Is placing a foal in lateral recumbency/in a lying position a difficult procedure?
Where a foal has to be restrained and maintained in a down position, i.e. in lateral recumbency, there are certain risks involved. However, there are occasions and procedures that require a foal to be restrained and placed in a down position on its side. For example if the farrier has to apply special shoes on a very difficult foal, it may have to be in a recumbent position to prevent injury to the people working on it and to keep the foal from injuring itself.Using the proper restraint method, an experienced handler working quietly and gently will ensure that the foal can easily and safely be laid down on its side for whatever procedure is to be undertaken.In order to reduce injury risks for all such procedures involving a foal in lateral recumbency, it is very important to ensure that there is a well prepared, softly-bedded surface in place in advance of commencing the procedure.The area where the foal is to be placed must have a deep bed of straw or duvets, towels, blankets, or (ideally) a designated padded area, to cushion it and to keep it warm.What is the procedure?
One of two methods can be used to get the foal down:a) This method works well on very young foals if there is a strong person available to lift the foal up. The handler does this by holding it around the chest and hindquarters and gently laying it down.
b) The second or alternative method works well on very young foals. The handler stands on one side of the foal, with one arm around the foal’s hindquarters lifting it slightly and one arm around the foal’s neck, and gently brings the foal’s head and hindquarters together. When the foal begins to respond to this ‘cradling effect’, it will gently collapse onto the ground.
It is important that the handler makes sure that foal’s head and hindquarters are bent away from him/her so that the legs fall away in the opposite direction to where the handler is positioned. This will avoid some potentially nasty contact with sharp hooves.
What is the sequence used by the handler in order to achieve the desired effect?
The handler firstly restrains the foal by placing an arm around the chest and the other hand behind the rump holding the tail. Then by moving the arm up from the chest, the handler’s forearm will be placed against the foal’s head. The handler will then gently bend the foal’s head back towards the rump while pressure is applied to the rear quarters with the other hand. The foal will usually respond by sagging backwards toward the handler at this point. Without releasing pressure, the foal is then allowed to gently sink to the ground by the handler. The foal should be kept in this position until it is completely recumbent and relaxed. The handler should then grasp the rear legs with one hand and the front legs with the other, placing the forearm on the foal’s neck. At this point, the foal may start to struggle, but the handler should calmly continue to restrain the foal in this position until the foal again relaxes, before any other procedures are undertaken. A second handler may be required in some cases and circumstances.How does the handler keep the foal in a lying position on the ground?
This is done by applying light pressure on the foal’s neck and head, the foal can be kept stabilised in the lying position.What other important factor should be considered prior to undertaking the procedure on the foal in the lying position?
It is important to protect the foal’s ‘down’ eye from the ground by placing a soft pad under the head.Once the foal is on the ground and sleeping quietly, it is best to cover the foal’s eyes with a small towel. This will encourage the foal to keep sleeping by preventing visual stimulus. The towel will also help to prevent injuries to the eye. But it is equally as important to ensure that the towel does not impinge on or cover the foal’s nostrils.What restraint method should be used if the foal struggles to get back up on its feet?
If the foal struggles to get up, it can be restrained by gently placing pressure on it’s neck, while keeping the foal’s nose in the air.It is important to ensure that the handler is experienced, vigilant and aware of the personal injury risks, as even a small foal’s legs can produce very strong kicks and the hooves are quite sharp. This technique has its limitations on older and stronger foals as it is less likely that the handler will be able to physically restrain the foal and keep it down. In those cases, sedation may be used. More sedation may be necessary once the foal begins to wake up, i.e. depending on the duration of the procedure. Are sedatives usually used where a foal is being placed in lateral recumbency?
On a general basis, if healthy, the foal may need to be sedated prior to lying it down, in order to prevent it from struggling constantly to get upright. However, if the foal is sick, it will probably be more likely to lie still and not struggle.For any procedure that requires the foal to be made to lie down, there is a potential for injury to the people and to the foal. So it is advisable to have a veterinary surgeon present to ensure the foal is adequately sedated where required.Is sedation used in foals for any routine procedures?
Sedatives are also commonly used on foals particularly for farriery work that does not require the foal to be in lateral recumbency/lying down. It is considerably easier and potentially more effective to rasp a hoof or to apply a stick- on shoe on a standing foal, as the degree of correction required can be assessed more accurately by the farrier when the limb is placed back on the ground after completion of the procedure.