MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Ok, im going to the tack shop tomorrow and thought i'd get all of my foaling kit ready. Getting a bit panicky actually
So i need some help with the list that i need in my foaling kit please.
Foaling kit? Help please!
- Thread starter MillionDollar
- Start date
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Anyone?
milliepup
Well-Known Member
Purple spray or iodine
Disposable gloves
String or baling twine to tie up afterbirth
Towel for rubbing down foalie
Thermometer
Tail bandage
Lambing bottle with long teat incase foal doesn't feed or mum doesn't let it
Bucket with lid to keep everything clean
I'm sure I've missed something!
Good luck
Disposable gloves
String or baling twine to tie up afterbirth
Towel for rubbing down foalie
Thermometer
Tail bandage
Lambing bottle with long teat incase foal doesn't feed or mum doesn't let it
Bucket with lid to keep everything clean
I'm sure I've missed something!
Good luck
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Thank you, thats excellent!
I didn't think of the bottle at all
just put all of our lamb bottle away aswell
I didn't think of the bottle at all
pagancluf
Well-Known Member
Never had anything to do with a foal, but the above sounds good - just wanted to wish you well with it - only over a month to go - wil fly by!!
mat
Well-Known Member
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Awww thank you! I need all the luck i can get as im very nervous (aswell as excited of course). It will won't it, argh, lol.
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Oh thank you, might have to invest in one of those! Thanks for the luck aswell, i'll pocket that
Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
It might be a good move to see where you can get a foal rug...about 2ft 3' for a newborn 16hh foal....or line up an old jumper in case weather turns and foalie gets cold.
S
S
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I bought the very bare essentials... a pair of disposable gloves, some iodine spray, a towel washed at 90 degrees then stored in an air tight bucket, a black plastic bin bag for the placenta and a foalie slip.
I ended up needing just the iodine spray for his stump and the black bin bag for placenta. Hannah cleaned him off really well while he was down, and the rest was useless! So glad I didn't go to the expense of buying every last thing... he did need an enema but the vet administered that!
I ended up needing just the iodine spray for his stump and the black bin bag for placenta. Hannah cleaned him off really well while he was down, and the rest was useless! So glad I didn't go to the expense of buying every last thing... he did need an enema but the vet administered that!
Gingernags
Well-Known Member
I can't recommend the book from foal tofull grown by Janet Lorch... Bounty and I can't put it down and our mares haven't even gone to stud!!!
Has got the foaling kit list in it and loads of handy hints!!!!
Also Your Mare's First Foal by Jane Skepper.
Has got the foaling kit list in it and loads of handy hints!!!!
Also Your Mare's First Foal by Jane Skepper.
Tia
Well-Known Member
Oh Claire how exciting!! I haven't been on here much recently but I really hope all goes well for you.
Foaling kit; well the one first listed covers pretty much everything; although I would suggest getting a stainless steel bucket and also long disposable gloves incase you have to pop in there for a minute.
Same as Becki, all I actually used was the navel spray, string to tie up the afterbirth and short disposable gloves. I put all the placenta and afterbirth in a wheelbarrow and put in the barn covered over with an old feed bag until the vet came the next day. Do check your afterbirth though.
I did use the towel to rub the foal down. Cloud went into colic shortly after birth and I gave her a warm bran mash...so make sure you have some bran.
I also had a tube of colostrum, which I didn't have to use.
Best being safe than sorry, but I really wouldn't go for those overpriced foaling kits to be honest - they really aren't worth the money.
Very best of luck.
Foaling kit; well the one first listed covers pretty much everything; although I would suggest getting a stainless steel bucket and also long disposable gloves incase you have to pop in there for a minute.
Same as Becki, all I actually used was the navel spray, string to tie up the afterbirth and short disposable gloves. I put all the placenta and afterbirth in a wheelbarrow and put in the barn covered over with an old feed bag until the vet came the next day. Do check your afterbirth though.
