Caring & Management for a Newborn Foal

Caring & Management for a Newborn Foal

A normal mare’s gestation, or pregnancy, lasts about 11 months. As she gets closer to delivering, you’ll start to see signs that she’ll give birth within a few weeks. This will likely include enlarged mammary glands, a more relaxed or “dropped” belly, and maybe a slight decrease in her appetite.

A few days before birth, a bit of white milk “wax” may appear at the tips of her teats, although this is not always the case. At this point, she should be moved to a large, heavily bedded stall or a small turnout away from other horses, in a quiet area. She should be as minimally stressed as possible.

As the exciting day approaches, there are some things you can do to prepare to help your mare and her goal through the birthing process.

It’s almost time! After waiting for nearly a year, your foal is ready to arrive. Unlike human babies, most foals are born without a medical team—so knowing what to expect and what to be on the lookout for is essential to starting foals off on the right hoof.

Calculate your mare’s due date

Estimating a mare’s due date isn’t an exact science, but a basic calculation can give you a good idea of when she will foal. First, confirm the date she was bred, then count forward 320 to 360 days (median 340). This is considered the normal range for a full-term foal.

As foaling approaches, watch for the following cues:

• 2 to 4 weeks in advance, her udder (mammary area) develops
• 1 week to 1 month in advance, the muscles around her tail head relax and loosen
• 2 to 6 days out, her udder fills with milk
• 1 to 4 days beforehand, her teats begin to ooze a small amount of colostrum, which is called waxing
• 1 to 2 days in advance, the calcium concentration in her milk increases
• 1 day before delivery, she relaxes her external genitalia and perineum area

 Predicting Day of Foaling 

The accuracy of breeding records leads to increased accuracy in predicted foaling dates. A predictor of 335 days (11 months) after the last breeding date is used frequently. The 335 days is actually shorter than the expected average, and as such, will allow for an increased watch before most mares will foal.

There are several conformational changes that indicate a mare is approaching the day of parturition (Table 1). These signs are variable between mares and will change with successive pregnancies. Mammary development and colostrum production in the mare are reliable indicators of fetal maturity and readiness for birth. The calcium concentration of mammary secretions in a majority of mares will increase significantly 1 or 2 days before foaling. Mares with mammary secretion of calcium concentrations greater than 200 ppm have a 54 percent probability of foaling within 24 hours, 84 percent probability of foaling within 48 hours and 97 percent probability of foaling within 72 hours. Most mares foal within a short period of time if the mammary secretion calcium increases to levels between 300 and 500 ppm. Mares with mammary secretion calcium levels lower than 200 ppm have a less than 1 percent chance of foaling within 24 hours of testing. This response can be quantified with testing kits developed specifically for mare’s milk, which are available through veterinarians. Water hardness test strips have also been used.

Table 1. Changes in Mares Suggested Approaching Foaling Day*

Sign	Usual Occurrence
Udder fills: maiden mares may not exhibit; may have partial filling and regression periodically through last trimester.	2 to 4 weeks prior
Change in conformation: tailhead musculature relaxes; abdominal area drops down.	1 week to 1 month prior
Teats fill with milk: variable response.	2 days to 1 week prior
Dripping of milk: variable response.	1 day to 1 week prior
Waxing: secretions form wax-like beads on end of teats a yellowish, honey-like secretion (colostrum).	1 to 4 days prior
Changes in milk mineral content: calcium concentration increases.	1 ½ to 1 day prior
External genitalia relax: musculature under tailhead relaxes, becomes soft and loose.	½ to 1 day prior

• *Not all signs are seen in all mares and signs will differ in intensity and occurrence from maiden pregnancy to those following previous births.

 Prepare a delivery “go-bag”

Human mothers often have a “go-bag” packed and waiting as their baby signals it’s ready to arrive. You too can prepare a foaling kit with essential supplies. Create a stall-side kit that includes:

• A clean wash bucket
• Iodine or chlorhexidine scrub/ivory soap or baby shampoo
• Roll of cotton
• Betadine solution
• Clean towels
• Exam gloves
• Tail wrap
• Scissors
• Notebook and pen to write down key times and changes
• Naval dip (50/50 2% chlorhexidine water) to dip 3 to 4 times a day for the first couple of days based on your veterinarian’s recommendation
• Thermometer
• Weight tape
• Store-bought enema
• Foal bottle and nipple (lamb or baby), 35 mL oral syringe
• Black plastic heavy-duty trash bag for saving the placenta +/-baling twine
• Optional: Colostrum refractometer to measure quality if recommended by your veterinarian

Learn about the three stages of labor

Mares progress through the following three stages of labor (typically within 8 hours).

