Foal Delivery

The Body of the Horse

This section is all about what happens in and on the horse from nose to tail. It is divided into systems.

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Tip

These photos have captions to express any thoughts I have on the picture. The idea here is for YOU to get ideas, so grab a cup of coffee, darken the room, grab a pen and paper to write notes, and sit back and enjoy. I have more shots and I’ll add them later as I have time.

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[memb_is_logged_in] Discussion:
This is a consolidation of several videos courtesy of the owner’s iPhone. There are plenty of photos below it. I spent 5 years at a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm before returning to Cornell undergraduate and then vet school. I absolutely love foaling out mares and encourage anyone with questions to ask me.

: The birth of a donkey as captured by the owner.

: The mare lays on her side and looks at her abdomen. This is similar to colic because discomfort for whatever cause shows the same way.

: The mare is standing again shifting the foal into the birth canal. Her swishing tail is a sign of discomfort.

: Now the mare is on her right side and the perineum under the tail is distended by the foal pressing outward.

: The mare is straining. Note the tail, the distended perineum and the enlarged teats.

: More of the same.

: This is the normal pale blue sack that is within the red sack already torn by the delivery causing the fluid to be released (water breaking).

: Also note the white hoof seen through this pale blue sack.

: It is normal for the mare to stand and re-position the foal at this stage of delivery. However, when in a stall, the mare often lays in a way to place the delivery up against a wall.

: Now on her right side, the delivery continues.

: The hooves are clearly seen here. The bottom of the hooves are facing down indicating that these are the front hooves. This is normal and desired. If they were facing up, then they would be the hind legs and you should be calling your vet. While the dlivery can continue, the umbilical cord may be compressed too long and this may cause a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the foal.

: 2 hooves facing down and the nose of the foal is a normal presentation. However a perfect presentation would have the nose between the legs with the legs more equal in distance out of the mare. An elbow lock delivery should be considered at this point but action now is not necessary.

: More of the same. Note how large the vulva opening is becoming in the next few pictures.

: The mare is now on her left side. Notice how the limbs are more even and the nose is coming around towards the more correct position of being between the two legs.

: The mare continues to push. Note the distended vulva which in some mares can tear.

: The birth is advancing and the contractions are forcing the left fore limb to push further out to the knee. Delivery is eminent.

: A few seconds later, this explosive birth is normal. Note the mare remains down. The foal’s hind legs remain in the mare. The thin inner sack has torn on its own allowing the foal to breath. NO HUMAN INTERFERENCE IS NEEDED AT THIS POINT.

: It is OK to have a small spot of blood now. The outer red sack is starting to be pulled away from the uterus which is OK now that the foal is breathing.

: Here and in the last 2 pictures shows the foal naturally curved towards the mare’s head. She will bend back towards the foal and nicker. As the foal struggles to stand, the 2 heads will eventually touch and the mare will lick the foal and even suck the ears.

: The struggle is normal and should not be interfered with. The hind limbs are out. There is tension on the umbilical cord which helps to tear it off the foal along with the rest of the outer pale blue sack.

: The foal has now moved free of the mare and the sack and umbilical cord are free of the foal.

: The mare will always show interest in the foal by nuzzling, licking and nipping. This is the mare’s way of encouraging the foal to stand and is essential behavior.

: And in no time, the foal attempts to stand – like a calf!

: The mare gives more encouragement.

: And in less than an hour from birth, the foal successfully stands.

: The donkey foal and her owner a few hours later.

: The ears are almost as big as the mare’s ears.

: The opposite hind limb of the mare is relaxed which helps to present the teats to the foal. The foal’s head position is perfect. The mare at this point may turn her head to help position the foal by nipping just above the hocks of the foal.

: The end to a perfect delivery. Standing and nursing well within 12 hours from when the nose first popped out of the mare.

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Discussion:
There are a lot of videos here courtesy of the owner’s iPhone. Photos below that. I spent 5 years at a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm before returning to Cornell undergraduate and then vet school. I absolutely love foaling out mares and encourage anyone with questions to ask me.

8 videos of a donkey giving birth with my narration to walk you through the process. Also lots of pictures.
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