In general, a pregnancy duration of 11 months is usually assumed, but on average, mares carry for 340 days. That is a good week longer than eleven months. A foal is viable from 320 days but can also remain in the womb until 360 or even 365 days. Some mares always carry over by a few weeks. Inducing labor in these mares is not a good idea and is almost never necessary.

Do: Keep an eye on your mare

Labor progresses quickly, and sometimes you will see little to no signs in your mare in the hours leading up to birth. Since you need to act fast if something goes wrong, it is crucial to know when labor has started. In most mares, the udder fills up in the days before birth. And we mean really full—until it is stiff with milk. A few hours before delivery, wax droplets usually appear on the teats. Additionally, the ligaments next to the tail and loins loosen in the days before birth. You may also notice edema (fluid retention) under the belly weeks or days in advance. But beware: not every mare follows these patterns! Some mares only produce milk right before birth and never develop wax droplets, or they appear days earlier. Other mares start leaking milk a week before foaling as the foal "test runs" for birth, and then it stops again. The loosening of ligaments may also happen earlier or much later. You might have a few false alarms, but eventually, the moment will come. A foaling alarm, such as a vulva chip, can be a valuable investment. At the very least, ensure you have a good camera in your mare's stall. Mares prefer to foal when it is quiet in the stable, usually at night. Camera systems work with an app on your phone, often allowing multiple people to watch simultaneously. A group chat with interested friends or family members who are awake at different times during the night can be very useful. Make sure you are reachable by phone at night in case someone notices anything!

Do: Know the warning signs

The first stage of labor is the dilation phase. During this time, the cervix relaxes, and the uterus contracts. This is an uncomfortable sensation for your mare and can last several hours. Uterine contractions often cause restless behavior. Walking around, pawing at the belly, lying down and getting up again—these are all signs that the dilation phase has begun. Your mare may also appear nervous, neigh, sweat, or curl her lip (flehmen response). She may also rub or swish her tail.

Don’t: Disturb your mare

Foaling is an exciting event, and you will want to keep a close eye on your mare. However, it is very important not to disturb her! Monitor her as much as possible via camera and only check in person if you cannot see clearly. If you do need to check, go alone and be very quiet.

Do: Know what should happen

The dilation phase ends when the uterus contracts strongly enough to break the water sac. This marks the beginning of the expulsion phase. A significant amount of fluid is released, which you can often hear if your camera has sound, and other horses in the stable may react to it. The expulsion phase should last no longer than 20 minutes in a normal birth. Soon, the amniotic sac will appear, containing the two front hooves (usually slightly offset from each other). The foal’s nose will follow closely behind. At this point, the mare is often lying down and will begin pushing. If you see that the foal’s head is still covered by the sac, you may enter the stall to break the membrane. This membrane is quite tough! If the sac has already broken, you can wipe the foal’s nose if needed. Then, leave the mare alone again. As long as the foal’s head is out and it can breathe, things are going well. The mare will continue pushing, and the foal will be born. After birth, the mother and foal will remain lying down for a while—this can last ten minutes or even longer. Staying down is beneficial because the umbilical cord remains intact, allowing the foal to receive extra blood from the mare, which gives it a strong start. Foals essentially get "inflated" with blood after birth.

Don’t: Wait too long if labor stalls

Once the water sac has broken, the foal must be born within 20 minutes. If 10 minutes have passed and you do not see the amniotic sac, or if labor halts midway, call the veterinarian immediately. The vet may advise you to walk the mare to interrupt contractions. If the foal is not positioned correctly in the birth canal, the vet must reposition it before delivery can proceed. If you see a red sac instead of a white membrane with hooves, call the veterinarian immediately!

Don’t: Interfere unnecessarily in a normal birth

If the birth is progressing normally, you do not need to intervene much. Sometimes, the hind legs remain inside the mare for a little while after the foal is born—this is fine. The most important thing is that the umbilical cord stays intact for a moment. Do not pull the foal out further. You also do not need to rush in with a towel. When the mare stands up, the umbilical cord will break naturally. You can then disinfect it quickly. The mare will turn towards her foal and start licking it.

Do: Allow bonding time

If the mare stays down for a long time, you may choose to place the foal near her head so she can lick it. This is important for bonding between mother and foal. Some (experienced) mares rest longer after the exertion of labor—sometimes even until the foal starts moving around them! The first period after birth is crucial for mother-foal bonding, so give them the time and space they need.

Do: Monitor the placenta

The foal is born, so you feel relieved and happy! But take note of the time, as several things must happen in the hours following birth. In most cases, the placenta is expelled within an hour. The mare will experience contractions again and often lie down to push out the afterbirth. If part of the placenta is hanging out after delivery, tie it up with string to prevent tearing. You will need to check it later. Once the entire placenta is expelled, remove it from the stall and spread it out on the ground (or keep it in a wheelbarrow for the vet). The placenta should form a complete "pair of pants" with two closed legs (the uterine horns) and one opening where the foal emerged. If the uterine horns are damaged or partially missing, call the veterinarian. Retained placenta fragments can cause dangerous infections and laminitis. The placenta must be fully expelled within six hours. If not, call the vet, who will administer oxytocin to induce contractions. Friesian mares, in particular, are prone to retained placentas.

Don’t: Pull on the placenta!

Do not pull on the placenta to help your mare. If it tears, retained fragments can lead to serious complications.

Do: Monitor the foal in the first hours

Foals are remarkable creatures. They go from 0 to 100 in just a few hours. You should see the following milestones:

• 5–10 minutes: Lying in sternal position
• 1–2 hours: Standing up
• 2 hours: Nursing from the mare
• Around 9 hours: Urinating
• A few hours: Passing meconium (first dark stool)
• Within 24 hours: Passing milk feces (yellow in color)
• General: Active behavior, running around, nursing, and resting deeply in between.

Don’t: Assume the foal is nursing properly

It can be hard to tell if the foal is actually drinking. Foals instinctively suckle anything that resembles a teat, which can be noisy but does not always mean they are ingesting milk. If you see milk on the foal’s nose or chin, it is usually a good sign. However, some foals struggle, especially if the mare is a first-time mother. If the foal lacks energy to find the udder, you may need to hand-feed it colostrum by milking the mare and using a bottle or cup. When in doubt, always consult your vet.

Do: Stay vigilant in the first days

Monitor both mare and foal closely in the first few days. Check the mare’s temperature daily—if she develops a fever, she may have retained placenta fragments, requiring the vet to flush her uterus. Also, allow free movement for both mare and foal. This supports the foal’s physical development and helps the mare expel any remaining fluids. If you ever have doubts, always call your vet—they prefer early calls over late ones!