This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Equine Reproduction » Pregnancy, Foaling, & Neonatal Care » Normal Birth (Parturition) »
  Discussion on Pasture foaling among herd
Author Message
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 - 5:57 pm:

We bred my daughter's Paint mare last summer, expecting a June 2012 baby. This will be the first time ever for us, and our plan is to let her foal in the pasture. Our entire herd is currently 2 mares and 2 geldings. I worked at a PMU barn a few years back where the mares foaled on pasture, (always in the wee hours of the morning) and the biggest issue was the occasional mare trying to steal a foal. Should I be more concerned with the geldings in the field, too?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Jan 23, 2012 - 12:00 pm:

Hi Michelle. There are two excellent books available that I would high recommend: Blessed are the Brood Mares and Blessed are the Foals. They both are like "the bible" imo for people who are expecting a foal.

As to foaling in a field, that depends more on where you live, if there is a run in shelter, etc. I always prefered to foal in an enclosed area that I could keep clean and dry and where I could easily handle the mare and foal if there was a problem during/after foaling. Is this the mare's first foal? Whether or not she was experience or not would play into it also. Springtime in a lot of areas can be wet and chilly, even in June. Above all, you need a place that is clean and dry. And, I assume you are giving the mare all her shots (Rhino etc?) and know how to treat the neonatal foal? If not, read on this site as there is a lot of good info. And, of course, necessary info in those two books. The are both available on Amazon. I am no vet, but did breed and raise Arabians for a lot of years so have had a fair amount of experience.

I would be less concerned about the geldings and other horses than I would about general conditions and ease of access to the mare. Some very sweet mares get very agressive and protective of a foal and if in a pasture, you will probably never be able to check over the foal.
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Monday, Jan 23, 2012 - 8:32 pm:

This would be her third foal, just a first for the human equation.
As far as the shots, pasture or other area that is clean, dry and sheltered - check, check, check! The pastures is fenced in 3 parts, with the smallest being about 1+ acre around the barn itself and that would be my first choice. I could always move her in there when she gets close, and if necessary, leave the rest of the herd on the other side of the fence right beside her for company when she wants it. Trying not to have her foal in the box stall as it is only 12 x 12, but if the weather turned particularly nasty, I could remove the panel and include part of the alley for a 12 x 16 stall. Read, read, read...that's the plan for the next few months.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Jan 23, 2012 - 10:28 pm:

Sounds like you are on the right track! btw,everyone on HA loves foal pictures. (hint, hint) I'd also suggest putting a halter on the mare, even a break-away one, just before she foals. I have known lovely mares suddenly decide they didn't want to be caught after foaling. If you've had the mare awhile and she knows you well, this probably won't happen. We did have two different mares over the years that we were very happy we had a halter on them. Once you find she's easy to handle and lets you near the foal with no problems, take it off as you wouldn't want the foal to get a foot or other body part caught. Foals have a way of doing the impossible! Do read on the site also; lots of good advice and there are other very experienced people on this board along with Dr.O, the moderator.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012 - 10:14 pm:

Hello Michelle,
Should you be concerned about the horses as she foals? Absolutely. Will your geldings be more trouble than the mares you have had experienced with? I have no reason to believe they would be more than average trouble.

Best would be for the mare to be put up in a foaling stall at night and watched during the day as the time draws near. However many foals are born under less than optimum situations and do OK.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC