Check on the Mare ... Or Not?

Some mares are comfortable with the presence of a human while she is in labor, but other mares are not.

If a mare feels somehow threatened while in Stage 1, she can potentially delay the process or even stop the labor. Interrupting a mare in Stage 1 for stall mucking, tail wrapping, etc., may result in waiting hours longer before she starts labor again and produces her foal.

However, if the mare appears to be having problems positioning her foal, an exam (reaching inside the mare) to determine what assistance she might need is invaluable, and early rearrangement of the foal or activating the vet for a more dire situation can prevent otherwise tragic results. Monitoring with stall cameras and being familiar with the mare’s normal behavior helps to determine if intervention or an exam may be needed.