Mare Foaling Checklist: How To Prepare Before Your Foal Is Born

By Dr Duncan Houston

Foaling is one of those moments that can be beautiful, nerve-racking, and brutally time-sensitive all at once. Most mares foal normally, and in many cases the best thing you can do is prepare well, watch quietly, and avoid unnecessary interference. The problem is that when foaling does go wrong, it can become urgent within minutes. The AAEP notes that most mares foal without difficulty and are usually best left undisturbed, but good preparation is what makes a safe delivery more likely. (AAEP)

This checklist will help you prepare the mare, the foaling area, the monitoring plan, the emergency plan, and the first checks after the foal is born.

Quick Answer

Start preparing your mare for foaling 4 to 6 weeks before the expected due date. Key steps include moving her to the foaling location, updating pre-foaling vaccines with your vet, checking whether a Caslick’s procedure needs to be opened, cleaning the foaling area, preparing a foaling kit, setting up quiet monitoring, and arranging a neonatal foal exam after birth. Broodmare vaccination 4 to 6 weeks before foaling helps maximise antibodies in colostrum, but the foal still needs to drink and absorb that colostrum after birth. (AAEP)

Why Foaling Preparation Matters

Foaling is not like waiting for a slow labour in many other species. Once active delivery begins, things should move quickly. Stage 2 labour, the actual delivery of the foal after the mare’s water breaks, is usually measured in minutes, not hours. Colorado State University notes that the foal is usually delivered within 15 to 30 minutes after the mare breaks her water, and significant delay can compromise oxygen delivery to the foal. (Vet Med & Biosciences College)

The real goal of preparation is not to interfere with a normal birth. It is to know when everything is on track, when to watch closely, and when to act immediately.

When Should You Start Preparing?

The main preparation window is 4 to 6 weeks before the expected foaling date.

At this point, you should:

• Move the mare to the foaling location if she is changing properties

• Confirm the expected due date with your vet

• Review vaccination timing

• Check whether she has a Caslick’s procedure

• Prepare the stall or paddock

• Set up cameras or foaling alarms

• Build the foaling kit

• Confirm emergency transport options

• Book the new foal veterinary exam

The University of Minnesota recommends having the mare at the foaling site 4 to 6 weeks before her due date so she can settle and develop exposure to local organisms. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Pre-Foaling Veterinary Checklist

Vaccinate the Mare

Broodmares are commonly vaccinated in late pregnancy to protect the mare and to increase antibody levels in colostrum. The AAEP recommends vaccinating broodmares 4 to 6 weeks before foaling to help maximise immunoglobulin concentrations in the colostrum passed to the foal. (AAEP)

Your vet should tailor the vaccine plan to your region, risk level, and previous vaccine history. Depending on location and risk, this may include vaccines such as tetanus, EHV-1, influenza, rabies, West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, rotavirus, strangles, or Potomac horse fever. The exact plan should be veterinary-directed because not every mare needs the same vaccine schedule. (University of Minnesota Extension)

A key point owners often miss: vaccinating the mare is not enough by itself. The foal must still receive enough good-quality colostrum and absorb those antibodies before gut absorption closes. (AAEP)

Check for a Caslick’s Procedure

If the mare has had a Caslick’s procedure, it needs to be opened before foaling. A Caslick’s left closed can cause serious tearing or obstruct delivery. Merck Veterinary Manual specifically notes that mares should be checked for a Caslick’s operation and opened if present. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

This is one of those small pre-foaling details that can become a very big problem if forgotten.

Review Deworming, Nutrition, and Risk Factors

Your vet should also review the mare’s body condition, diet, deworming plan, udder development, previous foaling history, and any high-risk factors such as placentitis, premature udder development, colostrum leakage, twins, previous dystocia, or systemic illness.

A mare leaking milk before foaling is not just “getting ready.” She may be losing valuable colostrum before the foal arrives, which increases the risk of failure of passive transfer.

Choosing the Best Foaling Environment

A clean, quiet, dry foaling area is the aim. Some mares can foal well in a clean paddock, especially if the weather is suitable and the ground is safe. Others are better managed in a large, well-bedded foaling stall where they can be monitored easily.

