Foaling Around - New year, new life, new foals

Foaling season is arriving soon!

A new year means new beginnings and for us here at TicTic Equestrian, we know that can mean much more than a change in career or kicking your smoking habit. For many horse owners/breeders, this is a particularly special time of the year as we approach a new spring, and in turn, a new Foaling Season.

Commonly, foaling season takes place in the spring months, from around February to April, although this can obviously change a month or so either way, but generally horses are bred early in the year to sync with show seasons.

Typically, a mare will undergo an 11-month gestation period before giving birth. The miracle of birth is something incredibly special to behold, whether you've got two legs or four, and there's nothing quite like the magic of watching a beautiful new foal take its first careful steps into a new life. 

Horses are typically prey animals so their births are designed to allow new offspring to be capable of running alongside their parents in the event of a predatory threat. This is why healthy newborn foals will be able to run around on their own accord, merely a few hours after birth. 

There is a rough timetable of common events that take place after a foal is born, which give you a good idea of what to expect, as well as what to look out for in case any problems occur.

Here's how soon after birth certain vital milestones are typically reached:

• 30 seconds to three minutes: lifts and shakes head

• One to 10 minutes: foal shifts up to its chest in sternal recumbency

• Two to 10 minutes: suckles reflexively on a finger placed in front of its mouth

• 10 to 40 minutes: moves ears and head to follow sound

• 15 minutes to three hours: stands

After the foal stands, it's important to note how soon after a second set of milestones is reached. Typically they run as follows:

• 15 minutes to three hours: walks well

• 30 minutes to 1.5 hours: nurses

• 30 minutes to 1.5 hours: passes meconium, the waste matter accumulated in the foetal digestive tract

• One to 15 hours: urinates

• Two to four hours: stretches, trots, gallops

For more information be sure to keep in regular contact with your local vet. For more information on horse care products to help you properly look after your wonderful new addition to the family, go to the official TicTac Equestrian site.