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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if you should do anything if a horse is in labour?

24 replies

Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:10

Stupid question possibly? Out for a walk with DS (who is asleep in the sling) and have happened across some of the many horses around here. One very large mare appears to have what I can only imagine is an amniotic sac dangling between her legs and her tail is permanently up. I’m watching to see what happens out of interest really but should I be trying to find someone to tell them? Does this usually go on a long time? I’ve never experienced foaling!

OP posts:
halfwitpicker · 15/02/2019 15:12

Er, tell the farmer?

halfwitpicker · 15/02/2019 15:13

If you can find him..
.

mushlett · 15/02/2019 15:14

Yes definitely try to find someone, foaling is incredibly difficult

youknowmedontyou · 15/02/2019 15:15

Yeah tell the farmer, but also important you update us to let us know all
Is well :-)

Halloumimuffin · 15/02/2019 15:16

Wait, so can you see the foal emerging at all? It's odd that she is standing, but if the foal is on it's way out that usually happens pretty quickly. If it isn't then the sac might not have split properly and the foal won't be able to breathe.

Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:17

Difficult to see properly because it’s very dark in colour and she’s dropped her tail now - I thought it was usually white? But not sure what else it could be. It’s a really long slimy looking thing under her tail.

To ask if you should do anything if a horse is in labour?
OP posts:
Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:18

Maybe I’m being really stupid and this is a totally normal part of horse anatomy.

OP posts:
Intohellbutstayingstrong · 15/02/2019 15:18

Can become complicated very quickly. Locate owner if possible although not sure how you would find out. Failing that can you call vet practice with equine expertise to ask for advice. Quite unusual for a mare to foal in daytime

GetsIt · 15/02/2019 15:18

Try to locate the owner. If you can't then try to call the world horse welfare/British horse society who may have a chip reader (assuming the horse is chipped) and be able to locate the owner.

LilaJude · 15/02/2019 15:19

It’s odd that her owners haven’t brought her in if she was about to foal!

If you know / can find the owner then tell them, but if not I would call the RSPCA or SSPCA (depending on where you are). They will be able to advise.

TheTitOfTheIceberg · 15/02/2019 15:22

Problems in foaling mares can be very serious and it's common for either/both mare and foal to die if there are untreated issues. Is there any way for you to establish who the horse might belong to - is there a riding school/livery stable type place nearby you can alert? Even if it's not their horse, they may well know the owner(s) involved.

Unfortunately it's entirely possible that this is one of the hundreds of indiscriminately bred, often fly-grazed, poorly conformed cobs left to mate year in year out so you might not have any success, but it's good that you care enough to ask, OP.

Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:24

I’ve walked up to the nearest school and shouted but no response.

OP posts:
CaptainClover · 15/02/2019 15:25

Def looks to be in foal. It's a bit early for normal non-TB foals but not uncommon for (not-well-looked-after) mares to foal in the field (mud in this case).
Is she eating that hay? If so not likely to be actively foaling.
This mare needs vet regardless. If you can't locate owner I'd phone local equine vets.
Foaling itself is usually very rapid.

Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:26

I’ve found a man who is going to call someone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:27

I’m going to stay near. Apparently the owners are normally here at this time so all very odd.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:29

She is eating.

OP posts:
BusterTheBulldog · 15/02/2019 15:30

Didn’t know my mare was pregnant and she gave birth on own in field full of horses. Mare and foal both fine. Crazy really. Called vet after who came and took one look told me everything was fine and charged me £100!

Original poster
Thatsnotmyotter · 15/02/2019 15:35

Local farmers have been told. I need to get DS home. Sounds like they are on the case! I’ll have to go and investigate tomorrow :(

OP posts:
CaptainClover · 15/02/2019 15:35

You've def. done the right thing OP.

pelirocco123 · 15/02/2019 15:37

t’s odd that her owners haven’t brought her in if she was about to foal!

If you know / can find the owner then tell them, but if not I would call the RSPCA or SSPCA (depending on where you are). They will be able to advise.

To the person who posted that , foaling is best done in the open , confirmed to a stable a mare could easily trample her foal

Most mares will foal when you least expect it , in fact I have knowm quite a few owners who have been surprised to find their mare has foaled and they didnt even know they were in foal !

I have just seen Buster has posted the same thing

pelirocco123 · 15/02/2019 15:38

confined not confirmed !

pelirocco123 · 15/02/2019 15:39

Ive looked at the pic , to me it looks like she may have already foaled ?

Frouby · 15/02/2019 15:43

I thought that too peliroco. Hope there isn't another mare thats pinched it or that its laid somewhere struggling on its own. Have known of mares foaling then abandoning the foal. Hope it's found safe and well and that mare gets some attention.

homemadegin · 15/02/2019 15:43

@pelirocco123 I was thinking the same. Looks like she has already had the foal.

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