A foaling stall should be large enough for the mare to lie down and safely deliver the foal. Merck Veterinary Manual recommends a foaling stall of at least 14 by 14 feet, with a larger double stall being even more satisfactory. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

Stall Preparation

If using a stall:

• Strip it completely

• Remove manure, urine, dust, wet bedding, and organic matter

• Scrub walls, floors, mats, buckets, and rails

• Disinfect only after the area is physically clean

• Allow it to dry properly

• Re-bed deeply with clean straw

Clean straw is generally preferred over shavings for newborn foals because shavings can stick to the wet foal and may be inhaled or ingested. Merck and Cornell both describe straw as preferable bedding for foaling stalls. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

Paddock Preparation

If foaling outside:

• Use a clean, dry, safe paddock

• Avoid muddy or heavily contaminated areas

• Check fencing carefully

• Remove hazards, sharp objects, loose wire, and unstable ground

• Make sure the mare can be observed without being disturbed

• Have a plan to bring the mare and foal in if weather changes

The right environment is not just about cleanliness. It is also about access. You need to be able to reach the mare quickly if there is a red bag delivery, abnormal presentation, severe bleeding, or a weak foal.

Set Up Quiet Monitoring

Most mares prefer privacy. Too much disturbance can delay foaling or make a mare anxious, especially a maiden mare. Oklahoma State University notes that most mares foal at night and prefer a quiet, dark place without disruptions. (extension.okstate.edu)

Useful monitoring options include:

• Foaling camera

• Foaling alarm

• Milk calcium testing where appropriate

• Regular udder and behaviour checks

• Written timing notes once labour starts

A camera is often better than constantly walking into the stall. The trick is to monitor closely without becoming the annoying person at the maternity ward peeking through the curtain every thirty seconds.

What Should Be in a Foaling Kit?

Your foaling kit should be packed before the mare is due. Do not leave this until the night she starts waxing up.

Useful items include:

• Your vet’s emergency number

• Backup emergency clinic number

• Phone charger or power bank

• Clean towels

• Disposable gloves

• Bucket

• Mild soap

• Warm water access

• Tail wrap

• Clock or watch

• Notepad to record times

• Head torch or safe lighting

• Navel disinfectant recommended by your vet

• Small clean cup for navel dipping

• Large bag or bucket to save the placenta

• Blunt-ended scissors

• Clean gauze or cloth

• Foal-safe enema only if your vet has advised it

• Thermometer

• Emergency transport plan

• Trailer access

The University of Minnesota recommends having items such as vet contact details, a clock, clean towels, disinfectant for the navel, gloves, warm water, soap, and a bag for the placenta available during foaling. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Normal Foaling Timeline

Knowing the normal timeline helps you avoid two common mistakes: interfering too early, or waiting too long when the foal is in trouble.

Merck Veterinary Manual describes Stage 1 as lasting 1 to 4 hours, Stage 2 as the actual delivery, and Stage 3 as passage of the fetal membranes, which should occur within 3 hours. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

What Should Normal Delivery Look Like?

In a normal delivery, you should see a thin white or translucent membrane, then two front feet, usually with one slightly ahead of the other, followed by the nose and head.

The soles of the foal’s hooves should point downward, toward the mare’s feet. This is the classic “diving position.”

A normal delivery should keep progressing. The foal may slide slightly back between contractions, but overall there should be steady movement.

Severity and Risk Framework

Low Risk: Everything Looks On Track

This is when the mare is calm or mildly restless, the white amnion appears, both front feet and the nose are visible, and delivery progresses quickly.

Action: watch quietly, record timing, and avoid unnecessary interference.

Moderate Risk: Needs Close Monitoring

This includes a maiden mare that is anxious, a mare that keeps getting up and down without clear progress, mild post-foaling discomfort, or a foal that is slow but still making progress toward standing and nursing.

Action: call your vet for advice early. Do not wait until it becomes dramatic.

High Risk: Vet Needed Urgently

This includes prolonged Stage 1 signs without progression, delayed delivery after the water breaks, one leg only, no head visible, hind feet first, a mare in significant pain, or a foal that is weak and not nursing.

