Foaling chart re-produced from The Amateur Horse Breeder by A.C. Leighton Hardman, 1970. In over 30 years of horse breeding this has been the most accurate foaling date estimation chart found. Used frequently, the accuracy is amazing.

Many stallions are being retired from racing, showing and performance to enter the breeding shed. Their value as potential breeding animals is based more on exceptional performance than on their ability to sire foals. Reports indicate that at least 11 percent of breeding stallions are subfertile or infertile (Rossdale and Ricketts, 1980), contributing to the low conception rate of 60 to 65% generally observed in the horse industry today.

The mares breeding year is divided into two parts: Anoestrus and Oestrus. This is the period where the mare is not receptive to the stallion, does not show regular signs of being 'in season' and can be more stable in her moods. Oestrus is the period where the mare exhibits good regular 'seasons' and she will 'show' and be generally receptive to the stallion during teasing. Oestrus is the beginning of the ovulatory season.

Information on mare care while she is in foal.

Many of us will have pregnant mares to care for over the winter months. The quality of the outcome of the pregnancy - the foal- is determined not just by genetics, but also by the quality of care the mare receives while she is in foal.

Most foals are born at stud farms where experienced and skilled personnel are present. At the opposite end of the scale are breeders who have no direct hands-on experience of the process of partuition.

In this article the aim is to describe the sequence of events in a normal delivery, so that the attendant person has some guidance as to when to summon immediate veterinary assistance.