Mares that have gone to "term" (had a normal pregnancy of 320+ days) usually foal rapidly and successfully, 95% of the time. In most cases, the best thing you can do is leave the mare alone and monitor from a distance.

For mares that appear to be in labor too soon (earlier than 320 days pregnancy), you should have your vet on the way immediately. The foal may be premature and need immediate veterinary care.

However, in the other 5%, proper and rapid intervention is critical. To reduce risk as much as possible, consider having your mare foal at a veterinary facility that provides attended foaling services. If you choose not to do this, familiarize yourself with the most common problems associated with foaling and how to manage them.

There is an expected sequence of normal events that should take place for a foaling mare, on a reasonably strict timeline. If these events do not occur or are taking too long, then there could be a problem. Diagnosing and managing a difficult birth in a rapid and effective manner can mean the difference between life and death.