FOALING season is a very exciting time of year for breeders but it can also be quite overwhelming if it is your first foal or if you are not fully prepared. Breeder Patricia Markey once said: “Foaling a mare is nothing to be afraid of. It is a completely natural process. It’s going to happen whether you panic or not. So stay calm, have a phone at hand, be prepared and relax.”
Throughout this feature we have nutritional advice from industry experts, what to expect when your mare goes into labour, what to have in your foaling kit, caring for your newborn foal, how to register your foal, how to treat and prevent diarrhoea, a feature on understanding embryo transfer and artificial insemination and much more.
If you are prepared for your foal then half the battle is won. If mares are living out and you want them to foal inside, they should start being taken in at night four to six weeks prior to foaling and all rugs taken off. If foaling indoors the stable should be at least 12ft x 12ft.
You should thoroughly wash and disinfect the stable before bringing your mare in in order to keep down the risk of infection. A good deep bed of high-quality straw is a good option for foaling. Dusty, low-quality bedding will not be good for your newborn. Having your foaling kit ready well in advance of your mare’s due date and a plan in place for who you will call in an emergency are also very important.
Links to all articles in this feature below
Embryo transfer to healthy foal
Feeding mares during late pregnancy
Care of the maiden mare for breeding after racing