• Stage 1: Initial uterine contractions. The mare may lie down and get up, sweat and appear uncomfortable. At the beginning of labor, your mare may display signs similar to colic. This stage is variable in length and can last several hours. There’s no need to intervene.
• Stage 2: Starts with rupture of the chorioallantoic membranes and ends with delivery of the foal. This stage starts when the mare’s water breaks, then a white membrane called the amnion becomes visible, ending with the foal being delivered. The foal should be delivered within 15 to 30 minutes of the water breaking.
  • Emergency scenario: If the membrane protruding from the mare’s vulva is red instead of white, carefully cut it with scissors (being careful not to cut the foal) and call your veterinarian immediately. This is a “red bag” delivery, which indicates the placenta has detached too early and is depriving the foal of oxygen.
• Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta. Within 3 hours post-foaling, your mare should pass the entire placenta. Save the placenta in a bucket or a plastic trash bag to keep it moist. Your veterinarian will want to evaluate it during the physical exam to confirm the entire placenta has passed and check for any abnormalities.
  • Emergency scenario: Call your veterinarian if your mare doesn’t pass the placenta within 3 hours. A retained placenta, even a small tag, can cause infection, septicemia and possibly laminitis.

If all the stages are progressing normally, it’s ideal to leave the mare to foal in peace. Once the foal is delivered and everything looks normal, observe them from outside the stall to allow the mare and foal to bond. There’s no need to rush in and disturb the pair. Also, allow the umbilical cord to break naturally when the mare or foal stand. This is preferred over cutting the umbilical cord.

Monitor a newborn foal’s behavior

Watch your foal’s behavior using the 1-2-3 rule:

• A foal should stand within 1 hour and nurse within 2 hours of foaling, and the mare should pass her placenta within 3 hours of foaling
• Contact your veterinarian immediately if any of those newborn foal milestones do not occur on time
• Foals should also be able to rise on their own and nurse at least every 30 minutes

Schedule a newborn foal exam

If the delivery goes as planned, call your veterinarian promptly to schedule a newborn foaling exam to take place within 12 to 24 hours of foaling.

During the healthy newborn exam, your veterinarian may:

• Check the foal’s temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR). A foal will have a slightly higher-than-normal heart rate and temperature than an adult horse. Normal vitals for foals are:
  • Temperature: 99° to 101.5° F
  • Pulse: 80 to 120 bpm (can be variable immediately after foaling, from 60 to 130 bpm)
  • Respiration: 20 to 40 bpm (may be higher the first 30 minutes post-foaling, up to 80 bpm)
• Check that the foal is nursing
• Examine the mouth, nose and eyes
• Listen to the lungs and heart
• Evaluate the umbilicus
• Palpate all the joints
• Check for any angular limb deformities or laxity of the tendons
• Check that the foal is urinating and defecating
• Draw blood to check for the passive transfer of antibodies (IgG) and identify possible infections, serum amyloid A (SAA) or other diseases

The mare’s post-foaling physical

Your mare also needs a post-foaling exam, which veterinarians typically schedule simultaneously with a newborn foal exam. Your veterinarian will check your mare’s reproductive tract, including but not limited to a vaginal exam, to ensure there wasn’t any inadvertent tearing of the vaginal wall or cervix and to check that the placenta has been passed. The exam might also include checking her TPR and evaluating her udder.

 Colostrum

It is important for the foal to receive colostrum soon after birth because it contains antibodies needed for disease protection during the first few months of the foal’s life. These antibodies can be absorbed by the foal’s intestinal tract for up to 36 hours after birth, but absorptive ability begins decreasing drastically at 12 hours after birth. Therefore it is important that the foal receive colostrum before this time has passed. Your veterinarian can perform a simple test to determine if the foal has received adequate protection from colostrum. This test should be done about 6 hours after birth. This gives you an opportunity to correct potential deficiencies in immunity during the time the foal can absorb antibodies from its intestinal tract.

