 and straining, all she is doing is jamming the problem tighter;

                 if a mare is walking, she cannot push!

                 Pointing the mare downhill may help, too

             3. If you pull, only pull with the mare's contractions. You can actually

                 cause the tissues that line the birth canal to bunch up and make

                 delivery impossible.

             4. Always think about the arc-like pathway that a foal must follow to

                 emerge from the birth canal. He is delicate as are the inner tissues

                 of the mare.                  

   B. Presentations where you MUST PULL THE FOAL OUT NOW!

          In the following three presentations, you must always get the foal

            out immediately. If not, the foal will be oxygen deprived and

            will probably die. In all three presentations, the umbilical cord is

            being pinched so the foal is getting no air from that source. After

            the umbilicus is cut off, you have 30 secs before the foal’s first

            breath and 6 minutes before brain damage. 

          1. Red Bag (Click here to see my 16 year old pull out a baby during a Red Bag delivery!)(She wrote these notes when she was 14)

                  a. You will see red, terry cloth like sac coming out of mare

                  b. The foal is inside of the red sac and white sac. You must cut

                      the red sac, go inside that, rip the white sac, go inside that

                      and pull the foal out FAST! Remember, ALWAYS pull a

                      foal out downwards, towards the hocks of the mare. 

http://www.southernheartranch.com/redbag.html This site has 3 pages about Red Bag babies with great pictures of births.

         2. Backwards Foal (hind legs coming first)

            a. You know that you have a backwards foal because the

                      hind legs come first. The soles of the feet are pointing up, and

                      not down  as usual. The umbilicus is being pinched on pelvic rim.

                  b. Grasp the legs, and pull toward the mare’s hocks.     

             3. Hip lock

            a. Foal's pelvis is caught, or locked, on the mare’s pelvis. There are

                     4 different approaches as to how to “unlock” a hip locked foal.

                  b. First approach – cross foal’s front legs, and while pushing

                     foal back into mare (only push during a time of no contractions)

                     twist the front legs in a rotational movement. If the foal doesn’t

                     “pop” out, cross legs the other way and try again

                  c. Second approach – Roll mare onto back. Have helpers hold her on 

                     back. Grasp the foal’s forelegs. Even though you are still pulling

                     towards the mare’s hocks, you are now pulling towards your waist

                     because the mare is on her back. Baby should pop out

                  d. Third approach – grasp foal’s front legs and pull down 

                     to the left, then down to the right, slowly trying to

                     walk foal through birth canal. Alternate the way you are

                     pulling, down to left, down to right.

                  e. Fourth approach - Grasp foal's forelegs and attempt to rotate

                     foal 180 degrees,  pull foal upwards and out.

   C. Presentations to CALL THE VET, don’t try it yourself!!!!

         In the following presentations, you could hurt mare and/or foal if

         you try to do it alone. While waiting for the vet to arrive, walk

         the mare slowly around the stall. A mare can’t push and walk

         at the same time. Have your trailer hooked up, deeply bedded and

         ready to haul her in.  

         1. Full Breech (Backwards with no legs coming)

                  a. You will see a tail and a butt and no legs, emergency! 

Click To Play

 (Warning, the foal is dead in the video. She had died hours before she was delivered. When a baby dies in utero, the mare will expel it within a few days)

         2. Upside Down Breech (backwards & upside down)

            a. It will look like a full breech, but with the tail on the bottom  

           3. Back (spine) of foal first, also called transverse

                  a. Mare will be pushing…nothing coming, you stick your hand

                      in, and hit a solid wall of foal, the foal’s back. 

         4. 4 feet coming at same time, another transverse

                  a. All four feet of foal will be trying to some at the same time 

   D. Presentations that may need my intervention....or a nearby

      vet. 

         1. One forefoot or foreleg deflected back (most common

             dystocia) (We have had this problem! Read Lisa's story by clicking here)

             a. I will see only one leg and a nose.

                  b. Tie a clean shoe string around the visible pastern. Next,

                      push the head and leg back into uterus a little ways. Slide 

                      your clean, well lubricated hand into mare, with palm

                      towards center. Locate hooked leg, slip two

                      fingers behind knee, pull up, then towards the middle of

                      foal’s chest, then out. If the leg does not come, try grasping

                      toe of hoof and bringing it forward.

                      (If the foal’s left leg is missing, use your left hand with the

                      palm towards center of mare) Whenever you are moving

                      foal’s legs in the mare, protect her uterus from the sharp

                      hooves by cupping the foal’s hoof in your hand. 

           2. Both forelegs back (second most common dystocia) (this was how Jewel's baby presented)

                  a. You will see the nose, but there will be no legs

                  b. If the foal has a blue tongue, don’t worry; that is normal in this

                      situation

                  c. Enter with your palm towards center and do the same process

                      as written above on both legs instead of just one leg

         3. Head caught on pelvic rim

                  a. The legs may or may not be in birth canal.

                  b. Tie string to visible pasterns and then reach in mare. Find the

                      foal’s two mandibles, then run your hand down his face to his

                      chin. Grasp under chin while having your helper push the foal back

                      into uterus. (with each contraction, the foal’s head is being

                      jammed harder and harder into the pelvic rim. That is why the

                      helper must push foal back to undo the blockage) with your hand

                      under the chin, gently but firmly pull on it and unhook from the

                      rim. Once the head straightens, the foal will deliver without

                      further ado. 

         4. Head & neck turned to one side

                  a. This presentation may look like the one above, but when you put

                      your hand in, on one side of the foal will be a mass of neck. Tie

                      strings to the pasterns, and, while helper is pushing foal back, 

                      slide  hand along neck to chin. Grasp chin and gently straighten

                      head.

