PRIOR to foaling season, the main job is to confirm the pregnancy status of all your mares.

As most nominations are payable October 1st, I have my vet palpate all at the end of September. I like to check them again in early December and then we can plan for the foaling season commencing January 1st.

Early December is also the time I plan to put any barren mares and the maidens under lights to get them ready for covering.

It is important to have the mares’ vaccination and worming schedules up to date along with a detailed history of their past foaling and breeding results.

I like to have an idea of their gestation record as this can indicate if they tend to foal before their due date, around it or well over. Maidens can be unpredictable, often foaling early with little warning so it is important to keep a very close eye on them as you have no past history to help you.

Close to a mare’s due date, it is important to check whether she has had a Caslicks operation “sutured vulva”, and if so, your vet should remove these stitches about two weeks out. She will start to “bag up” and I ask my vet to pull a jaundice blood test at this point.

I like the foaling box to be double the size of a normal stable with a plentiful supply of clean straw, good quality hay and clean fresh water available close to hand.

Disinfected, clean surroundings are vital to preventing infection in the new born foal, and this includes the tack room or sitting up room next door to the foaling box. It is also prudent to have all the equipment and supplies you might need to cover all eventualities close to hand.

As foaling dates get closer, we turn the mares out by day in small paddocks close to the foaling unit where they can be observed at all times.

Most mares foal at night but some love to catch you out and like to foal at lunchtime in the field!

Overnight, I find it most successful to have my main foaling person walking around the yard, quietly observing the mares and getting an idea of their individual characteristics.

Then when a mare shows signs of foaling, the foaling person can call on other members of the team to assist as required.

Once foaling starts, we put a tail bandage on the mare, and then leave her alone and quiet to find her own place in the foaling box. Most mares lie down to foal but some remain standing which is tougher on everyone, mare and foaling staff.

After her water breaks, she will have active contractions and in most cases the delivery progress will begin.

When the new born appears, we clear its mouth and nostrils and make sure the foal is breathing normally and that the mare is not showing any unusual behaviour.

The mare will stand and the foal will start to get to its feet and look for the mare’s colostrum.

I feel it is important to let this process proceed as naturally as possible and give both the mare and foal the time they need. Once standing, some foals might need help to find the udder but most will start nursing.

Immediately after foaling we always test the mare’s colostrum to check the quality and I like to have a back-up supply close to hand in case there are any problems and then the foal can be bottle fed if necessary.

The mare’s vulva will be cleaned and treated for any cuts or abrasions with an antiseptic salve.

Within the first 24 hours, my vet will check the foal and run a health blood-test and check the mare for bruising, tears or any residual bleeding.

We weigh the foal and weather permitting, I like to get both out in a small paddock for a short time within this 24 hours.

If the foal is born with poorly conformed or weak limbs, then we do limit activity until the limbs strengthen.

I think the key to foaling is to have a good team with you and keep the process stress-free for the mare and then let nature do its job.