Submitted by Sandy in the USA on June 5, 2000:

I first want to say I love your colunm it is great! The advice is wonderful. My question...I have 2 mares due to foal any day now (bred 7 days apart). I friend of mine says that about 24 to 48 hours before they foal, they will peak ? They explained that the mares stomach will take on a shape of a V instead of being so round, have you heard of this before ? I have never seen this on my mares before. The mare that was bred 7 days after the first mare, looks to be the one to foal first. She is soft over her tailhead and around her vulva, she has dropped and her bag stays full all day now. I just wish I knew when, I have been staying up most of the nights with her this past weekend, and I know it is just the beginning of the waiting period. So if you have heard about this peaking, please let me know.. Thanks.

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for your very nice words about the column!

I wonder if your friend's "peaking" is the same as other people referring to the mare's belly dropping. That's what it sounds like--when everything relaxes and the mare's belly drops, looking more pointed underneath than it did before and dipping behind the breast bone.

Hang in there--those mares won't hold out forever!

Follow up by Sandy on June 12, 2000:

I wrote to you a week or so ago about my 2 mares and this peaking thing, well it turns out that, their peaking is dropping. And my first mare delivered on early Sunday morn 6/11/00 at 12:21, a beautiful bay colt...this mare was not due until June 25th, she delivered right on her safeday at 320... baby and mare are doing fine. Thank you for all your advice, very helpful and nice to read the updates also... Will let you know when the next foals comes, being as she was to be first.. :0) !!!!!

Hi Sandy,

Congratulations! One down, one to go. Thanks for letting us know and please do let us know when the second mare goes.

Good luck!

Follow up by Sandy on June 16, 2000:

Well my 2nd mare foaled on Wed the 14th 3 days after the other mare, this time a little filly with four white socks... she is sooo cute.. both moms and babies are doing great, today is the first day they are in the same field together and they are running and playing... thanks for all the advice, this one went like clock work also. She was waxed at 5pm, started milking at 6pm, by 8:30 pm she was delivered. Thanks again, and have a great day.

Hi Sandy,

Congrats on the new one! I'm so glad everything went well. Now you can just relax and enjoy!

Thanks for letting us know,

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Submitted by Suzanne in the UK on June 11, 2000:

We don't know if our mare is in foal, but she is so fat it's like she is going to burst. We had a vet to her who did an internal but couldn't say yes or no because he said the foal could be laid so far forward he couldn't feel it. We can no longer ride her as she won't let us get on her. She has a very full milk vein and a lump not far from her teats. Does this sound like anyone else's mare in foal?

Dear Suzanne,

If your mare is developing an udder and milk veins, then it's very possible that she's in foal. If you can, I'd get another vet to check her or have the first one back in a couple of weeks.

Good luck!

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Submitted by Jeanmarie in the USA on June 11, 2000:

I have a question that might not be considered foaling advice. I purchased your book and have found it invaluable, but didn't find the answer to my question in it either. My Mare's foal is now two months old and was delivered with crooked front legs. Not only down in the pasturns, but really over in the knee. Especially the right one. The foal has always been able to get around well and nurse. I had my vet check the foal early on and she said to just wait until weaning and see how his legs look. The sire and dam are very straight and correct. His legs have improved a great deal but the right is still very over in knee and the left just a little. My question: Is there something else I can do to help this? Should I get a second opinion? Have you ever seen foals actually straighten out completely? Thanks for your time and consideration on this,

Dear Jeanmarie,

I asked for my husband's advice on this one. He's been a farrier for 25 years and dealt with a lot of foals. He says that if they aren't almost normal at two months, that's cause for concern. Most will not improve much beyond that age on their own. His advice is to get another opinion. What can be done about it depends on exactly what the problem is--whether it's a contraction problem, or a deviation problem. Both can be dealt with, usually with surgery. You're right, this isn't in the book because the book doesn't deal with foals beyond a few days old. But it is a very good question and I'm glad you asked.

Please let us know what you find out.