To ensure that the mare has high amounts of antibodies in her colostrum, vaccinate her approximately 30 days before foaling. If you miss this vaccination time, make sure the foal is protected against tetanus by giving it a tetanus antitoxin injection at birth. The tetanus antitoxin is less efficient than immunity from colostrum because it protects the foal for only 2 to 3 weeks while its umbilical stump heals. Because the foal’s immune system is not mature enough to use a tetanus toxoid vaccination until it is 3 to 5 months old, the foal is unprotected for 2-1/2 to 3 months if it does not receive protection from the colostrum.

Colostrum has a laxative effect on the foal, which helps it pass the fetal excrement (meconium). Most foals pass the meconium within 4 hours after birth. If the meconium is not passed, the foal can become constipated. A constipated foal frequently stops moving, squats, and raises its tail trying to defecate. Constipation can be relieved easily by giving the foal a warm, soapy water enema (1 to 2 cups) or a prepackaged human mineral oil enema. You should observe the foal for several days for signs of constipation and correct any problems.

Foal Health Problems

Diarrhea in the newborn foal is not common and may indicate a serious illness in the foal. A squirting type of diarrhea can result in dehydration and death of a newborn foal in a few hours. Immediately consult your veterinarian if your newborn foal develops diarrhea. However, mild diarrhea is common in older foals (1 to 2 weeks of age). This diarrhea often occurs during the mare’s foal heat (a fertile heat beginning approximately 7 to 9 days after foaling) and is commonly termed “foal heat scours.” In the past, horse breeders thought hormonal changes in the mare’s milk during foal heat caused diarrhea in the foal. Recent research has implicated an internal parasite (Strongyloides westeri) as the true cause of foal heat scours. This parasite is transmitted from the dam to the foal through the mammary gland. Foals begin to shed eggs in their feces 10 to 14 days after birth, resulting in scours that coincidentally occur with foal heat in the mare. If the foal is alert and nursing regularly, mild foal heat scours usually do not harm it. However if the foal stops nursing and becomes weak or dehydrated, consult your veterinarian immediately. You should keep the scoured areas around the foal’s buttocks clean to prevent scalding of the skin. Wash the area with mild soap and water and coat it with petroleum jelly to prevent scalding.

Scours

Many foals have limb weaknesses or angular deformities at birth. These include knuckling over at the fetlock joint, weak pasterns in which the back of the fetlock touches the ground, knock knees, and crooked legs. Many of these conditions correct themselves with exercise. If your foal is born with less than straight legs, your veterinarian can assess the situation and recommend a treatment.

Some foals may be born with hernias (defects in the body wall that allow part of the intestines to protrude under the skin). Hernias occur most frequently at the naval and scrotal areas. Small hernias often correct themselves with time, and larger hernias may require surgical correction. Again, this is a situation that your veterinarian should assess and treat.

Occasionally the newborn foal’s eyelids and lashes are turned in toward the eye rather than turned out as normal. This is a condition called “entropion” and causes tearing and irritation of the eye. If your foal has entropion, gently roll the eyelid out and consult your veterinarian for the proper eye ointment or treatment that you can perform.

Another infrequent problem in newborn foals is caused by an incompatibility between blood groups of the mare and foal. This condition is known as “neonatal isoerythrolysis” or “jaundice foal.” Antibodies to the foal’s red blood cells are formed by the mare and secreted in her colostrum. When the foal nurses and absorbs these antibodies, its red blood cells are destroyed. Without prompt veterinary treatment, the foal becomes anemic and dies. If you suspect neonatal isoerythrolysis, prevent the foal from consuming colostrum until you can get a veterinarian to test for the condition.

Care of Orphan Foals

Orphan foals can result from death of the mare, inability of the mare to produce milk, or maternal rejection of the foal. Orphan foals can be raised successfully with some extra care. As with mothered foals, you should make sure the orphan receives colostrum soon after birth. If the foal cannot receive its mother’s colostrum, try to locate frozen colostrum (large breeding farms and your veterinarian are good sources). Thaw the frozen colostrum at room temperature. Microwaving or heating the colostrum can destroy the protective antibodies in it. In the absence of any colostrum, your veterinarian can give the foal a plasma transfusion or an oral colostrum replacer to get antibodies into its system.

