Inside/Outside???

[ClevengerPaints]

Okay this is my first year were we live. Our horses are turned out 24-7 there are no stalls, this place is an old cattle ranch on 400 acres. We use about 40 acres for the horses. We plan in the future to put up some moveable stalls but not sure when that will be. I have a mare in foal she is due in 54 days (May 3rd). She has foaled the last two times in a stall with previous owners. First foal no problems, second needed assistant foal was soo huge.

My Question is if I make a huge fenced area just for her were there is no mud and there is the big tree for shelter if she will be fine for foaling? Its right by the house and I can sneack out and keep an eye on her at night. She usually goes around 8-11 at night though. But mares can be tricky. If need be I can sweat talk hubby and get some cheap lumber and make a temp stall area for her. Ive heard of horses foaling outside and my only other mare that has ever foaled with me was in 2002 I was in highschool still and she ended up foaling outside on accident we baught her and didnt know the actual breeding dates.

[bndranch]

Mare's foal outside all the time. Most poeple just have some sort of shelter for their mare's and babies and I would recommend at least a lean to for them. I have LOTS of trees but I will still bring mama's and babies in if its raining or such.
There is nothing wrong with them foaling outside as long as its dry and they have a way to get out of the elements!
Good luck with your mare,
Brittany

[horsewoman1965]

you definitely want to make sure the area won't become muddy if it gets wet. The baby will have a VERY hard time standing for the first time, as if it wasn't hard enough.

[wendi (calif)]

My mares all foal Outside with no problem.I do put a Lot of straw in with them where they really get to feeling comfortable and NOT 1 has foaled off the Straw this way foal will be born in fairly clean area.
as Brittany said a shelter is must I'm not sure where you live but here in So Cal it gets Mighty hot..even in march I have put up water misters To let mama and baby cool off in and It has help a ton(Very Cheap to buy easy to make;)
Your mare you said is used to being in a Stall,The straw in the Middle of a paddock will give her that stall type feeling. I'd also get her used to staying in that area at least a month before her due day..
Foaling outside is great But get a cover up even with 3 sides. and you can bed that some as well...BUT Bulk of your straw put in the middle that way away from the fences;) and baby will probably pick that area to nap in
Good luck with your mare ;D

[ClevengerPaints]

She did foal in a stall the last two times but she is normally use to being turned out 24-7. The area I plan on fencing is at least one acre most likley more. It has no mud, very good dry hard ground. Has a big tree that is the shade tree for summer. I blanket my horses in the winter. We have only lived here a few months and we rent.. Its an old cattle ranch. So no shelters..

I will try to straw trick.. but kknowing her LOL she would try to eat it all up.. she is a big piggy and is not picky about what she eats. But dosnt hurt to try. We can try to put up a three sided shelter for her to come in if she wants but Im thinking she would stay out of it...

I will just have to see I guess I still have a month and half or so left..

[Silver Creek Farms]

My biggest concern would be the lack of lighting if she foals outside and has problems. I would suggest making a game plan and have some shop lights on hand. What type of fencing do you have? Be sure that is not something that the foal can be tangled in or roll under.

www.silvercreeksporthorses.com

[kitcat0601]

My mare seems to want to be outside. She is close to having her foal and looks out the stall door most of the night. My husband left her out till 9 last night and she was laying in the sand, moaning and grunting and he said horses give birth in the wild all the time. Well, they arent in sugar sand. I would worry about the poor thing suffocating in the dirt and the navel getting dirty with my mare. I hope my girl doesnt hold off forever cause she wants to be outside. I might do the straw thing in the paddock. I was thinking about that last night. She was pouring milk out last night. Its real close and im nervous and tired

[Silver Creek Farms]

I would hesitate to foal out in sand as it will stick to everything and will be dragged into the mare's vulva in addition to getting in the foal's mouth and nose.

[bo]

I know a gentleman who will NOT let his mares foal in a stall. He breeds drafts and lost one when she cast herself while foaling and was down for too long and they couldn't move her. They ended up having to put her down, she was paralyzed on one whole side. He feels that is natural for them to foal outside and stalls are too confining. His mares are monitered 24/7 and never left to foal alone so he has cameras and emergency lighting if needed. It works well for him.

[kitcat0601]

That was my concern too Silvercreek. There is NO way I am going to let her foal in the sand. I would have a $10,000 foal at birth from vet bills , and I dont want the foal to die or the mare to get an infection. I had to lock my other horse out of his stall last night so my mare could see him. She is very insecure and was going nutso because he went in his stall and she couldnt see where he was. Wonder what you do with an insecure horse. Im not looking forward to weaning time. I will have to move the foal out of the country so she wont knock down fences or hurt herself trying to get to it.