The newborn foal.

There is nothing sweeter and more affectionate than a newborn horse.

Detailed planning and good management practices in a horse breeding program usually result in a healthy foal.

A healthy newborn foal is strong, responsive, and very active. Several things should be taken into account when observing the newborn from a distance, including the foal's attitude, willingness to nurse, awareness of its surroundings, relationship with the mare, ability to move, and breathing pattern. We've all heard that the foal is one of the most precocious newborns in the animal kingdom. In fact, the newborn foal is very active shortly after birth and can keep up with its mother.

Within the first two hours, a foal begins to breathe (within seconds), lifts its head (within 5 minutes), attempts to rise (within 10 minutes), stands (within 55 minutes), vocalizes (within 45 minutes), defecates meconium, the first feces,

(within 30 minutes), breastfeeds for the first time (within an hour), walks-runs for the first time (within 90 minutes), and takes his or her first nap (within two hours).

It is good to remember the “1-2-3 RULE” of the newborn foal:

A healthy foal should be on its feet within 1 hour .

You should start breastfeeding within 2 hours .

Meconium should be passed within 3 hours of birth.

If we are present during the birth of the foal, the first step after delivery is to ensure the foal is breathing. If the foal is breathing, the labor is complete, and we should leave the birthing area and observe the mare and foal from a distance. This allows the mare and foal time alone to recover from the birth and bond socially.

A normal, healthy foal lifts its head and neck and rolls onto its chest a few seconds after birth. The foal then begins to make crawling movements away from its mother. If the mare has not yet stood up, the foal's movements often sever the umbilical cord. It is important to wait until either the mare or the foal has severed the umbilical cord. Never cut the umbilical cord immediately after birth, because the foal receives blood from the placenta after birth. Cutting the cord before this blood transfer can cause circulatory problems in the foal.

Once the umbilical cord is severed, it is advisable to wash the stump in a mild iodine solution. Iodine dries the umbilical stump and prevents bacteria from traveling up the stump and entering the foal's body. Bacteria that enter the foal through the umbilical stump cause systemic infection, serious illness, or even death.

We should examine the umbilical stump for several days after birth to ensure it remains dry. If urine drips from the stump, it indicates that the passage of fetal urine from the bladder to the navel (the urachus) has not closed. Normally, the urachus closes at birth. If it does not close, which is called a "patent urachus," the foal should be treated by a veterinarian.

As we mentioned before, foals usually stand within an hour of birth. During the first attempts to stand, the foal wobbles and constantly moves its head, neck, and legs in an attempt to maintain balance. This instability is normal, and the foal should be allowed to stand on its own, without any attempt to assist it.

When standing, the foal should begin attempting to nurse. The foal instinctively searches for the udder at the junction of the mare's legs (both front and hind) and body. The exploratory process involved in searching for the udder is normal, and again, we must resist the urge to "help" the foal. Human interference during initial attempts at nursing can actually delay the foal's progress in finding the udder and interfere with the bond between mare and foal. However, if the foal has not nursed 2 hours after birth or if the mare aggressively rejects the foal's attempts to nurse, then it is time to intervene.

It is important for the foal to receive colostrum soon after birth because it contains the antibodies necessary for protection against diseases during the first months of the foal's life. These antibodies can be absorbed by the foal's intestinal tract up to 36 hours after birth, but the absorption capacity begins to decline dramatically at 12 hours after birth. Therefore, it is important for the foal to receive colostrum before this time elapses. Good-quality colostrum should be creamy, yellow, and sticky. If inadequate passive immunity transfer occurs, the foal should receive supplemental colostrum as soon as possible.

Colostrum has a laxative effect on the foal, helping it expel fetal excrement (meconium). Most foals pass meconium within 3 hours of birth. If the meconium is not passed, the foal may become constipated. A constipated foal often stops moving, squats, and lifts its tail in an attempt to defecate. Constipation can be easily relieved by giving the foal a warm, soapy water enema (1 or 2 cups) or a human mineral oil enema.

Diarrhea in newborn foals is uncommon and may indicate a serious illness. A type of jet diarrhea can cause dehydration and death in a newborn foal within a few hours. Consult your veterinarian immediately if a newborn foal develops diarrhea. However, mild diarrhea is common in older foals (1 to 2 weeks old). This diarrhea often occurs during a mare's foal's heat (a fertile heat that begins approximately 7 to 9 days after foaling) and is commonly referred to as "estrus diarrhea."

