What are some factors to consider before foaling your mare?

Answer 1

Since there are several schools of thought on what proper foaling methods

are ideal: anywhere from letting the mare foal out on the grass pasture to

methods that require the foal to be muzzled and the mare to be removed

washed and both returned to a freshly cleaned stall, a breeder must first

consider what method they wish to employ.

1) Mares usually don't have any trouble foaling...so the grass pasture method is generally a great option, especially if you have one that is lush and not loaded with road apples.

2) While horses have been foaling successfully for years, breeders have a vested interest in insuring that their mare and the foal produced have the

best chance of surviving. (My comment when other people make remarks about horses in the wild, comparing them to domestic horses, is that my domestic mare and her foal have value beyond that of food for a cougar so my plan is to

insure that they adequately supervised in case of an emergency (at minimum).

3) Research and decide what level of involvement you wish to have in the foaling process and gather the materials and personnel you need for that

method.

4) If you have never foaled out a mare before it is best to have someone with experience to help you for the first time.

5) Research and determine whether the plan is to imprint the foal.

6) If there is a significant issue with foaling...a dystocia or an injury to the

mare how to proceed and whether the mare and foal will have to be

transported. Insure a truck and trailer are available.

7) Research whether you want to give the mare wormer within 12 hours post

foaling and whether you wish to give a tetanus shot to the foal.

This is the method I try to employ:

a. Mare is placed in a clean stall at the last possible point before foaling. (Once

her milk color has changed from clear gold to white.)

b. The stall is bedded with recycled paper (highly absorbent) and the paper

is covered with a layer of grass hay (the mare can eat it and it is cleaner

than straw and less likely to cling to the nostrils and mouth of a foal

struggling to stand like shavings or sawdust.

c. Breeder is present at foaling to insure that the foal is in the proper position

in the birth canal and to assist if necessary.

d. Breeder knows their limitations and has a veterinarian to call who will

respond ASAP.

e. Once foaling is complete breeder:

Insures that the umbilical stump is dipped.

Verifies that the foal has a normal appearance, behavioral and vital signs.

Verify that the foal has a normal suckling response.

Insure the mare is in good condition and check for injuries to her reproductive

tract.

f. Milk the mare and insure that the foal is given at least 8oz of colostrum

while resting in a sternal position, insuring that the foal's head and neck are

in the correct position to prevent aspiration of milk into it's lungs. Repeat

over time until foal has ingested 20oz of colostrum. If foal stands and

nurses rapidly additional bottle feedings can be eliminated.

g. Give the foal oral clostridium and ecoli endotoxin within 6 hours of birth.

h. Imprint train the foal.

i. Have veterinarian out to insure the foal is normal and to pull blood for IgG

check. Also to check the condition of the mare and examine the placenta

(if you can't/didn't do it yourself.).

j. Worm the mare within 12 hours of foaling.