MARE owners spend months agonising over which stallion to cross their mare with, followed by, weeks and months preparing their mare for insemination and willing the mare to conceive, and finally, one day, have an embryo! Then starts the 11-month or so waiting and watching game.

Your mare’s entire pregnancy is a series of hurdles: The 14 day scan, 18 day, 28, 35, 45, sexing scan and any other follow up foetal assessment scans that may be necessary. Eventually, your mare’s due date draws closer and it is so important to avoid falling at the last hurdle.

FOALING

There are three stages to labour in the mare and the foal is delivered during the second stage. The normal presentation is one front foot first, followed closely by the second front foot, followed by the foal’s nose. The foal is presented within the amnion which is often punctured by the forelimbs. If not, the attendant can rupture the amnion and pull it back over the head.

It normally takes approximately 20 minutes for the foal to be delivered, and if everything is normal, the mare and foal should not be interfered with as the pressure from passing through the birth canal is important to help the foal adjust from the uterine environment to the ‘real world’.

When the foal is born, it should be moved up close to the mare’s head (so she can lick the foal without having to move initially) and stay in sternal recumbency. The umbilical cord should rupture six to eight minutes after delivery and at 3-5cm from the umbilicus.

NEWBORN FOAL

The umbilical stump should be treated with 0.5% solution of chlorhexidine (1 part 2% chlorhexidine to 3 parts sterile water) in a dip or spray which is often easier. The stump should be treated every eight hours for the first 24 hours.

An enema (100ml phosphate-buffered solution e.g. Fletchers) can be given to help pass the meconium. The meconium is the dark, thicker faeces that the foal first passes. It is important that the owner notices the meconium being passed and that the foal doesn’t retain it. This is more common in colt foals. Milk faeces should be produced 24-48 hours after birth.

  • The newborn foal should attempt to stand by 30 minutes.
  • The foal should be able to stand by 60 – 90 minutes.
  • The foal should suckle effectively by 60 – 90 minutes.
  • Nursing and ingestion of the colostrum (first milk) are essential within the first two to three hours.
  • Testing of the colostrum quality is desirable and will indicate if colostrum supplementation is required.

    • the FIRST FEW WEEKS

    During the first few weeks foals need to be monitored closely as they can quickly become very sick if something goes wrong. Routine management of healthy foals should include the following:

    ?Worming

    Foals and young horses are more susceptible to worms. Ideally, the worms they are exposed to should be minimised with good pasture management and overall worm control in the herd.

    A foal’s worming programme should begin at 4- 6 weeks, but can start earlier on problem farms. (Never use moxidectin in foals less than six months, or those sick or debilitated).

    ?Farrier

    The farrier visits can begin at around four weeks and the feet should be trimmed every four to six weeks. Foals with angular limb deformities may be seen earlier and more frequently.

    ?Vaccinations

    Foals should be vaccinated against influenza and tetanus. Ideally, the mare will have been vaccinated for both of these within four weeks of foaling. If this is the case, then the foal can have its own vaccination programme at four to six months. Avoid vaccinating and worming at the same time. It is best to have wormed and vaccinated the foal prior to weaning.

    ?Nutrition

    Proper nutrition for foals in the first few weeks is largely met by the mare, assuming she has an adequate supply of good quality milk. Creep feeding your foal is positive, but it’s all about balance.

    Dietary changes should be made slowly and overtime. Foals have a very sensitive gut flora and it’s important not to disturb it with sudden changes.

    Feed balancers, such as Redmills Grocare, are excellent to provide your foal with all the vitamins and minerals it requires for healthy growth, without providing too much starch and energy that will push your foal to grow too fast. Proper nutritional management of your young foal will avoid problems, especially with bone and joint issues, later on.

    Emma-Rose Conroy MVB MVM, Veterinarian and owner of Euro Stallions (Ireland) Ltd, a stallion semen agency providing easy access for Irish breeders to the world’s best stallions.

    Web: eurostallions.ie