Action: contact your vet immediately.

Critical Emergency: Act Immediately

This includes a red bag delivery, severe bleeding, a stuck foal, no progress in active labour, a foal not breathing, or the placenta retained beyond 3 hours.

Action: this is an emergency. Call your vet immediately and follow emergency instructions.

When Is Foaling an Emergency?

Foaling should be treated as an emergency if:

• You see a red, velvety membrane instead of a white translucent membrane

• The mare’s water breaks and there is no clear progress within 15 to 20 minutes

• The foal is not delivered promptly once active labour begins

• Only one leg appears

• The head does not appear

• The soles of the hooves point upward

• The mare is straining hard with no progress

• The mare shows severe pain, collapse, or heavy bleeding

• The foal is not breathing after birth

• The placenta has not passed within 3 hours

• The foal cannot stand or nurse

• The mare rejects, attacks, or will not allow the foal to nurse

A red bag delivery is one of the most urgent foaling emergencies. Colorado State University explains that in a red bag delivery, the outer placental membrane separates early, oxygen delivery to the foal drops rapidly, and the membrane must be opened immediately while veterinary help is summoned. (Vet Med & Biosciences College)

Merck Animal Health also states that if a red, velvety membrane appears instead of the normal white amnion, the foal is no longer receiving oxygen from the placenta and immediate action is required. (Merck Animal Health USA)

What To Do Immediately After the Foal Is Born

Once the foal is delivered:

1. Make sure the foal’s nose and airway are clear.

2. Remove the birth membrane from the head if it is still covering the foal.

3. Allow the mare and foal a quiet moment if both are stable.

4. Do not rush to cut the umbilical cord.

5. Dip the navel with the disinfectant your vet recommends.

6. Check the mare for excessive bleeding, severe pain, or distress.

7. Save the placenta for veterinary examination.

8. Monitor whether the foal becomes sternal, stands, and nurses.

9. Arrange the neonatal veterinary exam.

Merck Veterinary Manual notes that in most foalings, the newborn foal is sternal within 1 hour, stands within 2 hours, and nurses within 3 hours. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

The foal should receive colostrum early. Healthy foals begin suckling colostrum within 1 to 2 hours, and weak or sick foals that do not stand or nurse successfully within 2 to 4 hours should receive veterinary attention and early colostrum support. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

The New Foal Exam and IgG Test

A newborn foal should be examined by a veterinarian within the first 24 hours. This exam is not just a quick “looks cute, good luck” check. It is where your vet checks whether the foal has nursed, whether the joints and limbs look normal, whether the umbilicus is healthy, whether there are signs of prematurity or sepsis, and whether the mare has passed the placenta properly.

A blood test for IgG helps confirm whether the foal absorbed enough antibodies from colostrum. Merck Veterinary Manual explains that passive transfer is generally assessed at 18 to 48 hours, but high-risk foals may be tested as early as 6 to 12 hours after birth. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

The University of Illinois also recommends a veterinary exam and antibody test around 12 hours after birth, especially to detect failure of passive transfer early. (Veterinary Medicine at Illinois)

This matters because oral colostrum is most useful early. After about 18 to 24 hours, the foal’s gut has much less ability to absorb antibodies, and foals with inadequate IgG may need plasma instead. (Merck Veterinary Manual)

What Can Look Normal But Actually Be a Problem?

Labour Signs vs Colic

Early labour can look like mild colic. The mare may look at her flank, sweat, paw, lie down, get up, or pass manure. The difference is progression. Labour should move toward water breaking and active delivery. Colic does not.

If the mare seems painful, the signs are prolonged, or nothing progresses, call your vet.

White Bag vs Red Bag

A white or translucent membrane is expected.

A red, velvety membrane is not. That is a red bag delivery and should be treated as an immediate emergency.

Normal Post-Foaling Discomfort vs Serious Pain

Some mares have mild cramping as the uterus contracts and the placenta passes. Severe pain, repeated rolling, sweating, collapse, or ongoing distress is not normal and needs veterinary attention.

