Foaling Season Ready? – Tips for Tackling your Foaling Kit

Preparation is key to success when it comes to the foaling season, whether you have 1 mare to foal or 50, there are some basic elements that should be included in your foaling kit. Having a foaling kit prepared in advance will avoid panic, and provide piece of mind. Your kit should include standard items needed for the foaling process, and those that may be needed in case of emergency. Like anything with horses expect the unexpected. Whether you chose to allow your mare to foal out, or in a confined space such as a suitably bedded foaling box, good management and monitoring is vital.

An important consideration for your pregnant mare is to ensure that both vaccines and the de-worming programme are up to date. If your mare has had a Caslick’s procedure the suture line should be opened by your vet prior to your mare’s due date. Normal gestation for a mare is between 320 and 365 days, with the average being 341. It is imperative that on approach of the due date regular observation of the mare is carried out, to monitor for any physical changes that may indicate an imminent foaling. Labour consists of 3 stages, it is important to familiarise yourself with these stages, and the accompanying problems which may arise.

Essential Foaling Kit Checklist:

Contact & Communication:

• Contact details for vet, staff, or neighbours
• Fully charged phone (record times & emergencies)

Key Times to Note:

• Mare beginning stage 1 of labour
• Foal being expelled
• Time taken to stand
• Time taken to nurse
• Time taken to pass meconium
• Time at which the placenta is expelled

Cleaning & Examination:

• Clean buckets (placenta examination)
• Eazi wrap/ Veterinary Cotton Padding (tie mare’s tail)
• String/bailing twine (tie placenta)
• Clean towels (for mare, foal & yourself)

Foaling Assistance:

• Rectal sleeves & examination gloves
• Foaling ropes (color-coded if possible)
• Sterile lubricant
• Scissors

Post-Foaling Care:

• Suitable enema (for foal’s meconium)
• Antiseptic (foal’s navel)
• Calibrated measuring cup

Tools & Recording:

• Head collar & lead ropes (for mare)
• Torch & spare batteries
• Notebook & pen
• Thermometer (check temperatures)

Reach out to our expert nutrition team for any questions you may have HERE