FWIW foals can not regulate their body temperature as efficiently as older horses. Depending on the weather in DE in June I would want an area where i could confine the mare and foal under fans if it got real hot.
Depending on the delivery I also keep the mare and foal in for a day or so to give the mare a chance to rest and the foal to get his sea legs.
But then I’m of the belief that even young horses should learn how to chill in a stall, certainly not 24/7 but at least a little bit a day.
I totally agree carolprudm, and though I’m not the OP but the one in a very similar situation. My pasture kept horses come up twice daily to eat and are locked in, as well as when I groom, handle or tack up - so they are used to stalling and will stay in if necessary. You’re right - it’s important to acclimate them to stalls so that they tolerate it if necessary!
Great post rodawn. The thing is - you’re assuming the owner will be present when the mare foals and with the tendency for mares to foal while humans are sleeping, the question is: what kind of foal watching will this owner be providing? Otherwise, everyone’s helpful advice is a moot point.
I have always foaled my mares at home, don’t trust the foaling barn that is local, they foal out in 12 X 12 stalls and I have big mares and it is ridiculously expensive. I have missed one foaling in all the years I have been doing so, the very first foal with a maiden mare who gave no indication she would foal. She went at day 330 on the dot. No problems.
This last foal would not be here today if I and my husband were not there to help the mare while she was in labor (tight, tight squeeze for foal), I had one other that had a slight malpresentation where the foal was not totally back up inutero, he was feet pointing sideways, but mare was in such hard labor she was trying to push him out anyway. Got her up and walking and he finished turning, she laid back down and had him in no time, maiden mare 110 lb foal.
Just know normal presentation, I always go in and check when mare breaks water and starts hard labor. Have vet on speed dial and preferably have a 2nd person close by if you need them. I had to have my husband with this year’s foal, I could not budge her myself. I pretty much live at the barn waiting for foal, always have someone with eyes on them or at the very least checking hourly. It helps to know their patterns, but since I have foaled out so many maidens, they tend to not go by what is normal!
Is she willing to confine the mare to the stall when she’s getting close to popping? The stall won’t do any good if the mare lays down out in the middle of the pasture to pop out the baby in the middle of the night in the dark and you’re trying to work by flashlight. If the weather is bad or it’s muddy that will be multiplied tenfold. Also may be necessary if the baby presents with a flexural issue.
I agree with those above; if the owner is educated to recognize problems like bad presentation or a red bag and what to do, she should be fine. If she has a friend who is an experienced breeder, that’s even better. Obviously the vet should be put on stand-by when the mare looks like she’s ready to go, and needs to be out to check everyone over the next day and run an IgG.
I think foaling outside is ok as long as there are provisions to move mother and baby inside in case of bad weather. One of my mares has foaled outside twice, and the second time it started to rain as soon as the baby was born. Getting the mother and foal to the barn so soon after foaling and without any help was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!
Newborn foals should not be exposed to bad weather so soon after being born…
Thank you so much for the responses, she’s been able to read them as I sent her the link to this thread. She prefers the mare to foal outside simple because mare DOES NOT STALL WELL-she was used to being in an Arab show barn and never got turnout, and now that she’s seen the other side, she prefers living out. Plus this mare has soundness issues that are aggravated by being stalled. My friend is a competent horse owner, and will do whatever is necessary to ensure success of mare and foal. She’s already talked about parking her RV by the mare’s pasture and sleeping in it with windows open to hear her and give her very close access! I told her I really do not think that is necessary as her house is only 50’ from where mare would be anyway! She will have multiple vets numbers on speed dial I am sure, and has good relationships with them as well.
She will be able to keep mare and foal cool if needed, she’d buy an A/C unit for the run in if she had to (lol)! She very much enjoys keeping her horses at home, like I said, mainly due to her wishes not being followed in the past. Something can go wrong in either situation, but she feels like she will have more control with her mare at home.
[QUOTE=allisontatman;7480715]
Thank you so much for the responses, she’s been able to read them as I sent her the link to this thread. She prefers the mare to foal outside simple because mare DOES NOT STALL WELL-she was used to being in an Arab show barn and never got turnout, and now that she’s seen the other side, she prefers living out. Plus this mare has soundness issues that are aggravated by being stalled. [/QUOTE]
We got that part. She just needs to be aware that letting the mare foal outdoors may be problematic, and if the foal is born with certain flexural issues, it will need to be confined.
Hopefully if the foal needs confinement, the MO can set up a small pen outside, to be “not stalled” but still confined - ?
[QUOTE=JB;7480780]
Hopefully if the foal needs confinement, the MO can set up a small pen outside, to be “not stalled” but still confined - ?[/QUOTE]
Sure, I’ve done that before.
Honestly I’d be more worried about foaling outside in the dark/elements, but things usually go fine, so MO can hope for the best.
Yes, she can stall her if issues arise, can set up a pen within the pasture (good idea!), or she can gate off the run in shed, so she has options. The pasture she will foal in is also very small, and lighted as it used to double as a small outdoor ring.
Had a good friend whose week old foal was killed by a loose dog. Does your friend have a plan for coyotes and/or loose dogs?
Just a thought. My neonates are always supervised while outside. We have had problems with coyotes and dogs every year.
[QUOTE=Ticker;7481012]
Had a good friend whose week old foal was killed by a loose dog. Does your friend have a plan for coyotes and/or loose dogs?
Just a thought. My neonates are always supervised while outside. We have had problems with coyotes and dogs every year.[/QUOTE]
Ticker-at what age do you feel a foal is no longer a real target for coyotes and loose dogs? I have a mare due to foal, and have a stall for them to be in, and plan to keep them up at first, but I would prefer to have them out in a pasture as I really think that is the best place for any horse to be. I just worry as we have seen coyotes around here and you never know when a dog will wander by and see an opportunity. Now in the past, I’ve known foals who are pretty tough at three days old and wouldn’t make an easy target, but of course, I don’t want to take a chance. The mare herself is NOT a dog lover and would gladly stomp on a dog, ideally I would love for them to be able to go out with my gelding who in the past has been great with babies and also hates dogs, presents himself as a target and aims to kill. I just don’t know if the mare will put up with the gelding around once the foal is here, there is a love hate relationship there already as the gelding is the top of the pecking order and the mare resents it.
Whitney159- I really think it is situation dependent. I think the foal has to be able to get up easily , which can take a week or so for a big awkward foal. A herd situation like you have will most likely keep the coyotes back but I had a small pack of them stalking my pregnant mares in the middle of the day. For a foal less than 30 days old, I keep close watch on them while they are outside. But again, I have experienced issues with dogs and coyotes, not everyone does.
It seems to me up here that most people foal their own foals at home. My vet is a breeding specialist and would never get any sleep during breeding season otherwise.
He told me that 99% of foalings go perfectly on a second delivery.
A green field is considered the best place for a horse to foal. My own were foaled outside in their paddock.
Just to scare you, someone I know had a mare kill her foal by rubbing it against a stall wall, so stalls are not the safest place. We do have a trouble lamp on a long cord if it had been necessary.
You should, however, try to be there for the delivery, and when the time comes close it may mean camping out there. I went to the bank one morning, no sign of the foal, 15 minutes later, there he was.
We rented a camera for one of ours…I stayed in the house because I was nursing a baby and was up a lot of the night anyway.
Things can go terribly wrong no matter what you do…no guarantees.
The vet should come to check the foal. Make sure all the meconium comes, as a breeder told me, because sometimes part can remain behind and cause blockage.
If the foal has ingested ammonium fluid it will need a/b’s, and therefore probiotics,
as ulcers can happen.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