The best and easiest solution for an orphan is to transfer it to a nurse mare. To transfer the foal, disguise its odor by rubbing whiskey, linseed oil, the foster mother’s milk, urine or feces, or any other liquid with a strong odor on the foal. Rub the same odor around the mare’s nose. The nurse mare usually must be restrained or tranquilized for several days until she willingly lets the orphan nurse. Another solution is to let the foal nurse a milk goat. This is a good temporary solution, but most goats cannot produce enough milk daily to meet an older foal’s nutritional needs. You will need an elevated area for the goat to stand on during nursing (a few bales of hay make a good temporary platform), and you should pad the goat’s horns to prevent it from hurting the foal. If these options do not work you will have to bottle-feed or bucket-feed the foal with a mare’s milk replacer. There are several recipes for mare’s milk replacer; however, the commercially available formulas are nutritionally balanced for the foal and easy to mix and use. Whenever possible, teach the foal to drink from a bucket. This will save you many hours of lost sleep and time away from work. To teach the foal to drink from a bucket, coat your finger with milk and allow the foal to suck your finger. Gradually immerse your finger in the bucket of milk. Waiting several hours between feedings so the foal is hungry often speeds up the learning process. If the foal does have to be bottle-fed, hold the bottle at the approximate height of a mare’s udder so that the foal nurses in a natural position. If possible, use a bottle holder so that the foal does not assume you are its mother. You want the foal to learn it is a horse and to respect humans. You should quickly and consistently discipline the foal for inappropriate behavior (biting, kicking, shoving, rearing) directed toward you. Orphans that are bucket-fed or bottle-fed and those nursing a milk goat should be introduced to other horses as soon as possible so they will develop normal equine social behavior. Putting an old, quiet mare or gelding in the pen or stall next to the orphan promotes normal social behavior. If your older horse can be trusted not to hurt the foal, turn them out together as soon as possible.

A healthy foal nurses from its mother up to seven times an hour for 60 to 90 seconds each time. A newborn orphan should be fed at least every 1 to 2 hours during their first week of life. Free-choice milk intake is recommended for healthy foals. During the first 2 days of life, a foal should drink about 10 to 15 percent of its body weight daily. For the next 5 days the foal’s intake should increase to 25 percent of its body weight daily. When either bottle-feeding or bucket feeding foals, make sure that your feeding equipment is clean and that milk does not sour between feedings. Orphan foals always should have access to water and salt. Orphans should be offered grain, milk replacer pellets, and hay after a few days of life. However, the foal may not consume much solid food until it is about 1 month old.

 Common Problems of Newborn Foals

Some common medical issues that may arise with newborn foals include:

• Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT): This occurs when the foal does not receive an adequate amount of colostrum. If your foal did not consume enough colostrum, or if the colostrum was low in antibodies, your veterinarian may recommend an IV administration of plasma to help boost their immune system. There are many types of plasma available, some may be recommended in certain areas if certain diseases are prevalent such as Rhodococcus, a bacterium that causes severe pneumonia in foals, or a gastrointestinal type that contains protective antibodies against several diarrhea-causing bacteria.
• Meconium impaction
• Umbilical infections
• Joint Illness: Joint illness can occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation in the joints. Symptoms include lamenessand swelling over one or more joints, fever, and lethargy.
• Diarrhea: Foal diarrhea can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections and changes in diet. It is important to address diarrhea promptly, as it can lead to dehydration and other complications.
• Respiratory Infections: Foals are susceptible to respiratory infections, which can be caused by bacteria or viruses, aspiration of milk during nursing or cleft palate, or inability to clear placental fluid from the lungs if born prematurely. Symptoms include coughingor wheezing, increased respiratory rate, lethargy, fever, and nasal discharge.
• Contracted, or lax, tendons after birth: During the first veterinary visit, your foal’s limbs will be evaluated for proper conformation. Depending on if fetlocks are dropped, or if the foal is walking on their toes, your veterinarian may recommend exercise restriction, splints, specialized shoes, medications, or other therapies to help position the limbs properly. Severe cases may require surgery, but most cases can be managed medically and with correct exercise.

 Do You Know the 1-2-3 Post-Foaling Rule?

 The foaling process

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules around the exact timing of foaling events, the following can be used as a general guide. The mare’s mammary glands will enlarge about 2-4 weeks prior to foaling and around seven days out, the external genitalia will swell and relax. Wax plugs will appear on the end of the mares teats around 24-72 hours prior to foaling (but can sometimes appear much earlier).

