FOR THOSE WANTING TO LEARN FOALING
I have Periscope, and will be videoing live feed (providing I have someone to hold the phone..lol..If anyone in the Lexington, Ky area looking to learn who wants to help, let me know.
Needed at All times for a foaling kit are:
1. Betadine solution (Novasan solution (the blue stuff) DON'T work as well!) I've been foaling for 23 yrs and Betadine has the LEAST amount of navel infections when treating navels correctly.
2.rubber gloves and sleeves:
3.Enemas (I warm them up as I can't stand the thought of cold liquid hitting the baby, shocking their system)
4. Banamine injections and paste (helps to have both on hand, injectiosn for quick action, and paste for longer lasting for later use, if needed).
5. straps and hooks..for pulling baby out if stuck, works better than towels as it gives more traction.
6. towels: obviously, to dry off babies, but also can be used to wrap around the baby's legs to pull the baby out.
7. Oxygen (see below for less expensive devise..lol).
8. bailing twine to tie the placenta up (this adds weight to help the mare expel it)
9. an empty feed sack and a black strong garbage bag (the disposal of the placenta has to be doubled bag or trash men won't take it, and NOT advisable to dispose of it in your fields, as it will draw coyotes and such.
for those on a shoe string budget!
a 2 liter soda bottle, cut in half. using the end with the pouring side, can be put on the baby's face and used to give CPR by blowing in the top. it fits.
Tail Wraps
for those who want to keep the mare's tail clean, you can use the glove sleeve over the tail, get vet wrap, or gauze wrap to wrap the tail. your choice, whatever , just don't wrap too tight or you can kill the dock of the tail.
AND MOST IMPORTANT!
FEED ALFALFA IN THE LAST TRIMESTER OF THE PREGNANCY!! I can't stress this enough!! ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE FEEDING OR BEDDING ON FESCUE!! the richer the alfalfa, the more of an ANTITOXIN for FESCUE POISONING! I personally choose the 3 string western alfalfa for my (and my clients mares). It's expensive, yes, but it SAVES in vet bills to PREVENT a red bag! (this is when the placenta (red) comes out before the amnionic sac (white). If you do have a redbag, you have only a short period of time to get the baby out, as the baby would be WITHOUT OXYGEN, the umbilical cord is no longer attached, so no blood/oxygen to the baby.
for those who own their own farm and want to foal outside (which is healthier in warmer weather), GET A DONKEY...lol...a mini works quite well. I have one, and she's amazing! No dogs/coyotes/foxes get in there without getting stomped! Donkeys can also be used to teach youngsters to lead, when a little older. One local Vet here in Central Ky has been doing that for yrs.
again, my emails are as followed, contact me when needed.
Kathleen Huff
biglueno1@yahoo.com
catridgellc@yahoo.com
wildkat32@hotmail.com
a1wildkatracing@gmail.com (this is my main email these days)
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