Mare How to really know when?

[vickie gee]

Biggest thing is just to relax

Mares have been foaling for centuries. Let her start the process, and then you just watch to make sure nothing goes wrong.

Nathan is giving you some good advise. In the event that something goes wrong (and hopefully it will not) do you have a vet nearby that has equine birthing facility and a means to transport? Or is your vet willing to come out as soon as labor starts because if there should be a problem you would at least have an expert there and could learn a lot (even if it is a textbook delivery).

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Are you asking me personally?

No, there is no clinic nearby that I would go to. Rood and Riddle is the closest I trust, and they're an hour away. There is a vet locally for the farm I work for, but because its a business, they tend to avoid having the vet unless its life threatening. The key is knowing what to do. All the things a vet can do, I can do, short of surgery or a fetotomy.

What do I recommend? If you can afford it, calling the vet as soon as you see amnion would be great. Or when you see water break. Problem calling any earlier is you risk a false alarm. And unless your vet is rather close, they'll arrive when everything is done anyways. Do you have a neighbor with foaling exp? Or someone in town you trust? That may be the better solution.

 

[TPs flat rock acres]

Yes I was thinking of calling as soon as I saw something. That way he/she could check the mare and baby to make sure all is well.

 

[vickie gee]

Nathan is giving you some good advise. In the event that something goes wrong (and hopefully it will not) do you have a vet nearby that has equine birthing facility and a means to transport? Or is your vet willing to come out as soon as labor starts because if there should be a problem you would at least have an expert there and could learn a lot (even if it is a textbook delivery).

Nathan,

Sorry, I get in a hurry posting. I was asking her (the original poster). But your answer was great and brings clarity to the fact that she needs to be prepared in case she needs to get vet to horse or horse to vet.

Which is something anyone expecting a foal goes through whether they are new or seasoned to the experience since anyone could be faced with making a sudden decision in any emergency. There is a new thread started on the forum by wcr about "Dystocia 101." Great place for everyone to share/learn/ and contribute.

 

[TPs flat rock acres]

For me not an option to get the horse to a vet they come to the person. Only place I think they have a horse hospital is in Vermont which is 2 1/2 - 3 hours from me.... oh and I don't have a horse trailer. That is something I am in the process of getting