How long does a pregnant horse walk: the gestation period and how the birth goes

Reproducing livestock, getting he althy offspring are one of the main tasks of horse breeding farms. Pregnancy and childbirth in mares, caring for young animals require increased attention from the owners. It is necessary to provide enhanced nutrition, comfort and care before and after childbirth. Consider how many months a pregnant horse walks, how to determine the pregnancy and help the mare give birth to a he althy foal.

Mare hunting

At the age of one and a half years, mares become sexually mature and ready to conceive. But the first mating is usually allowed only at 3-4 years, when the body is fully formed and ready for bearing.

Hunting in mares - the time, the state of the body and the behavior in which animals actively want to mate, let horses approach them. This period lasts from 2 to 14 days, most often a week, occurs, on average, every 20-21 days. You can determine the hunting time by a number of signs:

• frequent neighing;
• small urine output;
• often lifts tail, sets hind limbs wide;
• slight swelling of the genitals and whitish discharge;
• loss of appetite.

When approaching and mounting a stallion, horses do not fight back, they are ready to mate. At stud farms, specialists should monitor the appearance of hunting in mares, in the absence of it, contact a veterinarian. The specialist will determine the estrous cycle and the time suitable for mating.

Reference: March-April is considered the best time for mating, but no later than mid-July. This will create favorable conditions for the young.

Determination of horse pregnancy

Pregnancy can be determined by eye only after 6 months. Such terms are not convenient for horse breeders. 2 weeks after conception, pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound diagnostics and laboratory methods, which cannot be called cheap.

Pregnancy can be detected by external signs - the behavior of the mare:

• decrease in activity and playfulness - the mare sleeps more;
• appetite growth;
• keeps away from others when kept in herds.

At home, the owners determine conception by the lack of desire to mate, which occurs regularly in non-foal horses. In the later stages, pregnancy can be recognized by the lying position, which becomes a mare's favorite, and an increase in the udder. Veterinarians determine the pregnancy by rectal and vaginal examinations, with palpation of the peritoneum, a seal is felt in the left side.

How long does it take to bear a baby?

The average gestation period is 11 months (340 days). This time is enough for the full development of the fetus. In reality, the dates can be shifted and depend on a number of factors:

• horse he alth status;
• features of the course of pregnancy;
• multiple pregnancy;
• primiparous mare wears longer - up to 12 months;
• pregnancy with a male foal lasts an average of 2 weeks longer.

Mares can gestate for 310-370 days, this is within the physiological norm.

Number of foals

In most cases, one foal is born. The birth of twins is a rare and unsafe case. In childbirth, one of the babies most often dies. In the absence of proper assistance with foaling and effective nursing, you can lose both.Surviving foals lag behind their peers in development.

How to care for a pregnant mare

Timely detected pregnancy makes it possible to adjust the diet, exercise and care of the horse, which will help the fetus develop and prepare the animal for childbirth. Essential care items:

1. Feeding. The first months the fetus grows slowly, the diet is increased by 40% by the end of the term (the last 3 months). Portions are reduced, fed fractionally (5-6 times) to reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract. Only high-quality feed is used - without signs of rot, staleness. Exclude products that cause fermentation. Includes vitamin supplements, fresh apples, carrots.
2. Water - only warm, from the cold the horse can have miscarriages, colds.
3. Work. The loads are gradually reduced, although the mare can perform light work almost until the birth (they are released 3 weeks before the expected date).
4. Walking. Mares need daily walking to prevent swelling of the limbs and abdomen. At the end of pregnancy, the horse wants to lie down, which leads to fluid retention and difficult delivery. You need to walk the mare regularly, except for bad weather. Ice is especially dangerous.
5. Content. The stall needs to be ventilated, provide ventilation, warmth and comfort. The bedding is changed regularly. When grazing, they take them to the stable for the night.
6. Care. Rough handling, heavy work is excluded. Shouting, disturbing the horse, using a whip is prohibited.

In the second or third month, the mare may have estrus. The animal must be monitored, contact with the stallion should be avoided, which can provoke a miscarriage.

What you need to prepare before childbirth

A special stall where the mare will foal is prepared in advance. It is better to choose a quiet place, away from other horses. The room is cleaned, items that can hurt you are taken out. Disinfection of walls and floors. Pour clean straw. If other horses are in the neighborhood, the lattice partitions are hung.