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Submitted by Hope in the USA on June 12, 2000:

I had a couple questions about my foal that was born two evenings ago. Everything has been going well, I just was wondering about a few things that most foaling books have not covered for me. And if your book does, I will be purchasing it first thing! Anyway, Baby arrived right on schedule, perfect delivery ect. I am a natural worrier, so I took notice that baby's breathing is irregular and sometimes rather rapid, temperature was a normal 101.5, eating and acting very well, urinating regularly, (filly) and pooping very well too, (manure is orangey, but rather loose, is this normal?) I guess I was just wondering if foals are similar to human babies that they first breathe out of need and not habit?? Apprx.what is the average respiratory rate for a newborn foal, say in the 2-4 day range? Another thing I have noticed that I did not notice with other foalings is this foal snorts a lot through the nose, no discharge, or anything. More like a bug up the nose snort, do you believe there is anything to this either? Like I said before I am a natural worrier, it's just that we lost our donkey a couple years back to pneumonia and I have no intentions of losing our first mule foal to anything that I could have prevented. Thanks for your time, your response as always is greatly appreciated.

Dear Hope,

Get the credit card out! :-)

On page 92 in my book, there is a table listing normal temperature, heart rate, and respirations. Heart rate--60-80 beats per minute by a few minutes after birth at rest, 100-150 beats per minutes as the foal stands. Respirations--60-80 breaths per minutes after birth and while standing, 30-40 breaths per minute within one hour at rest. These rates will gradually decrease to an "adult" level by the time the foal is a few months old. Irregular breathing in foals isn't a problem as long as the foal isn't stressed by something else (such as illness). The slightest stimuli will make the foal's respiratory rate increase. I've honestly never thought about whether foals breathe because of need or because of habit. But unless there is another problem, there is almost never a problem with a foal's breathing (or forgetting to). Your foal's manure is normal (that's also covered in the book). A foal on a milk diet will have soft, orangy to yellow stool. All okay there. I don't know what the snorting behavior is. Could be just something the foal does, or it could be an inhaled irritant, or maybe something else. I doubt that there is anything to it, but I'd look up his nostrils to see if you can see anything in there (straw, etc.). If not, and the foal continues this behavior or seems distressed by it, I'd get the vet to take a look.

Enjoy your baby and thanks for writing.

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Submitted by Deb in the USA on June 12, 2000:

As I am setting here reading your web site I am concerned about my mare. I have a Belgian Mare that is 5 years old. She had a colt last year that took a year and 5 days before he was born. This one is going different than the other one. She has more udder. So hopefully she will have more milk. Her udder looks like a jersey cow. Her due date is June 14th. I can't wait until she has it. When she was first bred we dreamed of having a filly with white socks, nice blaze, red sorrel with white mane and tail. Now we don't care what it looks like just so long as both are healthy. I have read your web site. But... waxing? When does it start and what exactly does it look like? Lily never waxed before and I have never seen a mare due to deliver. Does everyone go through the panic that I have. Does your book have pictures? Thanks for any response.

Hi Deb,

Waxing is when the mare's udder is so full of colostrum that some leaks out. It collects on the ends of the nipples and looks a lot like dry to wet candle wax. The color of the wax generally starts as clear or slightly cloudy yellowish and the closer the mare gets to foaling, the more white it will become. About 75% of mares will wax, 25% won't, so don't count on her waxing. Most mares will foal within 3-4 days of the time they begin waxing, but again, this is widely variable. Some will foal within a half hour of when the wax first appears, others might wax or drip milk for weeks. Yes, my book has almost 200 photographs. There are some that show wax. Yes, everyone who cares about their animals gets panicky at some point. Don't worry, you're normal!  It sounds like the mare won't wait for over a year this time, and nothing you described makes me think you have cause for concern.

Hang in there and please let us know when your new baby arrives.

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Submitted by Marnie in Alberta, Canada in June 14, 2000:

My mare foaled June12, 2000 at 8:30am and everything went well except that the baby as of this morning still can't stand yet. We have been feeding it by the bottle. Is there anything else that we can do? She tries to stand but can only stand for about 5 seconds.

Dear Marnie,

You need to have a vet see the foal RIGHT NOW!!

I hope the foal is okay. Please let us know.

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Submitted by Sarah in the USA on June 14, 2000:

In May I found out that the "not pregnant" 5 year old maiden percheron/pinto cross mare I bought this Spring is definitely in foal. The vet who palpated her said that she thought maybe 6 or 7 months along, but had a hunch that it was most likely towards the end of that range rather than towards the beginning. I started making phone calls and found out that the mare had been bred to a handsome percheron/paint cross stallion around the end of September and early in October (couldn't find out specific dates) but later showed signs of heat so she was sold to the dealer/trainer I bought her from as not pregnant. In late November at the dealer/trainer's farm, she developed a presumed case of strangles, which she recovered from. The strangles, then, would have been around the end of the second month of pregnancy. At the time she was palpated and confirmed pregnant, she would have been a bit into her 8th month. The mare is now presumably in the middle of her ninth month of pregnancy. I've added a vitamin/mineral supplement to her diet, and she now gets all the hay she wants. We also bumped her feed up a bit at the vet's suggestion. She isn't huge, but she definitely "popped out" in the last few weeks. I noticed a significant difference in the rounding out of her flanks behind my legs while riding her. I am wondering, though, given that the vet thought 6 to 7 months (which was a bit low, if the breeding dates are correct) whether the strangles in the second month might have slowed the pregnancy down or kept the baby small, if either of those is a possibility. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening?

I have bought your book, The Complete Foaling Manual, and have already found it valuable, not to mention reassuring. Other foaling books had me terrified of the whole process.

Dear Sarah,

Yes, it is possible that the strangles "slowed" things down. However, it is very difficult to determine a foal's gestational age by palpation at the point at which your vet checked her and I think the vet is to be commended for coming as close as s/he did! I'd go on the breeding dates for a possible due date, rather than the palpation. But if the mare goes overdue, it would be reasonable to assume that the strangles postponed fetal development for a while.

Thanks for your kind words about the book. One of my main goals was to inform people without frightening them. I'm very glad you think that goal was accomplished!

Please let us know when your mare foals.

Follow up by Sarah on August 21, 2000:

I thought I'd let you know what happened with my mare. She started udder development in early July, which would have been too early given what we knew about breeding dates. The vet asked me to double-check the breeding dates, and after a couple phone calls I found out that the mare had been bred on two separate heat cycles, and had come back into season twice before being sold because she "wasn't pregnant." So there was a chance that she could deliver three weeks earlier than previously expected. We moved her pre-foaling shots back a couple of weeks and watched over the next month as she developed more udder. She also had spells when the muscles around her tail were very loose and jelly-like, and her belly dropped dramatically. She started to waddle and started to stock up in her back legs. Then one evening I walked into the pasture and called her. She was at the bottom of a big hill. She looked up, saw me, and galloped up the hill to me. No stocking up, no waddle. Happy, comfortable. For the next two weeks there were no changes at all. Then last week she started getting a little bit more udder and started having occasional spells again of loose muscles near her tail.

She delivered a beautiful little filly on August 16, which would have been about 340 or so days if she took on the first cycle she was bred, or 320 if she took on the second cycle. She retained her placenta, so the vet had to work on her for a few hours to get it out. We are now past the danger point for infection and laminitis, so she's going back on some grain (and boy is she happy about that) instead of just hay and alfalfa and bran mashes. She had good colostrum and the baby is doing fine.

Of all the foaling books I read (and I read everything I could get my hands on) yours was the one I kept with me at all times. Thanks.

Dear Sarah,

You're very welcome! And thanks so much for letting us know what happened. Now you can finally enjoy Mom and that new baby!

Congratulations!

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Submitted by Tami in the USA on June 21, 2000:

I am a first time breeder. When I bred my mare, the breeder told me to give her progesterone.. which I did for 40 days, then I had a vet check her and take her progesterone level... The level came back good and he told me that I didn't need to keep her on it.. How much of that test would have had the progesterone from the shot in it? It has been about a month since I have had her checked.. she still looks pregnant, but should I have a vet check her again?

Dear Tami,

The test for progesterone levels doesn't register the amount of progesterone your mare was given. It only tests her own, natural progesterone. So any progesterone supplement she received doesn't show up at all. If the vet says her progesterone level is okay, then it is. If you are feeling anxious about the mare, by all means have a vet check her again. But it sounds like you've done everything just right, so chances are, she's still in foal.

Good luck.

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Submitted by Christine in Australia on June 26, 2000:

How long from start of labour to actual birth?

Dear Christine,

The first stage of labor can last anywhere from off and on for a day or two to only half an hour or so. The second stage begins when the mare's water breaks and ends with the delivery of the foal. This stage lasts normally 10-40 minutes with 15-20 minutes being average.

Hope this helps.

