Even if the horse is very elderly, has internal damage, a foal is born with serious defects, or has had a devastating accident and there was no decision to make, you'll still wonder if you're doing the right thing. Having a foal always sounds like a wonderful idea. The foal is kept in the stall and then put in a familiar pasture on the second day. Once the foal is on his feet, you're almost home free. Image: DragoNika / via Shutterstock Our resident vet says that mares are most fertile between 5 and 7 years old. Watch until you see the foal pass urine and feces, and nurse. Along with the sadness of losing a friend comes a lot of guilt. Welcoming a newborn foal into your stable is an exhilarating time, but can also be a little intimidating for novice horse owners. There are many natural tendencies they have, like touching with their noses, following human friends, and really valuing a good scratch that allow us to … It is that time of year again and we are looking forward to this year's mule foals with great anticipation! are available to notify the owner, farm manager, or foaling attendant that a mare is or could be in labor. You may be surprised at how much cost is associated with getting a foal on the ground. The foal should be sitting on its chest, with both feet forward, in what those-who-like-to-use-anatomically-correct wording call, “sternal position.” This is important, because having the feet out like this helps spread out the baby’s chest, and it helps fill the foal… Leave the stall, even if you think she or the foal may have a problem. If you have two or more foals, you may want to put them in a pen and put the mares in an adjacent area separated by a strong, safe fence. Thankfully, nature and the broodmare will do most of the work. VBACs are more successful the younger you are. It’s often with great anticipation that horse owners await the arrival of a new foal. Knowing what to expect during your mare's pregnancy and the foal's birth can be life-saving to both the dam and the foal. It may even be appealing to you as a way to get another horse with a minimum investment. They can continue having foals up until they turn fifteen, and then conception is more complicated. Dr. Anna O’Brien. For horse ranches with younger mares, the month of May begins the season of birthing foals. Your vet can sedate the mare after he gets there. Plus, if you have a successful VBAC now, your chance of a successful VBAC in the future goes up, too. This allows the foals and mares to see each … Most of our equine residents are retired and are past the age of foaling. Following an 11 month pregnancy plus or minus a week, the final month brings about physiological and behavioural changes that indicate your mare is preparing for birth. A number of signaling devices (e.g., Foal-Alert, Birth Alert, Foal Alarm, etc.) They expect the world to be interesting, safe and worth exploring. For any foal with a true diarrhea we recommend that a fresh fecal exam to be brought into the clinic, and a physical exam if the foal … In this article, we share 8 common signs your mare is getting ready. New foals are open and curious. We shall see. Once your foal and mare have received a check of health from the vet, you can relax and enjoy the newborn! Careful monitoring will help ensure your foal has a strong start at life. What an exciting time! But knowing what to expect and having the right supplies on hand will go a long way toward your peace of mind and a smooth birth for your foal. If the foal is straining to pass manure, give him an enema. However, make sure you've really thought it through. At approximately 7-10 days of age a foal may have a mild loose stool; this foal heat diarrhea occurs when the mare is in her first estrus after foaling and related to many factors. The QH mare is an exhibitionist and likes to have her foals in the afternoon with an audience. Foals grow quickly and are a joy to watch as they learn to run on their long legs and explore their environment.