Veterinary Management of Equine Reproduction: Concerns when Foaling

Although I have never had experiences with foaling, I have grown up on farms, watching humans, dogs, cats, goats, rabbits and more go through the birthing process. The birthing process though it seems short, actually takes a long time as the foal prepares to leave the mare and goes through the process. The most stressful time is when the foal is actually in danger of being crushed by the mare as it exits her. However, despite it all, it happens in a smooth almost magical way. In a proper birthing, the foal moves in a perfect way, where the foal exits with its head over the forelegs, this provides the easiest way for it to exit the mare. Additionally, the angle of the shoulders helps the foal birth much easier. The foal may not survive if it is stuck in the mare and crushed. The mare's body goes through a complex number of changes simply to birth the foal. This may mean that the mare's physical changes provide the perfect environment to allow the foal to move out. Even if the mare rests due to the foal's hips, it is still part of the process, giving her strength to finish the final stages of partition.