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Im so excitedPlease read2007-11-24 21:17:39

Meanwhile, you need to have your vet's phone numbers handy, and I would get your foaling kit together if you haven't already done so. Sometime early this evening, I would wash your mare's hind legs and external genitailia, and bandage or wrap her tail to keep it clean and out of the way when she foals. Don't be surprised if your mare refuses food tonight- it's typical for a mare in early labor to refuse to eat anything. Just make sure that she has plenty of water that isn't cold, and offer her a small amount of hay if she seems interested in that.

Otherwise, you will want to settle down somewhere where you can observe what's happening- on the breeding farm where I used to work, we had a closed-circuit TV camera mounted in one corner of the stall ( above where the mare could get to it) and the monitor for it was in the kitchen at the house. Foal watch was done in the kitchen, in 2 hour shifts, so that everyone got a chance to see what was going on. That worked very well, and everyone always knew when a mare was going to drop her foal. You may want to have some sort of similar arrangement. Make sure that you notify your vet that your mare is very close to foaling- it's likely that they know this, but it never hurts to remind them) and let the vet know that you will call in case of trouble. Lastly, congratulations on the new arrival- and send us all a photo or 2 of the baby !

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my horse did this for months while others had it right away so it depends on teh horse