| Well, we've made it to about a month prior to the | | | | foal can not get caught in her tail and make sure |
| mare foaling. Now, how early or late she foals | | | | that she is cleaned well to prevent infection. You |
| depends on her previous history. If she is a | | | | should also have a foaling stall which is about |
| maiden mare, you won't know and will find out | | | | twice the size of a regular stall. You are going to |
| soon. You need to decide where you are going to | | | | need plenty of room for the mare and the baby |
| have the mare foal. If you choose to have her | | | | once it comes. |
| foal on the farm, it is now time to get a foal alert. | | | | Once the foal is out, you have to wait to make |
| This is just like a human baby monitor. You put | | | | sure the mare passes the afterbirth. When she |
| one part in the stall and the listening device by | | | | does, you need to check it very carefully to |
| you so you can hear if anything is going on. You | | | | make sure that she has passed all of it and none |
| could also just get up every hour and check on | | | | is left inside her. It should not be hard to tell |
| the mare. You could decide, especially with a | | | | whether or not you have a filly or stud colt. What |
| maiden mare, to have her foal at the equine | | | | you have to really watch especially with a maiden |
| hospital where you know there is someone there | | | | mare is that the mare does not step on the baby |
| 24/7. There are the added costs of keeping the | | | | when she gets up. Also, sometimes a maiden |
| mare at the clinic. We tend to send ours about 2 | | | | mare will be reluctant to let the baby feed as she |
| weeks prior to foaling. A good indication of when | | | | is not 100% sure of what is going on. When the |
| she needs to be sent is either prior history or | | | | foal is born, it can not see. It will take numerous |
| when the mare starts to bag up. If the mare has | | | | tries for him/her to get up and it will fall down |
| been pasture boarded only, this would be the time | | | | plenty. Hence the big stall so the baby can't hurt |
| to start bringing her in at night. | | | | itself. You need to stay close to make sure that |
| If you choose to have the mare foal at home, it | | | | the mare lets the baby eat. Those first few |
| would be a good idea to have a vet come out at | | | | feedings are as important for an equine baby as |
| least once per week to check her. You would also | | | | they are for a human baby. Once you see that all |
| want to be able to call the vet in case anything | | | | is well, you will probably want to have a vet out |
| happens while she is foaling. Sometimes, the baby | | | | to check that everything is normal with the baby. |
| can be turned around and start coming out with | | | | We have had babies that may not have had |
| the tail end first instead of the head. In which | | | | straight legs or had things that needed to be |
| case, you are going to have to reach in and turn | | | | corrected right away. |
| the baby around. Generally, if you have no | | | | Once all has been checked as everything being |
| experience, this is where a vet should come in as | | | | good. You can finally get your good first night's |
| many times, there is not a whole lot of time to | | | | rest in a while. In the next installment we'll discuss |
| be able to correct the situation. When you can tell | | | | raising the foal. |
| that the mare is starting to foal, be sure that the | | | | |