Many foals have limb weaknesses or angular deformities at birth. These include knuckles in the fetlock joint, weak pasterns where the rear of the fetlock touches the ground, knock knees, and crooked legs. Many of these conditions correct themselves with exercise, but your veterinarian can assess the situation and recommend treatment.

Some foals may be born with hernias (defects in the body wall that allow part of the intestines to protrude beneath the skin). These often correct themselves over time. Again, this is a situation that should be evaluated and treated by a veterinarian.

Entropion is a problem sometimes seen in newborn foals, where the lower eyelid rolls inward toward the eyeball. The problem results from the irritating or abrasive effects of eyelashes touching the cornea. It is usually temporary and not difficult to correct in horses. Correcting the inversion of the affected eyelid is usually as simple as manually rotating the eyelid back to its normal position; otherwise, your veterinarian should be notified.

The three most common problems in newborn foals are lack of passive transfer of maternal immunity (usually due to lack of colostrum), neonatal sepsis (generalized bacterial infection), and prolonged asphyxia during birth.

Signs of problems may include infrequent nursing (be sure to check the udder), excessive salivation, teeth grinding, or showing signs of abdominal distension and pain (such as rearing up and lying down, rolling onto the back). Other signs may include straining to defecate and urinate, limb abnormalities such as angular or flexural deformities of the limbs, and lameness.

A well-being check-up of the newborn foal and a post-foaling check-up of the mare are very important.

Several simple postpartum management practices will help ensure the health of both the mare and foal. Below is a suggested checklist :

1. Make sure the foal is breathing.

2. Put iodine on the foal's umbilical stump .

3. Ensure the foal receives colostrum shortly after birth.

4. Ensure the foal is protected against tetanus , either through colostrum or a tetanus antitoxin vaccine.

5. Ensure the foal passes meconium and treat constipation or diarrhea immediately.

6. Check the umbilical stump for several days to detect the presence of urine.

7. Check that the foal's eyelids and eyelashes are facing outwards .

8. Follow your veterinarian's advice regarding hernias and limb deformities .

9. Ensure the mare expels the placenta and that it is complete.

10. Check the mare for several days after foaling for any signs of reproductive tract infection.

For those unfamiliar with foal rearing, this post-foaling checklist may seem like a lot of work. However, it only takes a few minutes to complete these handling procedures, and then you can relax and enjoy your new foal knowing we've done everything possible to ensure its well-being.

A newborn foal is a very delicate creature, with very unique needs. Horses are prey animals; in nature, they need to make a significant transition between being in the womb and being able to escape predators.

If stress or illness disrupts this transition, problems can occur, sometimes causing the body's systems to revert to their fetal state. It's very important to know what a newborn normally does and be proactive when we notice something abnormal.

The best thing we can do with a new foal is to pay close attention , monitoring changes in the foal's routine and normal behavior. Don't wait to see if a foal improves on its own. Young foals are fragile and can quickly go downhill . If the foal has a fever, is bored or lethargic, and/or loses interest in nursing, we should seek veterinary attention.

During this stage of life, the most important thing is to support the mother . The foals will nurse, so we'll ensure the mother has a healthy diet. During lactation, she will need additional food and water. Typically, foals nurse approximately 30 times a day. The foal's nutritional requirements are met solely by the mare's milk for the first few months.

Typically, a foal will show interest in feed after about two weeks. They will no longer rely on feed as a food source, but will begin the transition to solid feed. Therefore, it's good to have high-quality forage available to try. During this transition, foals may experience soft stools because they are still developing their digestive enzymes.

If given access to grain or feed, most will consume substantial amounts by two to three months of age. Most foals will readily eat from their mother's feeder. At this age, the foal's nutritional needs exceed what is available in its mother's milk. In addition to the benefit of additional nutrition while still nursing, foals accustomed to eating feed will continue through the weaning process and will be less stressed.

Pregnant mares should be up-to-date on their flu and tetanus vaccinations and, ideally, should receive a booster one month before foaling. This will ensure that there are a high number of antibodies against these diseases in the colostrum produced by the mare during the first 24 hours after foaling (which will be absorbed into the foal's intestine during this time). These antibodies from the mare will provide protection for the first 5 months of life. After this, the foal should begin its own primary vaccination cycle.

