| You have waited eleven months for your foal to | | | | time inside the mare. Colt foals, in particular, can have |
| arrive. Now he is here what can you do to ensure he | | | | problems passing this because their pelvis is narrow. |
| gets off to the best possible start in life? | | | | Your vet may recommend giving an enema. |
| Make sure that the foal sucks. A normal foal should | | | | It is a good idea to have the vet to give the foal a |
| stand and drink from the mare within two hours. If the | | | | check-up. The vet can give an injection to protect the |
| foal is having difficulty sucking, or is not interested, he | | | | foal from tetanus. This is especially important if the |
| may have serious problems. Call an experienced horse | | | | mare has not been vaccinated recently. A blood |
| vet sooner rather than later. | | | | sample can be taken from the foal to check that |
| Colostrum, the first milk, is very important. It contains all | | | | adequate antibodies have been absorbed. |
| the antibodies your foal needs to protect him from | | | | Probiotics may be useful in preventing "foal heat |
| infectious disease. A foal needs between 1.5 - 2 litres | | | | scours", which often occur about 10 days of age. The |
| of good quality colostrum. It is most important to make | | | | diarrhoea is probably due to the digestive system |
| sure he gets enough. | | | | adapting to life outside the mare rather than anything |
| If the foal won't suck you can collect some colostrum | | | | to do with the mare's hormones. |
| from the mare and give it by bottle. Or the vet can put | | | | Carefully monitor the foal's progress. Even those foals |
| it directly into the foal's stomach using a tube. | | | | that appear normal at birth can develop problems later |
| Colostrum substitutes are available if the mare doesn't | | | | on. Foals should become brighter and more active |
| have any milk. | | | | over the first few days. One of the first signs of |
| The foal's intestines can only absorb colostrum for the | | | | serious infection is that the foal becomes dull or |
| first 24 hours or so. After that, the vet can give a | | | | spends more time sleeping. |
| plasma transfusion to boost the antibodies if | | | | With good care and attention from an early age you |
| necessary. | | | | and your new foal can look forward to an exciting |
| Check that the foal is passing meconium. Meconium is | | | | future together. |
| the firm dark feces that has built up during the foal's | | | | |