What Is Foal Watching?

Foal watching isn't quite what the name implies. You don't get to sit around in a lounge chair watching the baby horses playing in a big field while their mothers graze near by. What you do get to do is stay up all night (say, about 9pm until 6am), going out into the cold or rain or whatever the weather happens to be like, and check the mares to see if they are illustrating signs that they are foaling or about to foal. You have to do this about every twenty to thirty minutes, more often if one seems likely to go at any minute. Should you just so happen to see a mare's water break, or more likely some amount of the foal sticking out, you need to call the barn manager (in our case Steve). We recommend having him or her on speed dial or as the first entry in your phone book. You should never panic if you see anything unusal. You can even call the barn manager if you suspect something is going on even if it actually isn't. When foal watching it is better to be safe than sorry. After you call the barn manager, and if the mare is foaling, the next thing that you need to do is go get your foal kit. It contains all of the necessary tools that you will need: latex hand gloves of different sizes, plastic arm sleeves, towels, chains, iodine solution for dipping the umbilical stump, umbilical clamps, and any other supplies that your manager may deem necessary. Also bring out a flashlight with working batteries. Keep the kit and the flashlight in a set location so that people don't have to go hunting for it in the middle of the foaling. While you are doing that, or after if you are alone, move the other mares in the pen some where else. This is for your safety and the foaling mare. The last thing that you need is for one of the mares to start picking a fight or attacking the foal. Once everyone is in place, it's time to sit back and let nature take it's course. By this time, the manager has most likely checked the position of the foal to ensure that it is in the proper position for a normal delivery. If it is not, he'll try to shift it into position. Some times it just not possible, so you'll have to get the trailer and take the mare to the nearest hospital or vet clinic. There, the vet with anesthatize the mare and try to move the foal around. Sometimes, it is necessary to do a C-section. Then there are those not-too-rare instance where the foal, mare, or bother, die from the complications.. However, chances are that most unusual situations are easily fixable and that within a short time you'll have a healthy baby wobbling to its legs, trying to nurse off of anything and everything. Once the mare and foal are standing, it is best to bring them into a warm and dry stall, away from other horses. This is because the foal's immune system has not developed yet and it is easy for the baby to get sick. You should check up on them a several times an hour to make sure that they are getting along, that the foal is eating, and that the mare is not showing any signs of infection. It is important for the foal to nurse for the first time about two to three hours after being born. This is because the mare's colostrum has immunoglobulins (antibodies) that the foal can absorb for only a short window of time. These are important for jump starting the foal's immune system. Another way to protect the foal from disease is to dip the umbilical stump with a distinfectant. You need to do this every two hours for a total of three times. Something else that you need to look for is the meconium, or the foal's first poop. It looks dark and sticky, and there usually is not a lot. If you cannnot find it after a few hours, and you see that the foal is straining to defecate, it probably means that he is contsipated and needs and enema. It is very important that the foal passes the meconium, or else he can become sick. Foalwatching and taking care of the foal and mother during the first few days of life is a vast topic. Everyone has a prefered way of doing things, and usually one way is not superior to another way. The best way to learn about it is to foalwatch at a few barns, talk to people who are experienced with it, and read up on the subject.

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