Baby Horse Preparations

Here is a quick how to of the preparations for that big day, whether you need it or not. At some point in the future you will be glad you had all this handy even if you do never use it.

-Navel dip. There are lots of new varieties better than iodine, so check to see which one your vet recommends.

-Vet name, number, and emergency contact. This is an absolute must, and you really should give them her due date, and call once you suspect she is ready to deliver.

-Cell phone charged. It will make you mad when you can't call everyone in the world and brag how awesome your baby is.

-Foal blanket. They can get wet and cold easily, and keeping them dry and warm will stave off illness early in life.

-A thermometer. I check my foals and mares every evening the first week of life, for signs of infections and the vet will probably ask the temperature if you end up having to call them for anything.

-Penicillin. I give my mares about 10 mL, and is a great way to clear up all that mucus in the vaginal tract and keeps bacterial infections out of the foal.

-A bucket. Warm water to wash up the mare and her udder, and later it will contain the placenta for the vet to examine.

-A reclining lawn chair. You will want to be comfortable considering you will be waiting a long time.

-A good book. Again, you will be there a while, and that mare is going to take her sweet time so have some entertainment available for yourself to peruse.

-A radio. Not just for me, my maiden mares seem to enjoy some non-abrasive music, my old polish Arabian mare enjoys the acoustic guitar in particular that my father plays for her.

-A book on foaling, it will probably make you feel better to have one.

-A partner for trading off and getting some sleep. Maybe a friend just to keep you calm when the foal is born, and share your excitement at an approaching baby.

-Clean tail wrap. For the mare, this keeps the tail clean and out of the way while the mare gives birth.

-A clean, large space for the mare to give birth in. I have a round pen with a sand floor and it cleans up great and is minimal bacterial for the foals. The mares also have much more space and feel less cramped.

Kick back with a beer and wait for the magic, chances are very good that your presence will go largely unnoticed and mare and foal will be perfectly fine their whole time with you.