My Notebook

These lists are some of the things I carry around with me in my foaling notebook.
There's the birthing / first week list that is essentially a list of things "to do" during that time.
The foaling kit list has everything I need on hand.
The vaccination lists are the vaccinations I've decided to give these horses.

I've gathered all of this information from my reading, talking to professionals, and from what I know I need to do.

If you ever hear more than one way to do something (cut the cord, pull the cord, let it break), then ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN !
Just because it's "tradition" does not mean it is best for the mare or foal.

Go to my BookShelf to see the books I've read on foaling !

Birthing / First Week List
Foaling Kit List
Foal's Vaccination List
Mare's Vaccination List

Notes on the Birthing List:

Date / Time / Check is for me to write down the time and check off when something has been done
I figure I need all the organizational help that I can get. *grin*
(TIME) is a reminder to me to write down the time, so I can tell when it's actually been "too long" at any stage.
"Work with foal" and references to chapters, refer to the imprint training that I plan on doing for the foal. (see the book)
TPR is for temperature/pulse/respiration and is when you check all three to appraise the condition and health of the horse
The IgG test is something you buy from your vets, or have them run with blood from the foal. It should be done at about 10 hours of age and it checks for the amount of antibodies passed through the colostrum.

Birthing / First Week List

Date / Time / Check EVENTS

Day 0
Stage I

Impatient, pacing mare, possibly sweating, rolling
water breaks (TIME)

Stage II

wrap tail, wash and rinse vulva
check foal, white amnion (TIME)
labor within 5 min (TIME)
muzzle show, rip amnion and help breath
foal OUT (TIME)
Umbilical breakage (TIME), treat stump
tie up amnion up near tail
work with foal (1st session) (1 hr)

Stage III

wash udder
afterbirth out (TIME)
nursing (TIME)
bran mash for mare
check placenta (save)

foal sleeps -> awakes TPR mare and foal
Enema (TIME)
treat stump
nursing? yes/no
2nd session with foal (15 min max): desensitization and sensitization (ch. 8 & 9)

8-12 hr old IgG test
treat stump
check udder : full = not enough nursing
TPR mare and foal

Day 1
12-36 hr old 3rd session: lead and tie (ch 10)
check udder
treat stump
TPR mare and foal

Day 2 4th session: leading, tying, loading
check udder
treat stump
TPR mare and foal

Day 3 5th session: reinforce, leading
check udder
treat stump
TPR foal

Day 4 turn out in small paddock
check udder
treat stump
TPR foal

Day 5 treat stump
TPR foal
5-7 days old: turn out on grass, noon time, remember to hold foal.

Day 6 turn out
treat stump
TPR foal

Day 7 1 week old: lead from the mare (ch. 11)
7-10 days old: move to pipe pen

Day 8 lead at a trot (ch. 11)

Day 9 halt and back in hand (ch. 11)

Day 10 stand quietly (ch. 12)

Day 14 2 weeks old: lead from mare, performance (ch. 13)

Birthing / First Week List
Date / Time / Check	EVENTS
Day 0	Stage I Impatient, pacing mare, possibly sweating, rolling water breaks (TIME) Stage II wrap tail, wash and rinse vulva check foal, white amnion (TIME) labor within 5 min (TIME) muzzle show, rip amnion and help breath foal OUT (TIME) Umbilical breakage (TIME), treat stump tie up amnion up near tail work with foal (1st session) (1 hr) Stage III wash udder afterbirth out (TIME) nursing (TIME) bran mash for mare check placenta (save)
foal sleeps -> awakes	TPR mare and foal Enema (TIME) treat stump nursing? yes/no 2nd session with foal (15 min max): desensitization and sensitization (ch. 8 & 9)
8-12 hr old	IgG test treat stump check udder : full = not enough nursing TPR mare and foal
Day 1 12-36 hr old	3rd session: lead and tie (ch 10) check udder treat stump TPR mare and foal
Day 2	4th session: leading, tying, loading check udder treat stump TPR mare and foal
Day 3	5th session: reinforce, leading check udder treat stump TPR foal
Day 4	turn out in small paddock check udder treat stump TPR foal
Day 5	treat stump TPR foal 5-7 days old: turn out on grass, noon time, remember to hold foal.
Day 6	turn out treat stump TPR foal
Day 7	1 week old: lead from the mare (ch. 11) 7-10 days old: move to pipe pen
Day 8	lead at a trot (ch. 11)
Day 9	halt and back in hand (ch. 11)
Day 10	stand quietly (ch. 12)
Day 14	2 weeks old: lead from mare, performance (ch. 13)

