Our first foal was born tonight and we wanted to pass on the news. We also thought we would share how the mare acted prior to foaling. We all have questions about foaling and I think any first hand information is very helpful.........this morning when I went to feed was the first time she had wax on her teets, I turned her and another mare out for the morning and we kept an eye on her. I noticed later in the afternoon that she had not eaten all her morning grain and that she had had two bowel movement with loose stool. Checked her bag again and she had started leaking milk. At pm feeding she acted hungry but still hadn't finished her grain but did start on her hay. We went in for supper and I really thought we would have a couple of hours yet (in the past she usually foals later at night). Went to check her right after supper and there he stood. She hadn't lost her afterbirth at this point but he was up and getting around. It's pretty cold here (about 20) so I sent my nephew to the house to let the family know that our baby was here and then I started drying him off. The mare dropped her afterbirth a short time later and we got him covered up and he started nursing. Got his navel taken care of and made sure he could poop and they are now resting and getting to know each other. The coolest thing happened, most of our horses are in the barn she foaled in and her stall is completely enclosed so the other horses couldn't see what was happening but they knew something was up, the colt whinnyed and they all answered back, he whinnyed again and the same thing happend, it was like they were saying welcome!! I'm so glad she foaled this weekend instead of earlier in the week because we had 8 below Friday. Sorry so long!