365
Days in Horse Country – Caring for a Newborn Foal
Baby horses
are adorable, but they are fragile creatures that require close supervision and
good care.
Assuming your mare has a normal delivery, the foal will be born front feet and head first. The mare will lick the fetal membrane off the foal, and the baby will try to stand about half an hour after birth. If the foal is not standing within two hours, call a vet.
Once the baby is standing, she should make her way over to the mare’s udders to nurse. If the foal cannot find the udders after ten minutes of searching, help her by gently guiding her in the right direction.
You can do this by putting your arms around the foal’s neck at chest level and around the buttocks as you help her walk. If the baby finds the udder but can’t seem to nurse, call a veterinarian immediately.
Within the first twelve hours of birth, the foal should pass sticky dark stool called meconium. If she doesn’t, you’ll need a vet to help you. Without passage of the meconium, the foal can die.
A veterinarian should give your foal a full examination within twenty-four hours of birth just to make sure that everything is as it should be.
Michael