i am having my first foal next spring. Any advice is much appreciated. What do I need in my foal kit, what handling should I do day 1-3, turnout on day 1? How long do you turn out the first few days? When would you introduce a super sweet pony friend to mom and foal? Do you do your own rhino vaccines? When do you introduce alfalfa to mom? Thanks friends I’m very excited and nervous
Do you have a ‘mentor’ of sorts, someone close by who has gone through this? Have you posed these questions to your vet? Honestly I grew up on a farm where foaling out and calving out were the norm and part of every day life (dairy so calving was all year long), then I became a vet. If I were in your shoes, I’d find someone local you can speak with who can address some of your questions from a ‘local or regional’ perspective and join a few of the face book groups focused on equine reproduction including the neonatal period. There are many paths to Rome and some more suited to certain areas of the country but all in all a solid book on the subject or a local mentor (even a vet, preferably one who raises horses) would be the best ways to go imo.
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Thank you. Yes I do have such a person but welcome others ideas as well😀
You need to begin reading as much as you have time for. There’s loads of books at the library or online that can prepare you for ALL the things that can go wrong. Too much to even discuss here.
For starters line up a good repro vet or someone very experienced w/ foaling problems, then have them on speed dial.
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The first thing I would say to someone having their first foal is to remember that it’s not about you. The mare did not just present you with a new toy to play with. Sure, the baby will need to be handled (initially and along the way) but it’s also important that mare and foal have plenty of time to bond with each other and just be horses.
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You should establish a good relationship with your vet, now. :yes: Make sure they are an equine vet with experience in equine reproduction.
Make an appointment to have them examine your mare. Then, ask for recommendations about your mare’s diet, vaccination schedule (have the vet do the vaccinations) and what you will need to have in place before foaling.
You want your vet to consider you to be a client, not a pest, and that means paying for their services. Your mare (and foal) will benefit from good veterinary care during her pregnancy and your vet is more likely to go out of their way for you in an emergency if you’ve had a good relationship with them throughout your mare’s pregnancy.
I agree that now is a good time to start reading, and LaurieB makes a very important point.There are many things that you have to consider.
Congratulations and good luck. 
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This, x1000. I see this even with experienced breeders. Let your mare be a mother and take care of her foal, and give them the time they need.
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Lots of reading, find a good vet you can consult and of course, if you can find an experienced horse person who has experience with broodmares and foals to be your mentor, it will help a lot. When she does foal - do not rush in and interfere if it’s not needed. If you can send her to a farm that will foal her out, that’s awesome. Bonus points if you get tight with the manager and you can be part of the foal watch crew.
Remember that foals need to be out with horses. Having youngsters to play with is ideal but at the very least, outside time with mom is excellent for a young horse. Well, all horses, IMO, but particularly the youngsters.
I have the first horse I ever bred (and foaled out). I trained to ride and sold as a 5 yo - I put in a “right of first refusal” clause that was honored when the owner’s kid decided horses weren’t her thing and re-purchased at 10. 32 years young now and will be here with us until the the end. Still good for an hour or so on the trails too.
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Don’t read Blessed are the Broodmares. It will give you nightmares
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:lol: True, but it’s best to be prepared.
Are there books and videos the board recommends?
Make sure to be there when it happens. camera, halter alarm, sleep in the barn, whatever but an unattended birth can be a disaster.
What I know now that I didn’t know then…
-Send the mare out to a professional foaling facility to foal. Lost my mare during foaling on my first breeding/foal. Foal survived despite some of my good unknowlegable efforts, but in hindsight I was doing so many things wrong. Have a name and number handy of a nurse mare operation! Best thing I did was get a nurse mare pronto.
-My second mare had a tendency to colic within 48 hours of foaling, (dehydration impaction) so keep that in the back of your mind.
-Foals learn Horse behavior from other horses and foals. They get strong playing with other foals once old enough to be turned out with other horses. Many owners want the enjoyment of watching their foals grow up at their back yard barns, but IMO, ship them out to a farm where they can socialize and play, rather than stay at home for your enjoyment.
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-nutrition is key, both in utero and after birth then all through the growing up.
- turn out is paramount. young horses need 24/7 turnout ideally on varied footing and terrain and with companions
- if you have never done it before, send the mare out to foal
- have your vet give all shots because you want him to be involved
- your mare and your foal’s turn out friends are incredibly important to good social development
- dont skimp on the farrier work, growing legs can be improved or ruined by farriers.
