older mare in trouble

Question
Dear Lisa, I am so scared. I saved an older mare from starving to death seven years ago. I have no ideal her real age but think she is around 25? She is a gentle loving soul but has cancer spots developing at different places. I rode her when I first got her but was letting her just live in a peaceful retirement. But my step-sons stallion bred her back in march of last year. He was only there for two weeks in a different paddock but he went into season and went to the barn lot and he jumped the six foot fence. Anyway...I am so worried because she keeps laying down and breathing hard, her milk is in and she is swollen on her private part. Yesterday 2-19-09 she laid for as long as on hour ( not flat, the whole time but she would lay down flat at times)but when she did get up on all fours she could barely move  her back legs. I have lost so much sleep checking on her as of 4:30 am this morning she was acting like yesterday never happened? I am battling cancer so I can't spend the entire time with her. I don't know anything about horses, I have tried to educate myself but I haven't found the answer as to what to do. I will call the vet if I need to but it has to be the last thing because my money is almost none existence. Is this normal, do you think she is ok. I have fed her grain and ceressus hay but she did have fescue so I am worried about her bag also being to thick for the colt to break out of. Please help if you can.

Losing my mind and lots of sleep

Mechelle

PS. I have four children, three at home ranging from 2-15 so it is really hard my daughter and I have taken turns watching her trying to be real quite and at a distance. But I just dont'know what to do?

Answer
, Hi Mechelle,
                      It is wonderful, that you are so concerned about your mare. The birth of a foal can be very exciting.  If your mare was bred in March, that means that she will be close to having her foal. Since she is getting heavier, her coordination will be worse. This is most likely why she had problems getting up. It is important that you know the signs that a mare is getting close to foaling.  Some of these signs are, that her udder will get larger about 2-4 week out. It may fill up during the night and shrink during the day as she gets more exercise.  About 1-2 weeks out her teats will begin to fill with milk. They will get bigger, the closer she gets. You will also notice that her pelvis and vulva will start to relax. About 12 hours prior to foaling they will become very relaxed and her vulva will turn a bright purple.  She will rub her back side on items to relieve the pressure. She will also get milk veins on her abdomen.   About 12-24 hours prior to her foaling the mare may get wax on her udder. She also may have milky fluid leak from her teats for a day or so before.

There are 3 stages of labor. In the first stage, she will be restless, her tail will swish, she will urinate alot. This can take a few hours. In stage two, the water breaks.  When it breaks, she should have the foal , no more then fifteen minutes after that. The front feet will come first, with the soles down, then the nose will appear.  If she has not delivered the foal after 20 minutes, then you need to call the Vet. If the sac does not beak when the foal is born, then you will need to break it yourself. You should then wipe out the foal's mouth and nose. When the foal stands up, then dip the stump in iodine. In stage three, she will expel the placenta. It can take a little as 10 minutes to 6 hours. Use a piece of twine to tie it up, so that the mare does not step on it. You will want the vet to examine it so that he/she can check it.

If any of the above does not happen then call the Vet.  Fescue can cause a mare not to have milk or to have a thickened placenta, so it is very important that you are there for the foaling. I have two children and know that it can be hard to run in and out. If there is any way that either you or your daughter could sleep in the barn at night as she gets closer, I would suggest it.

Most mares do fine when foaling and do not need human intervention. They have been doing fine with Mother Nature. It is still always a good idea to be there just in case. It sounds like she is in great hands with you.

Please let me know how it goes.

Lisa