How to Stable a Mare With a Foal

Stabling horses requires some special attention to their needs. Stabling a mare with her foal requires even more alertness. Careful horse owners can follow these steps to safely stable mares with foals.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find a stable that has large stalls and runs. Stalls for mares and foals should be a minimum of 14 feet by 14 feet and completely enclosed. Runs should be double-fenced, or otherwise separated from the neighboring runs, to keep the mare from charging the fence while protecting her foal.
2. Ensure the stall has nothing sharp protruding through the walls or floor at a level where either the mare or foal can hurt themselves.
3. Bed the stall thickly with clean straw or shavings. Straw is preferable to shavings when the foal is newborn to five-days old because shavings stick to wet foals and get in the ears, nose and respiratory tract.
4. Have free access to a supply of fresh, cool water in the stall, but ensure the container is secure. Have the bucket high enough that the foal can not drink out of it as nursing foals should not fill up on water.
5. Have good quality hay available at all times. Foals will begin nibbling on hay within a few days of birth.
6. Place a salt or mineral block in your mare and foal enclosure. Put it in a safe container with no sharp edges or buy a spool that can be tied up in the stall or run where the foal can access it freely.
7. Check the outside fence for holes the foal could slip through and also for sharp edges, wires or other objects that could harm either the mare or foal.

Tips & Warnings

• The stall should be secluded or able to be shut up completely to keep passers-by from disturbing the horses.
• Use caution around a mare with a new foal. They can get very protective of their foals and try to kick or bite you, or they may get nervous and spin around, knocking you or the foal to the ground or into objects.