It is finally that time again. The air is changing, the days are getting a little longer, and the anticipation in the farm is growing. Foaling season is officially here!
If you’ve been following our journey for a while, you know that this is my favorite time of the year, but I’m also always worrying about something bad happening.
To keep my anxiety at bay and make sure our mares have the safest, most peaceful experience possible, I have a preparation routine. Today, I’m taking you along on how I get everything ready!
My Way of Doing Pregnancy Checkups: Listening to the Mare
If there is one very important rule I have learned over the years, it is this: every single mare is completely different. Some will give you every sign in the book, and others will look at you like, "Who, me? Giving birth tonight? Never," and then getting ready to birth at 3am.
Because of this, I do my checkups by touch, feel, and intuition. Here is exactly what I look for every single day when we get close:
-
The Udder: This is usually the biggest giveaway. I gently check the size and feel. Normally, their udders start filling with milk about two to four weeks prior to their due date. Right before they foal, we keep an eye out for "waxing", those tiny, waxy white dots of colostrum (first milk) on the ends of the teats. And of course, if you see milk actually leaking, it's time to get your ginger tea ready because it will be a long night!
-
The Tail Base: This is all about the muscles relaxing. I always touch and feel the base of the tail. Is it still hard and tense, or has it gone completely soft and loose? When those ligaments relax, you know her body is getting ready to let the foal pass.
-
The Vulva: I look to see if it’s relaxed compared to its normal, firmer state.
It’s a daily ritual of connection between me and my mares, and it helps me get a "feeling" for exactly where they are at.
Getting the Foaling Suite Ready
As you guys have seen in so many of our videos, surveillance cameras are my absolute best friend during foaling season. We have a camera set up in the forest stable that looks directly into the part of the shed Lavendel will give birth to her foal.
This camera is a total lifesaver. It means we can watch the horses through the night without constantly walking out there, flashing lights, and disturbing the mare’s peace.
About a week before the due date, we officially set up the "foaling suite”. We put up a secure wall in the stable so the pregnant mare can have her own private, quiet space. Inside, we pile up lots of fresh straw so she can be completely comfortable, and we make sure her water dispenser and feeder are perfectly placed.
We also set up what we lovingly call the "foal prison” which is actually just a safe, round fence right outside the shed in the forest! It’s wonderful because the mom and her new baby can step outside into the fresh air the day after birth, but they are totally protected. Plus, they can still be part of the forest and interact with their horse family, which is so important for them.
While the suite is built a week early, I don’t let them in right away. I wait until I get that deep feeling that the birth is truly close and see some of the signs I told you about, then we bring the mother to be inside for the big night.
The “Foal Box”
With the years and so many precious foals born on the farm, I’ve learned to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
So, I’ve put together a “Foal Box” that sits right outside the stall the moment I know a foal is on the way. It contains:
-
Sterile sodium chloride
To clean and prevent infections. -
Chlorhexidine solution 0.5%
To disinfect. -
Enema
To help the foal pass the meconium (first poop) if needed. -
Iodine and water solution
To clean the umbilical cord. -
Lubricant.
-
Clean towels
To clean and dry the foal. -
Horse blanket
In case the mare needs to warm up -
Sterile gauze.
-
Umbilical cord clamp.
-
Sterile scissors.
-
Plastic bottle
In case we need to bottle feed the foal. -
Thermometer.
-
String
To tie the placenta so it doesn’t fall to the ground. -
Rescue handles
In case we need to assist and pull out the foal. -
Licking horse treat
To distract the mare in case she doesn't allow the foal to eat. -
Gloves
To assist on birth or do procedures.
Having this box nearby gives me so much peace of mind.
Now, we just have to wait! My heart is full and we are so ready to welcome Lavendel’s new foal to the horse family. You can watch Lavendel's first foaling video here to see what for us is a perfect birth!
