Bedding and foaling down - help and advice

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Right, it is about time I made a decision regarding this as it is not long to go now.

My mare is on Equimat and shavings at the moment. She is a very wet horse, and I go through two bales a week because of this to keep it white and dry. I fully intend to put her back on shavings as soon as possible once the foal is born, but for the few weeks before I need to find an alternative.

I know straw is one of the best things, but as my horse is so wet and I have matting I don't think I could keep it clean enough to be a good environment for the new foal. I simply do not have the time to lift all the mats regularly to clean underneath and last time she was on straw (couple of years ago) it absolutely hummed!

So, I need something that is safe for the foal to be born onto, and yet absorbent enough to be used with rubber matting.

I have been thinking of the Nedz Bedz and spoke to stud who said it would be a good option if I could not use paper... any one had any experience with this? Paper is out because of out muck heap (yard owner would not allow it as farmer will not take it away).
 
What if you have an awkward mare that is not allowed straw (allergy?)

We foaled Byter down on shavings as quite honestly, I didn't think there would be a problem (and there wasn't) but then I've read a lot on here that you shouldn't...

I'll have the same dilemma next year if everything goes to plan... unless I foal Asti out... which is always an option I guess!!!
 
There was someone on here last spring that said she foaled down on shavings and didn't have a problem with them at all (I asked on purpose after seeing her pictures - don't know if they're in the 'new arrivals for 06' slot) I always foal down on straw too then change back as soon as they've gone back to stud as I think they're easier to clean out and renew immediately after foaling when the mare loses so much fluid.
You could always have a good bed and banks of shavings down underneath the straw which might eliminate too many odours and would soak up a lot of the wet which I did before and it was a big help and more economical too and the shavings didn't stick to the foal.
 
Ah then thats when you need to take a risk and use something else. I would steer very clear of paper but perhaps go for the very big flake shavings.
 
Could you not have straw and shavings? I also have a very messy/wet/dirty horse. I have straw banks. and can fill the bed out. Then shavings in the middle to soak up the wet and give a base. I find it works really well. Not sure for foals but an idea.
 
Hmmm... the only thing about putting the shavings underneath is that Hannah is very very messy and mixes up her bed. This means that there will be shavings everywhere which does not eliminate the problem of shavings getting into the foal's airway and also all over the placenta.

I also have a bit of a problem with straw in that I come out in a bad rash after handling it. Even if I have long sleeves etc. it seems to be something to do with the dust. This is the reason I took Hannah off it initially. It brings out my ezcema (runs in the family I'm afraid) which to me is just horrendous.

I didn't really want to mention this immediately as I didn't want it to look like I was putting myself above my horse and foal's well being, but it is certainly a factor against me wanting to use it.
 
I really know where you are coming from with this, its so difficult! However, I've foaled one on straw which was a nightmare, foal found it difficult to manage on at all! Then one on shavings no bother

This time I think I'll pray for fine weather and do it outside, maybe you need to keep fingers crossed for a very early spring!!!!??

I guess easibed might be better than shavings as though its still small, it doesn't tend to stick to anything?
 
I don't think it really matters too much to be honest. I always go for straw as much safer, however on the stud I managed they bedded down on shavings and didn't have any probs.

Personally if I was you I would bed down with straw and buy a boiler suit for yourself.
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I think if you put a really good, deep straw bed down, you will probably find it ok (boiler suit idea a good one). Saying that, we had intended to use straw when Tilly was born, but she beat us to it and was born onto Excel, which is a mix of shavings and dust-extracted straw. She was absolutely fine.
 
Do you mean the umbilicus, not the placenta?

A stud I interviewed at recently (not the position I accepted) foals down on Bedmax, which are HUGE flakes of shavings. Just an idea.
 
Paper is actually OK for foaling on, my friend who lost her mare this year foaled both years on paper, on top of rubber matts, as her mare had respiratory problems. Having paper on the yard is a pain the proverbial though.
 
That is why the YO will not allow paper, even though that is what they foal down on at the stud where Hannah was inseminated. Our shavings are quite big flakes, but I think it would be better if I could change it for a small period of time.

I won't need a thick bed down just big bankings as Hannah has the rubber matting and it is super bouncy and comfy... I never realise until we had been out to a black tie ball and Hannah had been colicking earlier, so we checked on her on the way home and I walked in with my stilettos!

Would you trust the company if they said it was ok to foal down on???
 

