Admin Table of Contents
What do you need in a foaling kit?
Foaling Supplies Checklist
- Terry cloth towels—bath towel or half-size bath towels.
- Stainless steel bucket.
- Liquid soap such as Ivory, Dawn or Joy.
- Roll cotton.
- Baling twine or strong string.
- Scissors.
- Enemas (any enema safe for children is fine; a phosphate enema is best)
What do pregnant horses need?
Dry mares in early gestation can basically be fed like any other mature, idle horse. Good quality pasture or hay along with a supplement such as Purina® Free Balance 12:12 vitamin/mineral supplement or Enrich Plus® Ration Balancing horse feed may be all that is necessary to meet these mares’ nutritional requirements.
How do you help a horse give birth?
Help Your Mare Have a Safe Delivery
- Write down your veterinarian’s phone number well in advance of the birth and keep it by all phones.
- Keep a watch or clock on hand so you can time each stage of labor.
- Wrap the mare’s tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor.
What is a foaling kit?
A foaling kit is not just about assembling the items you may need in an emergency. It is about having everything at hand to deal with many of the normal matters you expect to face during and immediately after a foal’s birth. A veterinarian once described birth in horses as an explosive process.
What minerals does a pregnant mare need?
Look for a balanced mineral supplement with 30% protein, at least 4% calcium, and 3% phosphorus. Copper should be 250 to 300 ppm, zinc approximately three times higher. Starting at six months of pregnancy, feed your mare ½ pound per day in addition to whatever supplements her early pregnancy diet needed.
What should I be feeding my pregnant mare?
This ration balancer should be fed at 1 to 2 lb a day during mid-gestation, and should be introduced and increased slowly over 5 to 7 days. During late gestation, the mare’s diet should be gradually increased to 15 to 20 lb of good quality hay, plus 6 to 8 lb of concentrate feed, such as a Mare and Foal type grain.
How do you prepare for foaling?
Basic Foaling equipment:
- Clean towels ready to dry the foal.
- Lubrication if there is a problem foaling (lubigel)
- Disinfectant (e.g. dilute iodine solution) to dip the foal’s navel in immediately after birth.
- Thermometer.
- Access to hot water.
- Clean protective clothing including wellingtons.
- A tail bandage for the mare.
- Gloves.
How long does horse labor last?
The foal is usually born after 12 to 18 minutes of heavy labor. Maiden mares (mares foaling for the first time) are more likely to take about an hour to expel the fetus. Handlers should be ready to assist if it goes much longer than an hour. Mature mares in labor for more than 30 to 45 minutes may also need assistance.
How do you tell if a mare is having contractions?
Typical signs in the mare of stage-one labor can include: restlessness in the stall, getting up and down, sweating, curling of the top lip, pawing, weight shifting, picking up of the hind legs, tail swishing, and frequent urination and defecation.
What should I do if my horse is foaling?
Treating the horse. When your mare begins to foal, allow her to be undisturbed and watch at a distance. If there are any apparent problems, notify your veterinarian immediately. Some things you can do are to wrap your mare’s tail lightly with a clean wrap, wash her vulva and hindquarters, and provide clean bedding.
How can I tell when my mare is going to foal?
Baby proof either area to ensure there is nothing to harm the foal, including shavings which can get into the foal’s nose and cause pneumonia. If you need to know when your mare will foal, there are tests on the market that can measure electrolytes such as calcium, sodium and potassium.
Is it safe for a mare to foal in a pasture?
Allowing the mare to foal in the pasture even has some advantages. An open grassy area is likely to be cleaner than a stall and provides a healthy environment with adequate room to foal. You won’t have to worry about the mare crowding into a corner or foaling too close to a wall.
How big of a stall do I need to foal my Mare?
Should you choose to foal your mare in a stall, provide one that is a minimum of 14′ x 14′. If possible, the stall should have adequate bedding and a floor that can be readily cleaned and disinfected.