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Submitted by Amy in the USA on June 28, 2000:

This year was my first foaling. I read your book and column a lot. I started watching her closely several weeks before she foaled. One night she started her labor while I was watching. She was sweating and pacing ect, so we waited quietly (this started around 10pm) She kept getting down and up ect. After an hour or more of this she started to lay down and push hard but nothing else happened and then she would sit up and nicker and neigh at her rear. This went on for 10-15 min. I finally checked her and when I looked inside I saw a red bag. So I thought that this was a red bag delivery and had my spouse call the vet. I broke the bag and then the water came out and she started to deliver the foal immediately. The legs seemed offset too far and she wasn't progressing so we got her up and when she laid back down the feet got to the right distance apart. My vet called about this time and stayed on the phone with me. Of course the mare had to try to deliver against the wall and we had to move her w/vets directions. She delivered a beautiful medicine hat stud colt at around 11:30. Everything was fine after that. The next day the vet came out and checked everyone. But did not think that I really had a red bag delivery. She said that if you go in before the feet come out that you will always see a red bag. I don't know but she showed classic signs of that. That's why I checked her. Whether it was or not I have a healthy baby and mommy. I really appreciate your book

Dear Amy,

Thanks so much for writing! Your story is a valuable lesson for everyone. I’m sorry to disagree with your vet, but I believe that what your mare had WAS a red bag. Anytime you can see the red, maternal side of the placenta before the mare's water breaks, that's definitely a red bag--the foal's feet should break through the placenta at the mare's cervix, long before the placenta is visible. And you handled the situation wonderfully! Every time you look at that baby, you can be secure in the knowledge that if you hadn't acted quickly and decisively, he wouldn't be here.

Congratulations, on the baby and on your quick thinking!

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Submitted by Tammy in the USA on June 30, 2000:

Can you tell me when a mare gets really close to foaling, if you can see the movement of the foal directly on top of the mare's hips and tail? Don't know if we are just seeing things or are too anxious.

Dear Tammy,

Yes, you can see foal movement up in the mare's hips when she is close to delivery. That's because everything is so loose in preparation for parturition. Usually (but don't hold me to it!), mares will foal within 48 hours of when you see movement up in the hips. You've made a very good observation!

Keep watching!

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Submitted by Gail in the USA on July 2, 2000:

When do you ultrasound a mare after she is exposed to a stud?

Dear Gail,

When to check the mare varies with different vets. Some ultrasound at 14 days, some at 16, and some not until 18. Any of those times is fine. I prefer checking at 16 to 18 days.

Good luck!

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Submitted by Tracy in the USA on July 3, 2000:

I have spent the last few nights reading and rereading your advice column. I have found it to be the most complete on the web. LOVE IT!

We raise paints and have had excellent results in the past. This year however one of my best mares threw us a curve. The foal was her first and of course we watched like a hawk. Missed the birth by just minutes. The filly was a white with one black ear. Because of her overo background and my stud's coloring (viable white) I was concerned about a lethal (haven't had one yet). We observed the foal for bowel movements which were just fine but she had trouble standing to nurse. I called my vet (wonderful woman!) She advised to support the foal to nurse to get colostrum, my husband spent hours holding her up to nurse. To shorten this up, after a three day struggle we lost her to NI. We rebred her (not to my stud) before we had a definite dx on cause of death. We will have several mares foal before her as she was a late one anyway. How can I determine if another mares colostrum is suitable for her foal and how would I store what I collect from one of my other mares? How long can I store it and how much can be collected from a mare without depriving her foal? Should I collect from only one mare or from a number (I will have 4 foal before her and only one is a maiden mare all others have reared healthy foals). Sorry to stretch this out but I have had difficulty finding much info on NI. Are there any good sites to research this problem? I visited the UC Davis site but found almost the same info provided by my vet. No hurry on reply. Foaling is done this year, more due Jan., March, April, May and June 2001. Last being the NI mare. Thanks for taking time to educate and reassure!

Dear Tracy,

Thanks for your kind words about the column. And I particularly appreciate that you took the time to actually read it!

Other than searching the web, I don't know where else you can find the latest info on NI (neonatal isoerythrolysis). I'm sure your vet gave you good information and there just may not be much else to know. To find out if a foal will have a problem with another mare's colostrum, you can have your vet test the foal against the saved colostrum before the foal is given the colostrum. A simple test to do is mix a drop of the foal's blood with a drop of the saved colostrum. If it mixes well and stays a uniform pink, it's okay. If it clumps up, it isn't okay. But it would be best to have your vet handle any testing that she thinks is required.