Foaling Kit Check List

halter & lead rope alright, so that's a given

stud chain I'm not certain how the mare will act

twitch ditto

foal halter & lead with imprinting training, you start early

clippers part of the desensitization right after the foal is born

flashlight one bulb overhead ... I might need the extra light

plastic bag desensitization

trash bags for the placenta

2 clean buckets for warm water to wash the mare with and an extra

thermometers (2) one for the mare, one with a flex tip for the foal

lube (lots!) for thermometer, and sterile lube just in case

temp chart need to record it somewhere

tail wrap for the mare ... vet wrap and brown gauze

clean cotton rolls to rip into pieces to clean the mare with

Ivory soap to clean the mare

cotton string to tie up the amnion

sterile OB glove just in case (see sterile lube)

gloves it's a stable, my hands won't be clean

sterile saline for the tincture

nolvasan for the tincture

tincture 4:1 water:nolvasan for the umbilical stump

syringe casings for dipping hey, they're sterile and plentiful

washcloths for the foal: nose, etcetera

towels same thing, plus I'm sure I can always use them

enema fleet enema for the foal

telephone #s one list on the stall door, one in the notebook

books always nice to have those foal books on hand

stethoscope better to hear a pulse with

bandage scissors hey, if I have to cut, it's sharp and the tips are blunt as well

drugs, needles, syringes just in case ... I'll only use them after talking it over with a vet

spray bottles one for dilute nolvasan (disinfection) one for water for desensitization

camera once in a lifetime!

watch better to watch the time with

pencil/pen you can never find one in this barn when you want one!

notebook this!

cell phone better to contact people with, especially from the stall rather than from the phone down the hall

Foaling Kit Check List
halter & lead rope	alright, so that's a given
stud chain	I'm not certain how the mare will act
twitch	ditto
foal halter & lead	with imprinting training, you start early
clippers	part of the desensitization right after the foal is born
flashlight	one bulb overhead ... I might need the extra light
plastic bag	desensitization
trash bags	for the placenta
2 clean buckets	for warm water to wash the mare with and an extra
thermometers (2)	one for the mare, one with a flex tip for the foal
lube (lots!)	for thermometer, and sterile lube just in case
temp chart	need to record it somewhere
tail wrap	for the mare ... vet wrap and brown gauze
clean cotton rolls	to rip into pieces to clean the mare with
Ivory soap	to clean the mare
cotton string	to tie up the amnion
sterile OB glove	just in case (see sterile lube)
gloves	it's a stable, my hands won't be clean
sterile saline	for the tincture
nolvasan	for the tincture
tincture	4:1 water:nolvasan for the umbilical stump
syringe casings for dipping	hey, they're sterile and plentiful
washcloths	for the foal: nose, etcetera
towels	same thing, plus I'm sure I can always use them
enema	fleet enema for the foal
telephone #s	one list on the stall door, one in the notebook
books	always nice to have those foal books on hand
stethoscope	better to hear a pulse with
bandage scissors	hey, if I have to cut, it's sharp and the tips are blunt as well
drugs, needles, syringes	just in case ... I'll only use them after talking it over with a vet
spray bottles	one for dilute nolvasan (disinfection) one for water for desensitization
camera	once in a lifetime!
watch	better to watch the time with
pencil/pen	you can never find one in this barn when you want one!
notebook	this!
cell phone	better to contact people with, especially from the stall rather than from the phone down the hall

Notes on vaccinations:

I've taken these from the UC Davis Center for Equine Health vaccination schedule.
** Since then, I've had UC Davis veternarians suggest a much more passive vaccination schedule for the FOAL, as a yet to be published study has indicated that increased stress on the foal's immune system from vaccinations might be connected to increased rates of pneummonia and other ailments.
I'll first assess the foals's health before starting on vaccinations. Most of these can be bumped back a month or so, starting at 4 months and ending a month or so later.
As well, strangles has occured in this area and I will consult the vets about vaccinating the foal against that disease.
Some of these vaccinations need to be foal-only ones ... they aren't always the ones you can buy from your feed store, so be sure to read up on them and read the label for safety.

Foal's Vaccinations

Month Type

2 months Rhino

3 months 4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)

3 months Rhino

3 months Rabies

4 months 4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)

4 months Rhino

4 months Rabies

5 months Influenza

7 months Rhino

10 months Rhino

13 months Rhino

Foal's Vaccinations
Month	Type
2 months	Rhino
3 months	4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)
3 months	Rhino
3 months	Rabies
4 months	4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)
4 months	Rhino
4 months	Rabies
5 months	Influenza
7 months	Rhino
10 months	Rhino
13 months	Rhino

Mare's Vaccinations

Month Type

before breeding Rabies

normal yearly booster (usually in spring) EEE, WEE

3 months pregnant Rhino

5th month Rhino

7th month Rhino

9th month Rhino

4-6 weeks before due date 4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)

Month	Type
before breeding	Rabies
normal yearly booster (usually in spring)	EEE, WEE
3 months pregnant	Rhino
5th month	Rhino
7th month	Rhino
9th month	Rhino
4-6 weeks before due date	4-way (Tet, EEE, WEE, Influ)