Mares reach the age of puberty at about 18 months of age and go through an estrous, or warmth, cycle. Mares go into warm repetitively during the reproducing season, which usually proceeds while day size is lengthy, as well as finishes when winter season methods. Subjecting mares to boosting durations of synthetic light can obtain the reproducing period started earlier. During the breeding season, mares ovulate every 3 weeks, yet they are in the warmth and receptive to a stallion for just 2-8 days. Warmth is typically longer early in the season, or springtime, and only 2-3 days in late June. Pregnancy, or maternity, lasts 330-342 days, with lighter types typically having a much longer maternity, 340-342 days, than heavier breeds, 330-340 days. Expecting mares usually have a single foal; doubles are unusual. Foals can see as well as stand to suckle soon after birth.
If you are looking for Horse breeds [พันธุ์ ม้า, which is the term in Thai], please click on the link.
Foal Care
As soon as a foal is born, you ought to get rid of any mucus or various other material around its nostrils to aid the foal in breathing, as well as layer the umbilical stump with iodine to prevent germs from getting in the body, and triggering a major blood infection. The foal ought to begin to nurse within the initial 1-2 hours. This is critical since the preliminary mare’s milk, called colostrum, consists of antibodies that provide the young foal with resistance to illness. If the mare denies the foal, a milk replacer can be utilized as a substitute. Foals ought to additionally have defecation within their first 2 hours; if they do not, you will need to offer the foal an injection. Contact your veterinarian quickly if the foal does not start to a registered nurse, or if you observe any various other issues throughout the first couple of hours after foaling.
As long as feasible, the mare, as well as the foal, should not be disturbed. Several mares are protective of their foals, as well as someone will likely need to hold the mare while another person takes care of the foal’s needs, such as eliminating mucus, finishing the umbilical stump, etc.