If a mare is healthy and producing colostrum normally, it is safe to take 16 ounces of colostrum from her. She will still have much more than necessary for her own foal's well being. Collect the colostrum into a plastic container as the foal nurses for the first few times. It can then be frozen in plastic freezer bags and kept for at least two years. Be sure to refrigerate it until you can get it frozen, and when you thaw it, be sure to thaw it in lukewarm, not hot, water. Hot water (and microwaves) will destroy the antibodies in the colostrum, then it will be of no benefit to the foal who needs those antibodies. I freeze colostrum in 8-ounce increments, and give a foal needing colostrum at least 16 ounces. Every foal given saved colostrum should be tested for antibody levels to be sure the antibodies in the colostrum survived the freezing and thawing process, and to be sure the foal absorbed the antibodies properly. You can collect 16 ounces from each of your other mares (except the maiden, unless she producing exceptionally well for a maiden), and label the bags with the date, amount, and the mare's name. That will keep it all straight.

I'm very sorry about the loss of your foal and hope this information helps for next year.

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Submitted by Stephanie in the USA on July 20, 2000:

Hi. I have read much of your column and it has answered a lot of questions but we have 2 mares that are due to foal anytime. My 19 year old QH is bagging up and switches her tail, but I'm still not sure when to know when to separate her from the others. My 18 year old welsh pony is very confusing, she bags up, unbags and there has been a little white tip on the end of one of her teats for a long time. I was told the welsh has a ways to go and the QH is getting there. They have had colts before and we just sent our stallion to a friend's house. We still have a small shetland gelding on the yard and a 6 yr old half arab mare, could they be delaying delivery although it seems as though the pregnant mares prefer to be with them? Well mainly I'm concerned about the signs of foaling that get more and more confusing. (These are my first foals and I have no clue what the signs look like) Please respond. Thank you

Dear Stephanie,

I doubt that your mares are delaying labor because of the other horses. Watch for their udders to get completely full--tight and warm. Then watch for behavior changes--restlessness, rubbing rears on things, yawning, sweating, etc. It isn't unusual for a mare's udder to fill some, then go down, then fill again. When your mare's udder fills and stays filled all day, watch out!

Good luck.

Follow up by Stephanie on July 24, 2000:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! With your advice last night both our horses gave birth to healthy foals. Sassy (Buckskin QH 19 yrs) had a real big and fat paint filly and Cristal (sorrel welsh 18 yrs) gave birth to a small brown with white face and 4 white socks. And the other horses were in the pen and they don’t even bother the mares or their colts. Thank you again.

Hi Stephanie,

You're very welcome, and congratulations! Thanks so much for letting us know about your new babies and I'm so happy everything went well.

Enjoy!

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Submitted by Hal in the USA on July 22, 2000:

Our mare is going to give birth in about 2 months. The paddock where she stays has live wire. I am concerned for the foal when she gets up and walks that she might get under the wire or get shocked. The owner says not to worry. I would like to see a solid fence around her paddock, what is your opinion? This is my first.

Dear Hal,

A solid fence would be infinitely better than an electric wire. Your concern that the foal will get into it is absolutely justified. From what you said, I assume there is only the live wire sectioning off the paddock. If that is so, I'd do just about anything not to put a foal in that situation.

Hope this helps.

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Submitted by Jillian in Canada on July 24, 2000:

I'm looking for information on pasture weaning. Our 14 month old filly is large and doing well, but not showing a lot of interest in weaning. Should I be starting to separate them for periods of time? Is there a way to keep the mare more comfortable when her bag gets really full and is painful? The mare is open, and I do not plan to rebreed her this year; she is doing well and has held her weight easily. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Dear Jillian,

A yearling should not still be nursing. My advice is to just separate the mare and filly cold turkey, and keep them apart for at least a month. It may take even longer than that. You can put Bag Balm or Numotizine on the mare's udder, but most dry up okay on their own. If she's getting grain, take the grain away for a few days after weaning. That will help also.

Good luck!

