The most important thing, and unfortunately one you cannot stock up on, is a level head going into it. You can, however, begin working with yourself to get YOU ready. Foaling is an adrenaline rush, even when it goes right! Do you know how you respond in such situations? The majority of birthings do 'go right', or a species cannot continue, thank goodness. But it is essential that your mare knows you are calm and ready, as much as she is. She will pick up on your nerves, trust me. Ladies--did you want your Dr, nurse, husband unsure of what they were doing, stressed, worried, panicking? Neither do our mares *smile*
There are a great variety of ways to prepare yourself to be there, holding her hoof, so to speak!
1. Read!--There are many books out there that cover foaling. I have found indispensable over the years (and therefore thing every Mini owner who breeds more than once, ever, should add them to one's personal library) the following books:
a. Blessed Are The Broodmares
b. A veterinary guide book that you can read and understand-look thru the options, there are many, some
are more technical than others, some more conversational...whatever appeals to you, so you will read!
c. Miniature Horses, A Veterinary Guide
d. if you can find it, Barbara Navieux's "Miniature Horses" (no, I'm not selling mine!)
2. Talk to your vet! He/she knows you, hopefully, and can give advice to you personally. I had a wonderful
vet in IN that way. He is the main thing I miss, but I am working on building another long-term vet/client
relationship now.
a. Have his/her phone number IN YOUR CELL PHONE, and ON PAPER COVERED
WITH TAPE COMPLETELY SO IT DOESN'T FADE, INSIDE YOUR FOALING KIT. Mailing or
packing tape is great for this. If someone else is trying to call while you have your arm inside your mare
(much easier than trying to do both at the same time, trust me...been there, done that) then you don't have
to stop to give information. Time is of the essence if you need to call your vet, every second counts!
3. Watch! You may be a visual learner and don't like reading, and whether you are or not, everyone should
watch at least a half dozen births before handling one on your own. And not just textbook births! For one
thing, I have yet to find a mare who has read the textbook *laugh* Here are some resources:
- www.smallhorsepress.com You can order dvd's that will walk you through foalings, repeatedly!
- www.marestare.com Watch mares foal in real time, and do a service for their owners at the same time!
This is great, as you can watch a variety of mares for a good length of time BEFORE they foal, which will
help you learn the different ways mares will progress through the stages of delivery. You've watched 'mare
2', say, for a month. You see her come in for dinner, and her routine as she eats and gets ready for bed,
etc =) Then, one day, you see she's not sticking her nose in the food bowl quite so fast. She's stretching.
You might find she foals that night. She might go another week. But it will give you a better eye for your
OWN mare....and when she is thinking about foaling.
- www.scottcreek.com I need to double check this one, but Scott Creek is a wonderful resource, either way. They used to have a foaling video up, I have not checked for some time. There are other Mini farms that offer the same--if you know of one, leave a comment, and I will gladly add it!
That's enough I think for today.
