To ensure your foaling supplies are in order, use this handy checklist

Foaling Supplies

  • Clean towels
  • Stainless steel bucket
  • Liquid soap
  • Roll cotton wool
  • Baling twine or strong string
  • Scissors
  • Enemas (any enema safe for children is fine; a phosphate enema is best)
  • Diluted Hibiscrub or tincture of iodine* for dipping navels
  • Small containers or 60 cc plastic syringe cases (for dipping foal’s navel)
  • Umbilical clamps (if foal’s navel bleeds more than normal)
  • Plastic long-arm gloves
  • Disposable tail wrap or gauze bandage for wrapping tail
  • Disposable latex gloves
  • Obstetric lubricant
  • Small blanket (should you have to keep the foal warm on a cold night)
  • Flashlights & batteries (in case of power failure)
  • Mobile phone and phone numbers of vets Watch for checking post-foaling 1-2-3 rule

    • * If you decide to use iodine to dip the navel, ask your vet which strength he or she recommends. Some vets use 2 percent; others prefer the stronger 7 percent iodine.

    Watch for these changes in your mare, which indicate signal she is getting closer to foaling:

  • Udder fills out and become more dense
  • Muscles over croup and tail head loosen and relax in preparation for birth
  • Mucus discharge (a small amount of dense white or off-white colored mucus plug)
  • Restlessness, pacing, pawing, change in behavior