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How to tell if your mare is ready to foal

Although each mare is different, normally a few weeks before foaling, the mare bags up (her milk bag becomes large and swollen), from a few weeks before foaling. Others do not bag up until a couple of days before, some not noticably at all. A few days before, a wax-like substance forms on her teats. Some mares will have milk dripping from their teats, others a thin stream, hours or even several days before foaling. Other physical changes include the muscles of the rump loosening and relaxing away from the croup. The opening to the birth canal will also distend, usually to at least twice its usual length. Other things to watch for include tail-switching, tail-rubbing, and/or frequent touching of the muzzle to the ribs, similar to colic, about a day before. After showing some or most of these signs, most mares foal within a short time, usually one or two days. Some mares show few or even none of these signals, however, so you will need to monitor closely. Rent or borrow a foaling monitor or a foaling alarm, they are excellent.

There are a number of good books on foaling - check these out:
Karen E.N. Hayes, Complete Book of Foaling (available at US bookstores)

Ron & Val Males, Foaling: Broodmare and Foal Management
(Australian - the address to write and request a copy is:
Ralvon Arab Stud
Upper Colo Road
Colo via Windsor 2756 NSW )

(Thanks to Denise Woolcock)