Pregnant Horse Lies Down To Give Birth
Mares prefer privacy at foaling time. If possible, mares will delay #birth until human observers are not around. Mares generally foal at night. One study, for example, indicated that approximately 80 percent of foals were born between midnight and 6 a.m.
#Mares will generally #foal after an 11-month gestation, but this is highly variable. Studies have shown a range of gestation from 315 to 387 days, with an average of about 341 days. There is evidence that smaller breeds tend to have shorter gestation periods. One study, for example, found ponies had a gestation of 336 days. The foaling date can be determined through a calendar estimate of gestation and by watching for physical signs of approaching gestation, such as distended udder, swelling of the vulva, waxing of the teats, and teat secretions. Behavioral changes in late gestation are generally minimal, and may not be observed until shortly before birth.