Although the average gestation is
342 days, gestation length from 320 to 367 days is not unusual.
Some signs of impending parturition
are: enlarged mammary gland with teats filled with milk, increase Ca
in mammary secretion, and waxing.
Increased relaxin during the
final weeks of gestation causes relaxation of the cervix, and softening
of the tail head and croup.
Most foalings occur from 10
pm to 2 am.
The foal controls the day
of parturition, the mare controls the time of parturition.
The umbilicus should not be
broken to allow the blood from the placenta to return to the foal
If the placenta is not delivered
within 3 hours of birth, the veterinarian should be called.
The foal should nurse with
1 hour of birth. The foal's gut can absorb antibodies from the colostrum
for 24 hours. Lack of nursing or lack of uptake of antibodies in the
foal can be extemely dangerous.
