How to Prepare for a Foal's Delivery

Foaling is a very dangerous time for both the mare and the foal. It is important that the mare be attended by someone knowledgeable during the birth. Emergencies can crop up very quickly and need to be attended to immediately.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Have a good working relationship with your veterinarian. Make sure the mare has had all the requisite pre foaling vaccinations. Those are usually boostered 30 days before her expected due date.
2. Prepare your foaling kit. This should include several freshly laundered full size towels for drying the foal off. Baling twine to tie off the placenta. Mineral oil in case you need to lubricate your hand and arm before reaching in to reposition the foal. Thermometer. Iodine for dipping the navel. An empty 12cc syringe container can be used to hold the iodine up to the foal's navel. Vet wrap to wrap the mare's tail. Two enemas, one saline and one mineral oil.
3. Provide a large box stall with clean straw or suitable bedding. Inspect the stall for sharp edges and protrusions. Make sure the stall is solid all the way down to the floor. You don't want the foal getting lodged between a gap in the door or the wall.
4. Provide just enough lighting to allow for observation. Have a flashlight handy in case you lose power.
5. Observe mare for milk in the udder, wax on the teats and relaxed ligaments around tail-head. These signs indicate delivery preparation. You can use any of several types of milk testing kits to try to narrow down exactly when the mare will foal.
6. Observe whether mare is nervous, pacing, rising and lying down; this indicates that labor is imminent. She will also have lots of loose manure and will urinate frequently right beforehand.

Tips & Warnings

• Foaling goes well the majority of the time. When it goes bad, it can go really bad however. If you do not feel like you are capable of handling a dystocia consider sending your mare to a foaling facility a few weeks before her due date.