Foal Management

This article will discuss foal management during the preweaning period.  Before weaning, foals are rapidly growing and can gain 2.5 to 3 pounds per day with good management.  The foal is interacting more with its environment and is becoming independent.  Below are several management topics to optimize health and future productivity of the foal.

Gentling and Halter Breaking

There are several advantages to handling a foal while it is still with its mother.  Usually, successful methods work on the principle of rewarding the foal for submitting to human touch and yielding to pressure.  Things to remember are that younger foals are smaller and easier to control.  Gentling the foal before weaning should lessen trauma and decrease possible injuries at weaning.  University studies suggest that handling during preweaning period increases the foal’s manageability and learning ability.  Foals can be halter broken after they are at least 1 week old.

Creep Feeding

Mare’s milk may not be enough energy to meet the needs of a 4 month old or older foal, so consider creep feeding.  Providing a balanced feed after 2 months of age will increase preweaning growth and get the foal used to eating feed.  Use feed formulated for foals to provide the correct nutrition.  Introduce foals to small amounts (2-3 pounds/feeding) and then gradually increase the feed until available free-choice.  Use or build a creep feeder to keep the mare and other older animals out to allow the foals to get the feed. 

 

Health Care

A horse is at the highest risk of disease for the first year of life.  Their immune system is not adequate to produce antibodies until at least 2 months of age.  The foal is depending on colostrum (received at birth) from its mother to protect it from diseases.  Diarrhea and septicemia are the biggest disease risks the first week of life.  Diarrhea can cause dehydration of the foal.  Septicemia or joint/navel ill is caused by bacteria in the blood and can cause death.  It is usually seen 3-4 days after birth.  Signs include depression, decrease nursing, diarrhea and excessive sleeping.  Other health problems include respiratory infections and pneumonia. 

Proper management of the mare and foal will reduce disease potential in foals.  Place mares in foaling area 30 days prior to foaling to give time to develop antibodies to organisms in their environment.  Make sure mares have been vaccinated and dewormed and use your veterinarian to make recommendations on when is the best time for your horses.  It is best to foal outside on a clean, grassy pasture, but if you foal in a stall make sure it is clean and disinfected between mares. 

Consult your vet about vaccination and deworming programs for foals.  Also perform regular hoof care on foals.  Cuts, bruises, and scrapes are common health problems in foals less than 6 months of age.  If possible, keep mares and foals without halters so they do not get tangled up or caught on objects.  Maintain a safe pasture environment for the curious young foals.

You have a big investment in your mare and foal, so make sure you are protecting them both and working towards having a friendly, confident foal that will hopefully have less stress when it is time to wean them.  For more in-depth reading on this topic, check out the article Foal Management During the Preweaning Period  from Alabama Cooperative Extension and eXHorses.