Of mares and foaling.
One of the pleasures my earlier veterinary career joys was watching horses. Observing these magnificent creatures run is still a personal warm fuzzy moment. I used to do a lot of equine calls. The best time of the year was spring and summer. The reproductive tasks involved in getting mares pregnant takes a lot of time and effort. People become very obsessed when describing why this mare needed a specific stallion to breed with. They "book" with such anticipation. When horse people start a pedigree recital it causes them to go into a trance like state. The person reciting takes on a singing voice and rhythm that reminds one of reading Chapter 36 in the Book of Genesis. It is sort of a legacy litany.
Mares are booked as they sometimes have timing, distance and problems associated with newborn foal transport. Owners may elect to have a mare foal out at a stallion's farm. This is done for time and efficiency, if there are no foaling problems most mares will return to estrus in 10 - 14 days. This time interval allows a mare to get ready for next year and have a foal about the same time next year. They will be described as a "wet" mare having a nursing foal by her side. This is in reference to sloppy eating habits or saliva residue being left on the dairy bar. A "dry" mare is one without this years foal at her side. Some mares are given a year off from pregnancy either by choice or there was a problem with breeding late in the last season or some other tragic event.
There is such a focal point for worry when a mare is sent in to foal out. There are a myriad of potential outcomes. Horse people and veterinarians fervently pray for a happy ending. This is not always the case. Dystocia (trouble with a birthing delivery) in a mare is a virtual mental and physical nightmare. Sorry about the unintended pun. The physical force needed to expel a 120 pound foal is amazing. Most mares will start this process and finish within 15 - 20 minutes. Mare owners loose a lot of sleep trying to predict exactly when a mare will foal. There are video cameras placed in the maternity stall. There is a foaling buzzer placed on mares that has a "tilt" switch that gives an audible noise when the mare lies down in a foaling position. In spite of the technology a normal unattended foaling will still happen.
When a dystocia happens it is a true emergency. The amount of sweating produced is phenomenal. Travel time to a dystocia seems like forever. I mentioned the force of contractions. If a mare is up and down during contractions and your arm gets pinned between birth canal and foal there is a chance an arm could be broken. A veterinarian trying to asses a malposition problem via a gloved arm needs to be vigilant. Mares will kick with an uncanny accuracy or because of pain will decide to go down on the stall floor. I have had this happen more than once.
Sad birthing events include uterine artery rupture in older mares; they will bleed out internally within 10 minutes. Fetuses physically stuck because the diameter of the foal exceeds the diameter of the birth canal or it is a breech presentation. Limbs or neck become caught under the brim of the pelvis. These are very exhausting. Did I mention you barley have enough room to do this with one arm, there is no way you can get two in and function. This is working against an animal that out weighs you by a factor of 6 or so. Once a workable position is established you hopefully can get the foal out without resorting to a fetal extractor. This is a breech bar hooked with a cable comealong on the end away from the mare or cow. I have had the solid straight bar bend while trying to extract a fetus. If none of above works the options are thin. A caesarian section in a barn is not a viable option. Transporting a thrashing horse in a trailer is just not doable. You can not effectively turn off labor contractions in a mare. If the fetus has expired a fetotomy may be in order. If this is done it is a bad day for all involved. This may be the only option to save the mare.
Mares that pass a live foal still have the issue of passing the placenta. Retained membranes in a mare will cause founder or laminitis which is excruciatingly painful. Imagine a ballerina doing a lot of up on the toe work. Now smash both big toes for what ever reason. "Let's dance" should bring an appropriate volume of tears and empathy. Horses do not do well with laminitis.
Mares may have "after contractions" these will cause irritation and pushing so the uterus everts out the reproductive tract. The womb pops out with the inside on the outside of the body. This should be corrected pretty soon. Mares and other females go into shock very quickly when this happens. The urinary bladder will get entrapped and tissues swell up. I remember a very expensive Polish Arabian mare this happened to. This was back early in my practice. This mare had a monetary value exceeding everything we owned. It was pretty much a total fear factor for me. I was called out because she had delivered a live foal and had retained membranes. I was attempting removal when the entire uterus plopped out. Her pink mucous membranes went right to a white color. Replacing a prolapsed uterus in a mare is messy. Stuffing a ten pound object back in a five pound opening should help you visualize the process. The mare went through reduction and had several foals in subsequent years.
People think twins are fun. This does not apply in mares. Less than five percent of twin fetuses in mares will deliver live viable foals. When they do make it they are four times the work of one mare and foal. Once a mare has delivered a foal some of them reject it or worse may savage it or do a very good job of trying to end the mother offspring relationship. Some mares will need a day or two to get used to the foal. There is the issue of being able to find breakfast and the appropriate level of gentleness required for a meal. Swollen tender nipples for a first time mother take getting used to. I had one mare that needed stocks built in the stall so foal could nurse. She never did like the foal. It was a very long time until weaning for the owner, mare and foal.
If you have noticed, old veterinarians and cowboys wobble when they walk. It is from being worked over by some of the horses you are around. It is from normal wear and scare from the adrenalin rush working with horses in stress situations and the physical exertion needed.
For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.