The foaling process usually occurs at night and is very fast compared to many other domestic animals like dogs and cattle. It can be divided into three important stages:

1. In stage 1 of foaling, the mare may show signs of restlessness, they may walk consistently, paw the ground and generally look uncomfortable. The duration of this stage of labour can be variable from mare to mare but is usually between 1-2 hours.
2. Stage 2 is marked by the rupture of the membranes (the waters breaking). The mare will experience strong abdominal contractions and will generally lie down to deliver the foal. Foals should present forelegs first, followed by the muzzle and head and then the body and hind legs. This stage is quick, and should be completed within 15-30 min after rupture of the placenta.
3. In stage 3 (the final stage), the foetal membranes should be naturally expelled by the mare within 3 hours of birth. Retained membranes can be a very serious medical problem in mares if not addressed promptly by a veterinarian.

The 1:2:3 rule for foals

1. Within 1 hour, the foal should stand.
2. Within 2 hours, the foal should suckle.
3. Within 3 hours, the mare’s placenta should be passed.

If any part of the 1:2:3 rule is not satisfied, you should contact your vet immediately.

Post-foaling

Both the mare and foal should be assessed by a veterinarian within 24 hours of foaling. A post-foaling check involves assessment of the mare for any trauma or tears, bleeding, uterine infection, and udder health. The foal should be assessed for vitality, umbilical health, the presence of any hernias, congenital conditions or limb deformities.

The foal’s blood IgG immunoglobulin levels should be tested at 12-24 hours of age to determine whether colostrum quality and intake have been adequate. Foals with low IgG levels are more susceptible to infection, and should receive an intravenous plasma transfusion using commercially available frozen plasma, rich in immunoglobulins.

When to call your veterinarian

• If stage one labour is taking longer than 2 hours and is not progressing
• If stage 2 labour is not progressing significantly within 10-15min after the membranes rupture
• If you suspect a ‘red bag delivery’ – if this is the case, the membranes that first appear are bright red in colour. This means that the placenta has partially or completely separated from the lining of the mare’s uterus prior to the foal being delivered. This is an emergency because the foal can suffocate unless the placenta is opened, and the foal delivered as quickly as possible.

Foals should stand, suckle, urinate and defecate quite soon after birth compared to other species. Failure to do any of these, or frequent, unsuccessful attempts may mean there is a problem and veterinary attention should be sought.

 1-2-3’S OF FOALS

Commonly, we recommend a 1-2-3 approach for monitoring the first hours of a foal’s life. They should be standing by one hour, nursing by two, and have passed their first feces (dark, sticky manure called meconium) within three hours of birth. Also by three hours, the mare should have passed her placenta, and it should be retrieved and saved for an examination by the attending veterinarian.

This 1-2-3-hour approach works great, with some amount of common sense and attention to important facts. Colts are typically a little faster to stand, but fillies are quicker learners when it comes to nursing. Foals with leg issues, mild contracture or laxity in one or multiple locations can make standing more difficult. The stall footing under bedding also plays a role in the ease that a foal stands and moves around for the first few hours. Commonly we help stabilize a foal during its attempts to stand to help his muscles and legs figure out just how to move these new tools of their trade.

So your little foal has hit the ground!  Your new addition should be bright, alert, and have a suckle reflex within the first five to ten minutes after breaking through the fetal membranes.

Then, remember the 1-2-3 rule:

Within ONE hour: the foal should STAND

Within TWO hours: the should NURSE

Within THREE hours: the mare should PASS THE PLACENTA

A foal’s normal vital signs are as follows:

Respiratory rate – newborns can have a rate up to 80 breaths per minute, but it should drop to 40-60 breaths per minute within a few hours.

Heart rate – newborns should have a heart rate of at least 60 beats per minute and by the time the foal is 24 hours old, the rate should settle into the range of 70-100 bpm.

Temperature – a normal, healthy foal should be able to thermoregulate appropriately (shiver, sweat).  Normal range is anywhere between 99-102.0.

When your vet goes out to check your new munchkin, they will do a good, thorough physical exam.  All organ systems will be evaluated in order to recognize abnormalities as soon as possible, which allows you to make informed decisions and the best choices for management of your new addition!