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Submitted by Mary in Australia on July 29, 2000:

I have a draught mare who seems to have too much milk. I have watched the foal suckle from her and seen milk still dripping from her after the foal has taken it's fill. I have milked her off from time to time, but she still is producing too much. I know that I shouldn't touch her BUT, I don't want her to get mastitis. It has been a pity to throw the milk away so I give it to my 2 dogs, they love it, has anyone else had similar circumstances.?

Hi Mary,

It isn't all that common for mares to make that much excess milk. Are you sure the foal is okay? As long as it's acting okay, I'm sure it's fine, but sometimes when the mare has a lot of milk left after foal nurses, it's because the foal isn't nursing enough. It's better not to milk the excess from the mare because what this does is encourage even more production. Also, if the mare is getting grain, you might cut back on her grain for a while.

Good luck.

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Submitted by Wanda in Canada on August 1, 2000:

We had a clydesdale filly born in the early AM yesterday. She seems to be nursing okay, but looks and acts dopey. She's not bright and alert looking. She also started having scours last night (fairly dark colored). At first I thought, maybe the mare's milk was just too rich for her. The mare is a heavy milker and a good mother, this is her third foal. Should I be worried?

Dear Wanda,

It's possible that the foal is having diarrhea because the mare's milk is too rich, but based on that and on the fact that the foal is also acting lethargic, I would sure be worried enough to get the vet out.

Please let us know what you find out.

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Submitted by Sean in the USA on August 9, 2000:

I will be bringing home my first foal in about three months. He is an arab/belgian cross and is currently 2 months old and he will be my companion/buddy/confidant for the rest of his life. I know that this forum is about the "foaling process", but could you point me in the right direction as far as good books and videos on how to raise a foal during the first two to three years? Since I plan on keeping him for the rest of his life, I ever so much want to raise him well and to create a wonderful bond between us, but I don't want to spoil him too much or train him too early. I need to do this right and will need some help. Any help and direction would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Dear Sean,

Congratulations on your new buddy, and I commend your efforts to educate yourself and do right by him. The best books I know of are the John Lyons series. I would expect that if you go to one of the major booksellers online, you won't have any problem finding his books.

Good luck, and enjoy your friend!

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Submitted by Fran in the USA on August 10, 2000:

I live in Oklahoma and have 3 foals to wean. I don't find the information in the almanac I am looking for. I want to know what date in August is the best time to wean foals? If it has passed, when will the next best date, according to the stars, be? Thank you.

Dear Fran,

I don't wean foals by the stars. I wean them by age or when they act like they are ready. So, I can't help you.

Sorry!

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Submitted by Debbie in the USA on August 11, 2000:

I had my daughter's 15 year-old quarter-horse mare bred last Sept. The foal was due August 2000. I had her palpated at 20 days, 60 days, 150 days. The vet assured that all was well. Then at about 180 days, the mare bagged up and begin to spew milk. My vet again palpated her and told me to give her regumate. After 2 weeks, she was still spewing milk. I took her to another vet to be ultra-sound. The foal was alive and kicking. All looked well. However, my mare delivered a dead foal July 4, 2000. The other uterine horn looked awfully swollen, so upon examination, I found a neucrotic foal, the size of a miniature dachschund. Both vets assured me that there was no way for them to find the twin foal, either through palpation, or ultrasound. I feel completely betrayed by both of them. My question is, should this situation have been avoided? (I am just very fortunate that I did not lose my mare, who had a very difficult delivery. I only lost my foal and about $2000 in vet bills and mare care. )

Dear Debbie,

It may not have been possible to discover the twins by palpation, but it most assuredly would have been possible to see them on ultrasound at both the 20 and 60 day checks. That's why it's so important to have ultrasounds done at those early checks.

I'm so very sorry that you lost the foal, but very glad that your mare is okay.

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Submitted by Gabrielle in the USA on August 14, 2000:

We have a foal that was born two days ago. We did a lot of research on foal imprinting and immediately began working with the foal to have her accept people. However, within six hours of her birth, she was vicious. She kicks, lunges, pins her ears flat back and tries to bite anyone who goes into the stall with her and her mother. We have two other foals, out of the same stallion, and both those babies are as sweet and gentle as we could have hoped for. I have never experienced anything like this foal, and don't know where to go from here. I will say that her first experiences with nursing were not pleasant, and the mother tried to kick and bite her foal at first. While she now accepts her foal, I don't know if this has anything to do with her behavior. She seems angry and frustrated all the time, even when there are no humans in the stall. She also spends a lot of time licking the walls of the stall. I need any help or advice that is available, as soon as possible, so that we can work on this problem immediately. I will say that we don't tolerate her biting and kicking, and firmly reprimand her when she attacks, however we try to give her good experiences also. We have restrained her on the ground gently, and she accepts our petting and touching when she is laying down, however, as soon as she is back up, she turns her back and tries to kick. Please help!! Thank you.