I did use the towel to rub the foal down. Cloud went into colic shortly after birth and I gave her a warm bran mash...so make sure you have some bran.
I also had a tube of colostrum, which I didn't have to use.
Best being safe than sorry, but I really wouldn't go for those overpriced foaling kits to be honest - they really aren't worth the money.
Very best of luck.
henryhorn
Well-Known Member
Advice above includes the same stuff we have, but make sure you have access to artificial foaling milk in case there are problems, you don't need to buy any but find a friend who either has some or check your vet carries it at the surgery.
We have calving ropes for putting round the foal's legs if necessary, but
I wouldn't be putting your arm inside to be honest, best leave that to the vet. You do have to be very experienced or you can do harm.
Ours are born outside au naturel, and all we do is check the afterbirth is all there, inspect the mare for tears inside (and keep a close eye on her back end for a week afterwards incase an infection starts), we spray thoroughly the stump on the foal, and watch to make sure it's actually drinking, some can make sucking noises but the mare have no milk!
The things to watch for afterwards are any lameness whatsoever in the foal get the vet, as joint ill starts that way.
Make sure both ends are working ie drinking and pooing.. Some foals need enemas.
Scouring is normal when the mare has her foaling heat, but if it goes on more than 24 hours ask your vet for the paste specifically for that.
Most foalings go according to plan but some don't. If you are in doubt get your vet for peace of mind.
We have calving ropes for putting round the foal's legs if necessary, but
I wouldn't be putting your arm inside to be honest, best leave that to the vet. You do have to be very experienced or you can do harm.
Ours are born outside au naturel, and all we do is check the afterbirth is all there, inspect the mare for tears inside (and keep a close eye on her back end for a week afterwards incase an infection starts), we spray thoroughly the stump on the foal, and watch to make sure it's actually drinking, some can make sucking noises but the mare have no milk!
The things to watch for afterwards are any lameness whatsoever in the foal get the vet, as joint ill starts that way.
Make sure both ends are working ie drinking and pooing.. Some foals need enemas.
Scouring is normal when the mare has her foaling heat, but if it goes on more than 24 hours ask your vet for the paste specifically for that.
Most foalings go according to plan but some don't. If you are in doubt get your vet for peace of mind.
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Thank you everyone so much for all of that, excellent advice!
Becki- thats a great little list, i also forgot foal slips! doh! oooo can't wait to have a look for them
Tia- i know i am very excited like i said but very anxious aswell as i'm sure you were for Cloud. we must see some more piccies of Legacy! There are some pics of Bramble and Teazle in the PG under 'Neraly 1 month to go!'.
Henryhorn- thank you for all of that. Luckily i've been used to cows and sheep giving birth every year (we have about 1,000 lambs per year). So although they aren't the exact same as horses they do have similarities. Uncle and mum are very experienced at the shoving arm up cows or sheeps backsides so if worst comes to worst i do have them
, athough i would definitely ring vet ASAP. And know a lot about joint ill, it got one of my pet lambs one year, luckily he recovered from it.
Thanks again for all your advice i really appreciate it, they'll be plenty more posts to come, lol.
Becki- thats a great little list, i also forgot foal slips! doh! oooo can't wait to have a look for them
Tia- i know i am very excited like i said but very anxious aswell as i'm sure you were for Cloud. we must see some more piccies of Legacy! There are some pics of Bramble and Teazle in the PG under 'Neraly 1 month to go!'.
Henryhorn- thank you for all of that. Luckily i've been used to cows and sheep giving birth every year (we have about 1,000 lambs per year). So although they aren't the exact same as horses they do have similarities. Uncle and mum are very experienced at the shoving arm up cows or sheeps backsides so if worst comes to worst i do have them
Thanks again for all your advice i really appreciate it, they'll be plenty more posts to come, lol.
setadrift6
Active Member
Hi.
All the replys sound great. Don't forget to let nature takes its course and let the mare cope with her new pride and joy.
Nobody has suggested the following: Hot water in kettle for making tea and coffee, plenty of sugar and biscuits. A the obvious one a strong drink to toast the new arrival.