1)  Nervous system – all foals appear hypermetric, or to move with exaggerated motion.  Their cranial nerves are intact, with the menace response and pupillary light reflex delayed.  Mentation is also observed; as a day in the life of a normal foal is this: sleep, wake up, stretch, urinate, nurse, explore/playtime, repeat.  If your foal is dull, loses affinity for the mare, or loses interest in nursing, please contact your veterinarian right away as this can be an indication of HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)/neonatal maladjustment syndrome/dummy foal, which will be covered NEXT MONTH.

2) Cardiothoracic system – the lungs initially auscult (sound) harsh and crackly.  This is because the airways are opening up and transitioning from a fetus to neonate.  So, typically we as veterinarians watch respiratory rate, effort, and pattern for indications that your foal may have an underlying respiratory disease.  It is NOT unusual for your newborn foal to have a continuous murmur of the heart; this is due to shunting of blood while a hole called the ductus arteriosis closes.  This murmur is called PDA, or “patent ductus arteriosis.” Typically, this murmur is ausculted up to 72 hours after birth.  Any murmur or arrhythmia (irregular) heart beat should resolve after a week; if your foal is greater than seven days old and your vet is still hearing abnormalities, a further work up and diagnostic tests are strongly recommended.

 3)  Abdomen – the abdomen, or belly, of your newborn foal will be manipulated and palpated.  We are typically feeling for hernias: scrotal, inguinal, or umbilical,  Sometimes the hernia will spontaneously resolve and close.  Other times, surgical intervention is needed.  Your veterinarian will also listen to all four quadrants of the gastrointestinal tract and ensure motility.  We listen for HYPOmotility (slowing of GIT) and HYPERmotility (faster moving GIT).

4)  Gastrointestinal tract – the foal should have an almost completely developed gastrointestinal tract at birth.  The small intestine is complete, however the large and small colon continue to develop after birth.  Because of this delayed development, occasionally this leads to a meconium impaction.  Meconium is distinct in its dark, hard, tarry appearance.  Once meconium is passed, manure will change to a lighter brown color and become soft.  If your foal is born and is covered in meconium, this is an indication of fetal stress during parturition or late gestation.  Aspiration (breathing in) of meconium leads to SEVERE pneumonia.  Once up and nursing, the foal should pass the meconium within 1-4 hours. Nursing helps trigger the “gastrocolic reflex” and aids as a laxative to help move things through. If no meconium has passed in 6 hrs, a soapy water enema can be given. If you notice your foal tail flagging, stomping their feet, rolling, or straining, let your veterinarian know promptly.

5) Urogenital system – if the umbilical cord does not break during birth, it will most likely break once the foal or mare stands up. Typically, it will break about one inch from the foal’s abdomen. If you allow the two to bond quietly, the foal will be able to receive a couple pints of blood via the cord if it hasn’t broke. Do NOT cut the cord yourself. If the cord does not break, and you need to do it manually, hold it firmly with both hands at the intended break site, and then twist and pull to separate. If sharply cut, the likelihood of hemorrhage increases greatly.   Once the cord is broken, remember to “dip” the umbilicus to prevent a bacterial infection. It is recommended to use a diluted chlorhexidine solution. For the first 48 hours, you should dip the stump every 6 hours. Then, for the following 2-3 days, dip every 12 hours. Before dipping, pay attention as the stump should be dry; if it’s moist or wet, that is abnormal. A colt will typically urinate within 5-6 hours after birth; fillies typically lag behind and will not urinate until 10-14 hours after birth. It’s important to watch your new foal to see if they are urinating. If there is no attempt to urinate, or you notice urine from their umbilicus or urachus, call your veterinarian immediately.

6)  Musculoskeletal system – tendons, ligaments, and joints are palpated thoroughly. Depending on how far along in gestation your foal was before birth, joints and bones may not be completely developed. Premature foals tend to have tendon laxity, while postmature foals tend to have tendon contraction. Rib fractures/breaks during parturition are not uncommon. 

• Unless there’s an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it’s breathing.
• 
 Generally, it’s not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.
• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.
• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.
• The foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.
• Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.
• 
 A foal must receive colostrum (the mare’s first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start!

Compiled  & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

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 Reference-On Request.

Care and Management of  Equines (Desi Horses)