Sleepy Foal vs Weak Foal

Newborn foals do rest, but they should still become alert, attempt to rise, stand, and nurse within the expected window. A foal that is floppy, cold, dull, not suckling, wandering aimlessly, seizure-like, unable to stand, or rejected by the mare needs urgent veterinary care.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Waiting Too Long After the Water Breaks

Once the water breaks, the clock matters. A delay of even minutes can matter if the foal is malpositioned or oxygen supply is compromised.

Not Having Scissors Ready for a Red Bag

A red bag delivery is not the time to search through the tack room while everyone panics. Keep blunt-ended scissors in the foaling kit and know what a red bag looks like before foaling season starts.

Forgetting About the Caslick’s

A closed Caslick’s can turn a normal delivery into a traumatic one. Check well before the due date.

Using Shavings in the Foaling Stall

Shavings can stick to a wet newborn foal and may be inhaled or ingested. Clean straw is usually the safer choice.

Throwing Away the Placenta

The placenta should be saved for your vet to inspect. A retained piece, abnormal thickness, unusual weight, or signs of placentitis can change how closely the foal needs to be monitored.

Assuming Nursing Means Passive Transfer Is Fine

A foal can appear to nurse and still have inadequate antibody absorption. That is why the IgG test matters.

Prevention and Planning Checklist

Before foaling season:

• Confirm the mare’s expected due date

• Have your vet review her vaccine history

• Move her to the foaling location 4 to 6 weeks early if possible

• Check for Caslick’s and book opening if needed

• Prepare a clean paddock or disinfected foaling stall

• Use clean straw bedding in stalls

• Set up quiet monitoring

• Save emergency vet numbers in your phone

• Have a backup emergency clinic plan

• Make sure the trailer is usable

• Prepare the foaling kit

• Know what normal presentation looks like

• Know what red bag looks like

• Arrange the neonatal exam and IgG test

• Monitor the mare after birth for placenta passage, appetite, manure, comfort, and mothering behaviour

For high-risk mares, maiden mares with concerns, owners new to foaling, or situations where monitoring cannot be done properly, foaling at a hospital or specialist breeding facility may be safer. Cornell advises that owners who are new to foaling, unable to monitor around the clock, or managing high-risk pregnancies should be cautious about foaling at home. (Cornell Vet College)

FAQ

How long is a mare pregnant for?

A normal mare pregnancy is often around 335 to 342 days, but there can be a wide normal range. Cornell notes that horse gestation typically lasts around 342 days, with foals born before day 320 considered premature and foals beyond 360 days potentially needing closer attention. (Cornell Vet College)

Should a mare foal in a paddock or stall?

Both can work. A clean, dry paddock can be excellent in good conditions, while a large, disinfected, straw-bedded stall allows closer monitoring. The safest option depends on the mare, weather, property setup, hygiene, and your ability to observe without disturbing her.

When should I call the vet during foaling?

Call immediately if there is a red bag, abnormal presentation, no progress after the water breaks, severe pain, heavy bleeding, a foal that is not breathing, a placenta retained beyond 3 hours, or a foal that is not standing or nursing properly.

What is the most important check after the foal is born?

The most important early checks are breathing, standing, nursing, navel health, placenta passage, and IgG status. A foal that does not get enough colostrum early can develop failure of passive transfer, which increases the risk of serious infection.

Do all foals need an IgG test?

In most breeding situations, yes, it is strongly recommended. The foal may look normal but still have poor antibody absorption. Testing allows your vet to intervene early, while treatment is still more effective.

Final Thoughts

Foaling preparation is really about calm readiness. Most mares do not need dramatic intervention, but they do need a clean space, a sensible plan, quiet monitoring, and an owner who knows when the clock matters.

The biggest decision points are simple: prepare 4 to 6 weeks ahead, know what normal delivery looks like, recognise red bag immediately, do not ignore delays after the water breaks, save the placenta, and make sure the foal gets an early vet exam and IgG test.

A smooth foaling starts long before the mare lies down.

If you are preparing for a mare to foal and want help deciding what is normal, what needs tracking, or when to involve your vet, ASK A VET™ can support you with calm, practical guidance before and after birth.