         5. Upside Down

                  a. You will see the soles pointing upwards, telling you that the

                     foal is either upside down or backwards. Discern position  by

                     entering and trying to find head or hocks. If there is a head,

                     the foal is upside down.

                  b. This position may correct itself. Allow time for the mare’s

                     rotational contractions to turn foal. Allow time for mare to lay 

                     down and roll to position foal before getting worried.

                  c. If intervention is necessary, first put hand in and re-check foal’s

                     position to make sure that only 2 legs are in the birth canal. If

                     hind leg is there, do not push foot directly back in!

                     (Read section 6 on how to unhook a third foot) Foal will be tipped

                     to one side. This is because the rotational contractions are trying

                     to turn the foal that direction. Work with the pre-established

                     direction of the foal. If foal is tipped to your left, grasp foal’s 

                     legs and cross right leg over left. Hold the legs crossed, and wait

                     for mare’s contractions to pull. (mare should by laying down)

                     When she pushes, pull and twist firmly but gently. Rolling the foal

                     happens gradually, not suddenly. Don’t pull when the mare is not

                     having a contraction, but in between contractions, don’t let the

                     foal slip back, hold all progress you have made. 

         6. One hind foot coming under chest (Dog-sitting position)

                  a. Instead of the normal two front feet and a nose, there will be

                     3 front feet and a nose. The first thing you have to do is figure

                     out  which leg is the back leg. Put hand in and feel for hocks or

                     run hand down foal’s front legs to find chest.

                  b. Once you find the back foot, put two fingers behind

                     pastern/ankle  try to LIFT HOOF over pelvic rim while your

                     helper pushes foal back. As soon as you feel any movement or

                     release, slide your hand with palm upwards and catch the sharp

                     hoof tip as   it falls, protecting the mare’s uterus.    

         7. Forelegs over head/ears

                  a. Foal will be coming out, except for that the hooves will be on top 

                     of the nose instead of the nose on top of the hooves. Lube well

                     and go in with your palm towards the center

                  b. Once you locate the knees, which will be hooked over the ears,

                     gently lift legs from head into normal position

As you can tell by all the information above, I learned a lot at this clinic. I hope that this aids us in birthing all our mares this year! Dr. Harris was very helpful and answered any questions she had. She was very explanatory, and I really enjoyed the clinic. 

Thank You to I AM Ranch for the use of these articles!

Signs of Miniature Horse dystocia in the miniature mare, miniature mare foaling problems, difficulties foaling, red bag delivery, hip locked miniatures horse foal, foaling calculators Foaling: written, and permission to use by I AM Ranch.

All of us with babies coming are obsessing about when. The foaling season takes over your mind during waking moments and even during sleep. Here, at our home, we start DREAMING miniature horse babies! We did have a fun thread on our AZminiatures yahoo group wherein one breeder told of a mare that went 384 days and another mare who waited 372 days. Those have got to be record long for gestation times. On the short end, one miniature breeder told of a baby born at 296 days with only peach fuzz, no hair and cartilage for legs. The vet told this lady she would die, but love and determination (along with lots of hours) has grown this baby up to be 4 years old now. They had to be there every 2 hours around the clock and support her while she nursed. After 2 weeks, she was getting up on her own! As you can see, there can be a great amount of variation in how long that foal is in the oven :) Thus, we start really watching our mares at day 300 of pregnancy. You can click here for a calculator to help figure out how far along your mare is.

As you read about each sign, remember to take each change in concert with the others. Also remember that "the mares do not read these notes, nor do they listen to the vets, or read The Complete Book of Foaling". They have their babies when they are ready and one mare gives obvious clues while another surprises you and foals unexpectedly. It is wise to take copious notes on your mare so that you know her pattern for following years.

There are urine tests you can buy to pregnancy check your mare. Click here to see the most reasonably priced one that we found. You can also buy sterile ob sleeves at this website.

Milk

Your mare's milk will change in consistency, color and taste as the day of foaling approaches. The milk will go from clear to cloudy to yellowish to syrupy in texture to opaque white milk that is sticky and thick. At first, there may be flecks in the milk, but as the day nears, these dissolve and you see them no more. These are bits of calcium precipitants!  As you see the milk progressively change, your examinations should be more frequent. The changes can happen very quickly. If you have a "cup bearer" in your home, have her taste the milk daily and it will get sweeter. It loses that salty flavor as the big day of foaling approaches. (If you don't know what a cup bearer is, get out your Bible, and read Genesis :)

The Complete Book of Foaling mentions that the milk itself is the most reliable predictor of imminent foaling.

The Milk Strips are a wonderful tool to use for they take into consideration the changing calcium levels in the milk. We have found them very reliable, but recommend only one brand of strip.

Udder

Of course we watch the size and shape of the udder. The mare's teats tend to point toward each other in the days before foaling is imminent, but as the day draws nearer, they begin pointing straight down.  Typically, a mare starts to bag up a few weeks pre-foaling, but, there are some mares who don't develop a bag until the day of foaling. Again, the norm is for the bag to be fuller in the morning and shrink over the day, until the day of foaling. Then the bag will stay tight even in the evening. In some mares, you will see the milk veins filling up in front of her udder.

Watching a mare's bag is not 100% reliable by itself. We do recommend washing between the teats before the bag fills, so all of her "cleavage grime" does not irritate her as her bag fills up and the cleavage area becomes tight.  More importantly than udder shape is the milk consistency.          To read more about this and to see photos, please visit http://iamranch.com/minisignsfoaling.htm

Miniature Mare Foaling Prediction:

I Am Ranch Miniature Horses uses Total Hardness Test Strips for Foaling prediction

Ideas for testing your mares milk to predict foaling time.

Copyright Paul & Denice Jentlie Chandler, AZ