Have fun and good luck!
All the replys sound great. Don't forget to let nature takes its course and let the mare cope with her new pride and joy.
Nobody has suggested the following: Hot water in kettle for making tea and coffee, plenty of sugar and biscuits. A the obvious one a strong drink to toast the new arrival.
Have fun and good luck!
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Haha, excellent suggestion of coffee and biscuits gonna need plenty of them just to stay up, lol. Thank you!
Gingernags
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has suggested the following: Hot water in kettle for making tea and coffee, plenty of sugar and biscuits. A the obvious one a strong drink to toast the new arrival.
Have fun and good luck!
[/ QUOTE ]
We are going one better next year - not just the kettle for tea/coffee - we already have a tea-lady all prepared and booked in!! She says she'll be crying too much to be of any other use if she's there to see the actual birth so she'll make the tea while I am midwife and sister films it all!
Nobody has suggested the following: Hot water in kettle for making tea and coffee, plenty of sugar and biscuits. A the obvious one a strong drink to toast the new arrival.
Have fun and good luck!
[/ QUOTE ]
We are going one better next year - not just the kettle for tea/coffee - we already have a tea-lady all prepared and booked in!! She says she'll be crying too much to be of any other use if she's there to see the actual birth so she'll make the tea while I am midwife and sister films it all!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Oh and a bottle of champagne to celebrate!!!
Forgot to mention that HenryHorn... I found out where the nearest supplier of replacement milk was in case the worst happened, and found out it was actually my feed merchant which is really handy because he is 2 mins down the road from me and gave me his mobile number should I need to get him to deliver some asap. It's definitelyworth knowing!
Forgot to mention that HenryHorn... I found out where the nearest supplier of replacement milk was in case the worst happened, and found out it was actually my feed merchant which is really handy because he is 2 mins down the road from me and gave me his mobile number should I need to get him to deliver some asap. It's definitelyworth knowing!
S_N
Well-Known Member
HH makes an excellent point re MRP (mare's replacement milk) and someone said about colostrum - are there any studs near you that may have frozen colostrum? What your girls, if they start to drip milk, collect it immediately, it's amazing how quickly they will loose all their colostrum and that will lead to you needing to get hold of some frozen or more expensively, having a plasma fusion! colostrum has to be given form a bottle BEFORE the foal sucks off mum - they won't take the bottle once they have been on the bar! If your foal does need it and sucks first, then the vet will have to tube it! We've only plasma'd 2 foals out of 95 on the ground, but plenty have needed donor colostrum.
Also, I would invest in a phosphate enemas - we give them as a matter of course, everywhere I've ever worked has tbh! IMO it just helps the wee souls get rid of the horrid meconium and then they can faff with getting up and finding the milk bar.
Also, I would invest in a phosphate enemas - we give them as a matter of course, everywhere I've ever worked has tbh! IMO it just helps the wee souls get rid of the horrid meconium and then they can faff with getting up and finding the milk bar.
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Great advice. Re. getting foal to suck off bottle first, i know exactly what you mean as lambs are just the same, its very hard to get a lamb to fed off the bottle once they've tasted mum, lol.
Luckily my uncle is friends of the owner of a stud near by so i shall get him to ring him just in case.
The enemas, where do you get them?
Luckily my uncle is friends of the owner of a stud near by so i shall get him to ring him just in case.
The enemas, where do you get them?
S_N
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The enemas, where do you get them?
[/ QUOTE ]
Try your local chemist. Failing that ask Kate or Tina at Goshka. Failing that, I will ask where we get ours from, but with such sporadic internet access this end, I may not get back to you in time
The enemas, where do you get them?
[/ QUOTE ]
Try your local chemist. Failing that ask Kate or Tina at Goshka. Failing that, I will ask where we get ours from, but with such sporadic internet access this end, I may not get back to you in time
MillionDollar
Well-Known Member
Thank You! Don't worry if you don't get back to me in time.