We foal on woodshaving and chopped straw mixed together which is fab.
Will also foal on woodshavings alone and have never had a problem.
We have rubber floors and have also used straw and paper in the past but still come back to woodshaving /chopped straw mix.
My mares all have assisted births i.e we are always there and can honestley say we have never had any bother on woodshavings.
In fact i find it better than foal lying in a pool of amniotic fluid underneath the straw.
We often have early foals and find woodshavings to be warmer than straw and have never had a problem with foals getting bedding stuck to them .
As for the placenta as we dont leave the mare till she has cleansed it never gets lost in the bed.
It is always tied up to the tail till it comes away anyway.
So i have to say that use what suits you.
 
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It is always tied up to the tail till it comes away anyway.

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Do you mean that literally - you tie the placenta to the tail? Or do you mean to itself?
 
Thanks Sallyf... I might think about the shavings thing a little more then. The Nedz Bedz I was thinking of using is actually chopped straw and is supposed to be very absorbent, so that also sounds like a possibility.

The other problem I have with straw is that I cannot seem to find good quality straw around here. It seems very dusty which I do not want my mare to be on for a month or so really!
 
We always used to foal inside on straw, shavings do stick to the foal especially their eyes, but it's copeable with. The most important thing is to bed right up to the door, if you leave any concrete showing you can bet your life the foal will aim for that area..
I don't like paper at all, and mostly foal outside, currently we are trying micanthus? and liking it. It has mixed well with the shaving beds and is cheaper than shavings.
I would go for the largest shaving size possible.
 
Thanks Henryhorn... the shavings we are getting at the moment are quite big flaked, but I do not have much say over those as the yard owner buys them in the hundreds and we have to buy them from her.

She had agreed I can use something other than shavings if I want to while Han has her foal (she just thought straw but then said why don't I look around before deciding).

I don't need to worry about concrete as I have the Equimat rubber matting covering the entire floor of the stable so it has a soft landing where ever she choses to deposit it!

Any more advice???
 
You can either knot it to itself or tie it to the tail albeit loosely just to lift it off the floor as it is the light end of the placenta.
We usually have a bandage on the tail and the bottom end in a plait.
Dont like to leave it dragging around the floor as difficult to examine.
If mare hasnt looked like cleansing within an hour we usually give them an oxytocin jab to help it on its way.
Helps them drop the milk as well as they dont seem to drop milk very well while hanging onto the placenta.
 
Well in the past I have always foaled down on straw but this year have a mare in foal with respiratory problems so am planning to use Nedz Beds Pro.
I now have a few of mine on it with Equimats and love it. It is so absorbent I think it'l be an ideal alternative to normal straw and I dont think your YO will have a poblem with it either.
Good Luck though with whatever you decide on, its such a big responsibility isn't it
 
i foaled shantih on straw.i had lovely mats then a huige thick bed and massive banks.the foal practically hurls itself round trying to stand so i would still have a lovely full sized bed and banmk up really well as my filly pulled all shantihs stables banks down even though i had compacted them against the wall a fair bit!which was scarey she was hitting the stable sides with her legs and all sorts(she had an obsession with trying to suckle the wall for a short time too!)
shantih is also messy but i found she went cleaner towards foaling and the stable wasnt wet.she was kept on straw but i prefere shavings really once the foal is abit older.
i think i used a whole one of those massive bales of straw for her bed.
i would try using a huge shavings bed although i dont know how well clean dry shavings bank up to withstand the foals efforts to scrabble up!
 
Huh - never heard of tieing it ot the tail - that's why I asked! I always have the mare's tail plated and the doubled back up under a bandage. But I tie the placenta to itself with string - though not baler twine, as it's too slippy, sometimes the knots don't hold. I too hate the thought of it dragging around behind the mare - the risk of leaving a bit of placenta behind is too high.
 
Oh god... all this talk of tying the placenta is making me queasy!!!

When my friend's mare foaled she put it in a bucket with a lid on for the vet to inspect, and when I got there ten minutes after the foal had been worn (the placenta came away immediately) she lifted the lid... that smell has lived with me ever since and I am honestly not sure if I'll be able to do the placenta bit without chucking my guts up!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oh god... all this talk of tying the placenta is making me queasy!!!

When my friend's mare foaled she put it in a bucket with a lid on for the vet to inspect, and when I got there ten minutes after the foal had been worn (the placenta came away immediately) she lifted the lid... that smell has lived with me ever since and I am honestly not sure if I'll be able to do the placenta bit without chucking my guts up!!

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LMAO!!! If you are gonna handle the placenta - do it whilst it's warm!! It's HORRID when it's cold!! It's a good idea to get the vet to check it, when he comes out to check on the mare and foal - esp. if you've never done it before! I find it fascinating!! You can always put a peg on your nose
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