Southern Illinois University Carbondale students are gaining practical experience in horse care and delivery through the university’s annual foal watch program, according to an April 20 announcement. The program takes place at the SIU Equine Center, where students assist with the birth of new foals each spring.
The hands-on nature of foal watch provides animal science students with skills that go beyond classroom learning. Students monitor pregnant mares overnight in rotating shifts as they approach their due dates, allowing them to observe signs of impending labor and participate in the birthing process.
Alayna Menees, a sophomore majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinary emphasis, described some of the indicators that a mare is ready to give birth: “You can tell by their belly if it’s dropped that will tell you if the baby is in position or not,” Menees said. “Also, their hind end will get super loose, and you can basically flip their tail over on their back.” She added that staying alert during long nights was challenging: “The most challenging part was probably staying excited about it whenever you’re staying awake all night, every night and there’s no baby.”
When labor begins, students call Samantha Wuest, assistant director of University Farms and Equine Center manager. Wuest oversees deliveries and guides students through post-birth procedures such as checking colostrum levels in milk and ensuring both mare and foal are healthy. Menees said she values seeing new life begin: “I just think it’s amazing bringing a new life into the world, and it’s even better when you work here because you get to see that baby every day.” Wuest noted that upper-level Animal Science majors take part in overnight barn shifts as part of Animal Science 419 (Stable Management), calling it “kind of a once in a lifetime thing for some people to where this is the safest environment for students to be able to learn and take part in a foal’s birth.”
This year marks the first time publicly owned horses boarded at SIU were included in foaling activities at the center, providing additional opportunities for student involvement. Mark Schwarm, a new instructor experiencing his first foal watch at SIU Equine Center, praised both Wuest’s leadership and what students gain from participation: “It teaches students perseverance, responsibility, and being aware of their surroundings,” Schwarm said.
As she looks ahead to her future career as a veterinarian after graduation from SIU Carbondale—the only public university in Illinois offering a four-year equine program—Menees reflected on her experience: “I have learned a lot about handling horses, watching them foal, their anatomy, and behavior.”
