The Foaling Kit Itself
- A sturdy box, easily carried. You don't want cardboard! I have used for years a plastic filing box from the home/office organization section of Wal-Mart, they can be bought almost anywhere though...Target, Office Depot, etc. A deep tool box is another very good option. What I personally have is one that is made for hanging file folders in, and it has on it's top a section similar to the ones on top of tool boxes, for 'small things'. Of course they are meaning paperclips and rubber bands, but many useful little things can fit! You want it tall enough that a spray bottle can stand up in it, at least, I did.
- STERILE gloves. OB length, which go to your shoulder, and regular hand sized gloves. Be aware if you are sensitive to latex or not, both kinds are available.
- A vaginal lubricant, to apply to the gloves if you have to get up inside.
- CLEAN towels, as free of scent as possible. Don't use laundry soaps that leave a 'nice smell'...your mare won't think it is, and her baby needs her smell on it, not Tide's. Unscented is best!
- CLEAN rags, for wiping the foals eyes and nostrils if needed. A towel is too big to handle without dragging it on the stall floor for this, and you don't want to do that.
- Iodine, betadine, novalsan, similar, to apply to the umbilical stump. You will use this on every foal. The umbilicus is THE prime gateway directly into the foals bloodstream for bacteria and other nasties...and you will most likely lose the foal if such happens. I prefer mine in a spray bottle. Some people dip it on. Do not apply with a q-tip or cotton ball, you will leave fuzzies behind for things to cling to!
- Children's enema's. It is not uncommon for colts to need an enema before they can poo the first time. Fillies don't seem to have this issue, for whatever reason. I have not had to use this on more than 10% of colts, but when you do, you don't want to have to run to the store to get one. Some breeders use them routinely, some wait to see if the foal poops on it's own within a reasonable amount of time (a couple of hours). Be sure it is a child/infant enema! The tip of an adult enema will not fit in a mini foal's anus! I have also found it seems to run in years....I will go years without needing one, then one year, half the colts born will need it. Odd.
- A bag for disposing of the placenta after you have examined it, or your vet has.
- vetrap, or equivalent product, for wrapping her tail.
- A clean, sterilized sharp knife, or a sharp knife and rubbing alcohol to sterilize, in the rare instance the cord doesn't break after 30 mins have passed. Most break within 10 minutes or less.
These are bare essentials. I will look at mine and see what my 'extras' are...I'm blanking right now. More later!
