What happens during and immediately after the birth can be critical to the normal development of the young foal. Normal foals are very precocious and the rule of thumb is that the foal should be standing by two hours after birth and nursing by three hours. The foal nursing stimulates oxytocin in the mare which helps her to pass the placenta (or cleanings). These should be passed by three hours.

Early attention to a foal that is too weak to stand by itself by two hours old will be important. Such foals may have bacteria in the blood stream that can seep out to joints, growth plates and other internal organs resulting in infections at those sites. Sources of infection for a newborn foal include the navel, the gut, the lungs and the placenta so hygiene in the foaling area is very important. The appearance of the placenta can give you one of the first clues that the new foal might not be normal.

Spread the placenta out on the ground and see if it is all there. If a mare retains part of the placenta, it is often the non-pregnant horn tip, so make sure that is present. Look for areas that seem thickened, discoloured or have a foul odour. If you suspect that placenta is abnormal and the foal seems weak, early veterinary attention will lead to a better outcome long term, as infection of joints and bones can severely affect the athletic potential of a foal.

Another reason why a newborn foal might be slow to stand is oxygen deprivation during the late stages of pregnancy or during the birth process. These foals may also lose their affinity for the mare and their ability to suckle. Some of the more severely affected of these foals will even seizure. Thankfully, this condition is completely reversible in foals, and with early recognition and prompt supportive care, the prognosis is excellent for life and for athletic function.

The newborn foal and the mare should be allowed to bond undisturbed in the early period after the birth. By the time it is 12 to 24 hours old the foal should be strong and alert. Normal foals spend their time awake nursing, playing and urinating. They wake up, head straight for the udder, nurse the mare out, play for a while, urinate and then lie back down and sleep for a time. It is not normal for foals to appear abnormally tired or sleepy i.e. stand around with a drooping head and eyelids. This is a sign that they may be infected. Other things to watch are

• the navel; this should be dipped in a mild disinfectant solution (2% chlorhexidine) 3 or 4 times a day until it dries up and falls off;

• the eyelids, that they are not rolling inwards (entropion) and scratching the surface of the cornea;

• the limbs, that the tendons are not too lax or too tight; and the joints, that there is no heat, pain or swelling felt in or around them.

Colostrum is the mare’s first milk and is a thick, yellowish, sticky substance that contains energy, nutrients, vitamins and antibodies against bacteria and viruses that the mare has come in contact with on the farm or has been vaccinated against.

You can use a wine refractometer to check the specific gravity which should be greater than 1.060 for good quality colostrum. IgG concentration in the blood can be checked at 18-24 hours to ensure the foal received adequate good quality colostrum.

If levels are low, the foal can be supplemented before 24 hours with colostrum from another mare or with intravenous plasma. If the mare was vaccinated against tetanus, the foal will receive protective antibodies from her in the colostrum. If you are concerned that the mare was not adequately vaccinated, or the foal did not receive enough colostrum, your vet can administer an anti-tetanus shot to the foal to make sure it is protected.

By 12 hours old, the foal should have passed the first dung and the first urine. The first dung is thick, sticky and very dark, and some foals, in particular colts, may have difficulty passing this dung. If this occurs you may see them repeatedly straining. A warm soapy water rectal enema, administered carefully, may be enough to help the foal pass the dung. If not, it may become progressively more colicky and bloated and may require attention from the vet. Foals urinate for the first time by 8-12 hours after birth and thereafter they urinate frequently. Weak foals, particularly those that are unable to stand, may have problems emptying their bladder, and occasionally the bladder may rupture. These foals also strain as if they are trying to pass dung, and over time they will become progressively more depressed and distended in the abdomen. This condition requires surgical treatment so if you suspect a problem, do not hesitate to call for veterinary assistance.

Attention to these important details in the early period during and after foaling will allow early intervention in the case of abnormal foals and optimise the outcome for a future successful athlete.