Now that you have a new foal, what do you need to do with it? There are several important things you need to tend to when foal handling:
 
1. For the first three days you need to treat the navel stump 3 times a day with an appropriate antimicrobial solution. This is usually either dilute Nolvasan (1 part Nolvasan to 9 parts water) or dilute Betadine solution (1 part betadine to 20 parts water). This is to avoid infection from the bacteria in the foal’s environment creeping up into the umbilicus.
 
2. You need to be sure it nurses aggressively and does not lose weight. A lack of nursing and failure to gain can be signs of many things from inadequate milk production from the mare to impending illness in the foal. Observe it enough to know what is normal. There are medications to improve milk production, milk-based supplements, and stall-side lab tests to seek out infection.
 
3. It is not appropriate to vaccinate baby foals. Not at all. The foal’s initial set of vaccinations is given between 3-4 months of age, depending on wether the mare had proper vaccines during her pregnancy. After the first set, the foal needs a booster in 3-5 weeks for the vaccines to become protective. After the booster, it will be on the same schedule as the adults.
 
4. It is very important to deworm foals at one month of age, and every month therafter until they reach 6 months at which time they can join the adult schedule of fecal exams and tailored deworming based on the results.
 
5. Halter train the foals as early as possible. There are soft leather halters made for foals that are safe. The nylon foal halters available everywhere can be used for a few lessons but are not safe for leaving on a foal. Nylon is strong and if it hangs up on something, the halter will not stretch or break like the good leather halters will. Start with simply putting it on and taking it off a few times in the stall. Waiting until you have a confident 400-pound weanling is not the best plan. From day one, have the foal used to being petted and being handled – feet and face included. You’ll be glad you did (as will your vet and farrier 😉
 
6. Most people wean between 4 and 6 months. Weaning often requires a 1-2 month separation or the foal may go right back to nursing. You do not want a mare nursing a 10-month-old! It’s time for that foal to become an independent member of society. 