DVM Eleven months is a considerable length of time to anticipate the birth of a foal. A great deal of hope, excitement, dreams, and financial investment can accompany the arrival of a newborn. However, there are times when human intervention is necessary, and being there makes the difference between a healthy newborn foal and one which does not survive. That is why interest in predicting foaling has become so great.
Most mares like to foal when it is quiet and they are undisturbed.
This is a natural instinct, in order to protect their foals from predators. Therefore, having a mare foal when it is convenient for you is unlikely. Most mares foal either late at night or in the early hours of the morning. Therefore, close monitoring of the late-term mare for sometimes weeks at a time has been the only way to ensure that the birth was attended. This can make monitoring the mare for the birth of the foal costly.