FOALING TIPS

Foaling time again, so I thought I'd share with you some tips I've picked up over the years to help new breeders. Whilst most foalings are quite straight-forward, there is a slight chance of losing your foal through unfortunate circumstance. These are some of the things we do to ensure circumstance plays no part. In well over thirty foalings we've not lost a foal and have saved three who without these precautions wouldn't have made it.

CHOOSE YOUR GROUND
Most mares will instinctively choose the flattest part of the paddock to foal. The foal in its attempts to get to its feet may fall over several times. If you've confined them to a sloping area the foal will inevitably as it falls over each time be progressively be moving downhill. This is a major cause of foals sliding into dams or under fences and being separated from the mare, panic sets in, mare and foal exhaust themselves, the foal cannot get to the mare's milk, which it must get quickly to gain the strength to survive, and tragically the foal dies within a matter of hours. I always use flat ground.

SEPARATE YOUR MARE
I've had the experience of an older dominant mare muscling in and taking control of a less aggressive mare's foal. While mum panics and cannot get near, the foal bonds with the dominant mare who treats it as her own but can't provide milk. The foal can be dead within four or five hours.

BE THERE
I always make the effort to inspect the foaling mare every two hours or so round foaling time so as to be present at the birth. If you're not there you can't assist if everything's not quite right. As mentioned we've saved three who would not have made it had we not been around. This takes a bit of effort as they usually foal in the wee small hours, but it's better than losing them.

ASSISTANCE
Our practise is to accelerate the just born foal through those dangerous first few hours as follows. Within minutes after foaling we roll the foal over and soak its umbilical area with iodine and administer a tetanus vaccine to prevent any chance of infection. We then milk the mare into a bowl, and using a plastic syringe, give the foal a good drink, say 30-40 mls. This gives the foal a head start as it instantly gains strength and incentive to stand and find more. We've had foals up and standing and drinking within an hour this way rather than the two or three it'll take them on their own. This also accelerates by a couple of hours the passing of the meconium or first faeces, which is vital to the foal's survival.

STICK AROUND
Stay till you see the foal's meconium passed. If constipated the foal will most likely die without veterinary assistance. Stay till you see the foal can can stand and feed from mum by herself. Check the afterbirth and sac has been completely expelled from the mare by laying it out on the ground and ensuring it's intact. If a portion is retained in the mare you can lose her within days or she may not be able to ever reproduce again. If the mare does not expel the afterbirth within an hour or two administer oxytocin which will assist her to do so.

IF IN DOUBT
Call the vet immediately.

SEEK ADVICE

If you're new to this take the time to read a good book on foaling. Go and visit an experienced breeder you have confidence in and have them step you through the processes they use. I trust this has been informative. Good luck with your foals this coming season. Feel free to give me a call if you need advice.

David Gregory, Braelea Park Stud

From the CBHSA Cleveland Bays News Spring 1999
Courtesy of and Copyright
The Cleveland Bay Horse Society

Back to What's New