Dear Gabrielle,

Oh, boy! You got one of those that is born with a dislike of people. The good news is that consistent work with the filly will help. Just keep at it, don't give up. She may never be an affectionate animal, but will get better. Your description of her frustration makes me wonder if the mare is producing enough milk. Is the mare a maiden? If so, it could be that her milk hasn't come in very well yet. Try getting a few squirts of milk from the mare immediately after the filly nurses. If you can't easily express a few squirts, then it is likely that the mare's production is low. Usually this corrects itself within a few days but if it doesn't, the filly may need to be supplemented with a milk replacement formula.

Please let us know how it goes.

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Submitted by Stephanie in the USA on August 29, 2000:

We have a Miniature mare due to foal anytime, she has the classic hard, large, full udder and extended teats. However, one day her vulva will be swelled out to the point of her buttocks and the next day it will have "shrunk" again. This has happened about 4 times now. She is very loose in the vulva and tail area, but why does this shrinking and swelling scenario go on? What is this an indication of? Is this the foal "sliding" back and forth in the birth canal preparing for birth? This will be her 4th foal.

Dear Stephanie,

What you're seeing isn't uncommon at all. Yes, it can be pressure from the foal, but also, mares can voluntarily "suck up." That could be what's happening. I don't think it's anything to worry about, and it sounds like you shouldn't have much longer to wait.

Please let us know all about your new mini baby when it arrives!

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Submitted by Kathy in Canada on August 29, 2000:

I just wanted to thank you. I have a welsh/minature mare readying herself for foaling right now and I have been sleeping in the barn and staying with her everyday now for nearly a week. She starts to pace, paw, and gets restless, then settles back down. Her bag is full, hard and so huge its very warm. My vet said I could milk her to comfort her but she is not leaking and her milk changes from clear to white to clear again, so I'm leaving well enough alone. I was up all night watching her but by 10 AM settled down. I got this little horse because she was living in a standing stall so tiny she couldn't move and she was tied up. The halter had grown into her face in three places and her stall was so deep in feces she was coated in it. She was due to foal in less than one month, I had to buy her. Mercifully she did not foal in the end of April as he said, and when I went investigating I discovered she is four years old and this is her second baby, she had one last Spring. She ran with her father throughout the summer then spent some time near two paint studs. She is very healthy now and I discovered she has a white stocking. Anyway she is huge and I had her ultra sounded a month ago to make sure everything is okay. All the classic signs that the birth is imminent are there, so now we just go on waiting. All my bases seem loaded, but my vet is an hour away so I have been reassuring myself with your column. Thank you so very much for being here and keeping me and every other expectant owner sane. I have never had a foal because there are already so many horses in need of my stalls, but this one I had to help. I lost my 38 year old QH to a stroke this Spring so his stall was very empty. You don't need to post this as it really doesn't ask for advice because so far all my questions have been answered by reading your other letters. Just thanks.

Dear Kathy,

By all means, your message deserves to be posted. And all of us need to thank you for taking in this poor little mare. I'm so glad that she now has someone like you to take care of her!

One thing, though. Please don't milk the mare to relieve the pressure in her udder. If you do, you will be removing colostrum that her foal will need. You've done the right thing by leaving well enough alone.

I hope that soon you will have a healthy baby, with its healthy mother, sharing the very happy stall of your dear old friend.

Please let us know when she foals, and thank you for writing!

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Submitted by Jennifer in Arizona on September 10, 2000:

What do you do with a foal that does not have a strong sucking reflex? I don't want to go into the story in too much depth, it would take too long, but a four day old colt still does not suck very well and we are having to supplement him by milking his mother and force feeding him. Short of putting a tube down his throat, what can we do? Please email me with an answer if you will.

Dear Jennifer,

A foal without a good suck reflex has more than that going on.