Content

• Steps
• Warnings

Congratulations, your mare has brought a foal! Now it's time to take care of him, which isn't easy enough to be cool. With the right time and effort, you can ensure that the foal grows up, matures, gets along with the training and acclimates to the environment, which is far more valuable than the time you spend.

Steps

1. 1 As soon as possible after giving birth, dip the end of the foal's umbilical cord in a weak betadine solution for 1–2 minutes. This will prevent bacteria from entering the foal's belly.
2. 2 Start petting the foal. Start by stroking all over your body, touching your mouth, nose, ears, etc. This is the beginning of building trust and a bond with the foal, which will be beneficial in the long term.
3. 3 Start feeding. The most important issue in caring for a newborn foal is feeding, which should start as soon as the foal gets up and starts to stand and walk on its feet (this can occur within 10 minutes after birth to several hours).
   • A mare's first milk contains antibodies-rich colostrum, which the foal needs to develop strong immunity against common diseases if the mare has been regularly vaccinated with vaccines prior to foal.
   • The foal must drink colostrum during the first 24 hours of life, as this is the only time the foal's belly will be able to absorb and process antibodies. Without colostrum, the foal will be highly susceptible to many diseases, especially upper respiratory tract diseases (flu, rhino, etc.).
   • Most foals have no problem figuring out how to feed if the mother is willing to tolerate her new creation! If you have any doubts that the foal is feeding properly, call your veterinarian.
4. 4 Schedule a veterinarian examination of the foal. A day or two after birth, the foal and the mare must be examined. With a simple blood test on site, the veterinarian can determine if the foal has the necessary antibodies.
   • If the foal did not have enough colostrum, or he did not receive it at all, then he must be transfused with antibody-enriched plasma so that he acquired the necessary antibodies. Once the veterinarian is convinced of the presence of antibodies, he will be able to ensure that the foal is on its way to a successful start.
5. 5 Find a suitable location for your mare and foal. An open pasture with an existing shelter would be ideal. This will give the foal enough room to move and run, which is important for early musculoskeletal development.
   • The pasture should be well fenced in (it is recommended that no climbing is possible on the fence) so that the foal and / or mare cannot escape or get stuck in the fence, being seriously injured.
   • It also allows the foal to start chewing on grass, etc., which will further aid the development of the digestive system when it is closer to weaning (usually around 5-6 months of age).
6. 6 Schedule vaccinations. If the mare was vaccinated in a timely manner, then there is no need to vaccinate the foal up to 3-4 months. The most common vaccine for foals is the 4-component vaccine for Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Tetanus and Influenza. Depending on the region, vaccinations for rhino, West Nile fever and streptococcus may be needed. It is extremely important to revaccinate 3-4 weeks after the first vaccination.
7. 7 Deworm the foal. It is best to start carrying out these procedures from the age of 3-4 weeks, depending on the conditions of detention (cleanliness of stables, pastures, land plots). The veterinarian can also analyze the foal's stool for worms, determining their type and number.
8. 8 Communicate with the foal throughout its growth period. The more time you spend fondling him (accustoming him to raising his hooves, putting on a bridle, touching anywhere), the better for you in the long run. Of course, there are many books on how to properly train foals, but that is another topic.
9. 9 Enjoy interacting with your foal. Rejoice, learn to trust, get to know each other, this will be the basis of your full-fledged future relationships.

Warnings

• Always use caution when approaching a foal, the mare can protect him. Even if she was previously very meek, the presence of a foal can temporarily change her greatly. She can be aggressive when defending a foal, so be prepared to deflect blows, bites, etc.