When to pull and when to leave the mare be. Since we´ve been making foaling videos, we´ve received several comments... asking why we don´t pull?! So let us show you when to pull or not pull when the mare is foaling!

The foaling process has 3 stages, where stages 1 and 2 are when you should look for signs of progression, and contact a professional when you notice abnormalities.

Stage 1 - The onset of labor and contractions
Stage 2 - The birth of the foal
Stage 3 - The passing of the placenta

In this video, we will only concentrate on stage 2, where there might be an actual pull or no pull situation.

In this case, where Isabella gave birth to Arthemisia, the mare was in a poor state due to her previous living conditions before moving to our farm. Here she was very exhausted and after her water broke and between the contractions, she had less and less energy to push the large foal out, and with no significant progress after 10-15 minutes, we had to help her.
*Since after the water breaks in normal deliveries, the foal should be out after 20-30 minutes.

When helping a horse during labor, you should never pull on the foal with anything more than your own muscle power and pull only during a contraction.
Improper pulling risks damage to the mare’s reproductive tract and injury to both the mare and foal.
*Source www.vetvoice.com.au/ec/horses/foaling/

WORST CASE SCENARIO with our mare Eliza

Before leaving the stable that early evening, we did not see that Eliza showed any specific signs of going into labor.
When we returned to check on her again later in the evening, we found her, with her newborn foal halfway out, with his legs still inside Eliza. 

Eliza was very exhausted and tired, we rushed in to help pull out the foal's legs. We noticed that Eliza was still bleeding from her vagina several hours after the placenta had passed, and it became urgent to give her 
IV fluids with Sodium chloride, to replenish lost water and salt in her body, inject medicine for her to stop bleeding and help her uterus heal, and antibiotics.

After receiving medicine and help Eliza recovered within hours.
Eliza´s bleeding was most likely caused by that her foal being with his behind legs still inside Eliza and made damage to her reproductive tract during the unassisted moment.

So this is one of the worst-case scenarios with foaling without getting assistance, where other incidents could be that the foal comes out in the wrong position, a red bag delivery, and lack of medical care.

THE LAST PART OF THE VIDEO
Clips of the normal births that we were lucky to have. We still believe that the horse should give birth unassisted when possible and that we humans should stand quietly on the sideline and give loving support, and help only with what's essential, such as pulling out the remaining legs inside the mare, removing some of the membranes off the foals face so the foal can breath more properly and help clean up after the foaling.

We´ve also added some of the many nice comments we´ve received about the foaling video of Amirah.

More about Arabian Horse Family and our farm, South Arabian Horse Club here: www.arabianhorsefamily.com

Leave us a comment, and have a great day from us!

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