Foals are especially susceptible to worms due to their immature immune systems. As with vaccinations, parasite control should begin with the broodmare, who should ideally be dewormed one month before foaling.

Worm control isn't just about regular deworming regimens. Careful management practices can greatly reduce the risk of problems, such as keeping foals on "rested" pastures (land that hasn't had any other horses on it for a period of time), keeping horse density low, and regularly collecting manure.

If we ensure that the foal breathes, stands up, and nurses colostrum, and has the proper health and nutrition program early in life, the chances of weaning a healthy, active foal increase dramatically.

In general, mares have excellent maternal skills and begin interacting with their foal by neighing very soon after birth, even before the foal has been fully expelled.

Maternal recognition of the newborn foal, the creation of bonds, typically begins immediately after birth and lasts up to two or three days. It is normal for the mare to protect her foal after foaling and keep herself between the baby and any perceived threats, including people and other horses with which the mare is familiar.

The mare may act aggressively for a day or two. Even a mare that is normally "well-mannered" toward people can act aggressively. Confinement often exacerbates this behavior. This can be easily avoided if the pair is kept in a large enclosure.

Another important thing to remember is that the "milk let-down" causes temporary discomfort to which the mare may react. Once the mare has relaxed, and with repeated nursing, this response disappears.

Inappropriate maternal behavior is uncommon, occurs especially in first-time mothers, and often manifests shortly after birth.

The most common abnormal maternal behaviors are:

Lack of bonding and protective behavior are usually observed when the mare or foal is ill or receiving medication. It is also relatively common if the foal's delivery involved extensive handling, as in difficult births (called dystocias).

Foal fear occurs when the mare doesn't recognize the foal as her own baby. Instead of normal bonding behavior, the mare tries to move away from her own foal, as if it were an intruder. This behavior occurs most commonly in first-time mothers and is unlikely to be repeated in subsequent pregnancies.

Overprotection is defined as aggressively protecting the foal, to the point of being dangerous not only to the people handling the mare but also to the foal itself. While rushing to get in front of her foal to protect it from a perceived threat, the mare may step on or crush her own foal.

Reluctance to nurse is probably the most common problem and must also be differentiated from deliberate attacks on the foal. The discomfort associated with the "let-down" may cause the mare to overreact. Alternatively, the mare may be reluctant to let the foal nurse because she is fussy about her udder, especially if there is edema. If a mare is "susceptible," her udder should be handled regularly before and during subsequent pregnancies.

True foal rejection is a very serious form of inappropriate maternal behavior and, fortunately, is the least common. The reason why some mares actually reject their foals is unknown. The mare becomes aggressive toward her foal and often savagely attacks the foal. The mare may bite, pick up and throw the foal, or corner and trample it. Once you have confirmed that the mare is truly rejecting and attacking her foal, they should be permanently separated.

There are some things we can do to prevent abnormal interactions between mother and newborn. Always make sure the foal has received an adequate amount of good-quality colostrum. Handle the mare gently but consistently during pregnancy and after foaling. Avoid excessive commotion around the mare and her newborn, and avoid confining them to a small space. It's important to allow plenty of space, especially for overly protective mares. The mare should be allowed to bond with the foal without interference . Avoid overhandling the foal, but try to do so sparingly and consistently.

Proper handling when the foal is very young will allow us to gain confidence and accept human contact without fear . The foal develops respect as it learns that it is not acceptable to invade our space and that we can control its movements. The goal is for it to see us as a dominant member of the herd, or leader, not as its playmate. Let's not encourage rough play such as jumping on us, tripping over us, or biting us. Such activity may seem fun with a one-week-old foal, but it will become dangerous as it grows and strengthens.

We must accustom foals to being handled before they actually need to be . Some foals will be injured and require handling for treatment, vaccinations, and deworming. Getting them used to being halter-bound, handled, tied up, and led early will be less stressful. Always be as calm, gentle, and quiet as possible around the mare and foal.

A tremendous amount of effort goes into selecting a broodmare, choosing a suitable stallion, achieving pregnancy, and maintaining that pregnancy throughout the normal gestation period. Therefore, it is extremely important to provide proper care and attention immediately after the foal's birth , as well as during the first few days of the foal's life.