In most cases, with a normal birth process, the mare will cope on her own, there will be no need to help. The vanity and care of a person will only hinder her.

Signs of approaching foaling

The fact that childbirth will begin soon can be understood by a number of signs:

1. Behavior change. Anxiety, fussiness - a pregnant horse gets up, lies down again, looks at the tail.
2. Genital organs. Swelling of the labia, more liquid discharge. Lubricant thinning occurs 1-2 days before foaling.
3. Udder swelling, sometimes colostrum.
4. Some mares sweat excessively.

The pelvis of the mare turns into a "generic", the ligaments weaken, their structure becomes loose and more pliable. Changes will start 12-36 hours before foaling.

The birth process

During childbirth, it is better not to interfere with the mare - the process consists of attempts, during which the fetus moves along the birth canal. The horse sweats with effort, often rolls over.Mares give birth in a prone position, less often standing. In the normal course of the foal, the forelimbs and the head of the foal adjacent to them are the first to appear. If this happens, the further process will proceed normally. Veterinary assistance may be required if there are two fetuses or if the baby's hind legs first appeared.

The amniotic sac often breaks on its own, if necessary, it is cut. After giving birth, the horse usually stands up, the umbilical cord breaks naturally. If no rupture occurs, the tourniquet is cut with sterile scissors. The foal's umbilical cord is treated with iodine.

Childbirth usually lasts 30-40 minutes, at the birth of twins, the second appears with an interval of 20 minutes. Foals are weakened, often aggressive, they are separated, they provide the necessary assistance. A mare sometimes recognizes and feeds only one pup.

Reference: the weight of a foal is 30-40 kilograms - this is 10-15% of the mother's weight. Big horses (heavy horses) have bigger babies.

Postpartum care

Immediately after birth, the horse carefully licks its cub, remembers its smell. Licking acts as a firming massage and serves to boost the foal's immunity.

Follow Mom

The bedding soiled in childbirth must be removed from the stall, replaced with fresh straw. Within an hour, the afterbirth comes out, you need to make sure that it has departed completely by expanding and checking for integrity. Otherwise, the remains of the placenta in the uterus will lead to the development of inflammation. The horse often eats the afterbirth, it should not be interfered with - it contains many valuable substances. When the mare dries out from sweat (it is important to ensure that there are no drafts), she is given warm water and good quality hay.

If the birth went without pathologies, the horse does not need special care. The litter is changed every day, as bleeding continues for 7-8 days. Monitor the condition of the udder.

After 2-3 weeks, the body of the mare is restored, she again appears sexual hunting. When to conduct the next mating, the owner decides. It is believed that you need to give the horse a rest for 1-3 months before a new pregnancy.

For a foal

Mommy sniffs, licks the cub, barely taking a breath. If the mother is too tired, the foal should be wiped down. Veterinarians usually check the breath. In the first hour, the foal is already on its feet, you should monitor the condition of the limbs. The baby quickly begins to look for the udder (after 1-2 hours). If the foal does not try to suckle, the horse's milk is expressed and watered from a bottle. Meconium comes out in the first 2-3 hours. If there is no stool, the baby is given castor oil. For 5-6 months, the foal should be with the mother in order to eat on time and fully develop. The baby in the first months sucks the udder up to 40 times a day.

Possible problems

Complications can occur during childbirth and after foaling:

• fetus walks hind legs - urgent veterinary assistance required;
• labor activity is weak, the fetus does not move every 10 minutes;
• does not come off afterbirth - manual extraction may be required;
• the foal is not breathing, the heart is not beating - the baby will need resuscitation, heart massage;
• ruptures, red bubble - foal needs resuscitation;
• infection can be suggested by the yellow or green color of the bladder, the unnatural color of the baby - the mother and foal will need treatment;
• meconium won't pass - need help clearing bowels;
• baby can't stand up - congenital limb pathology.

The mare should not be disturbed in childbirth, sometimes grooms and other staff are overly interested in the process, distract and frighten the woman in labor. The veterinarian should help only if there are problems - slowing down labor, improper delivery of the fetus.

In most cases, horses do an excellent job of foaling on their own, they bring the baby themselves.During pregnancy, you need to feed the mare well, do not put on hard work, control stress or training. Then the horse will be he althy and strong for childbirth, instincts will tell her the right actions, she will give birth to a he althy foal.

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