Starting Life with Your New Foal

"Starting Life with Your New Foal!"

This information sheet has been provided to give you some insight into what to expect when your new foal arrives. It should be treated as a guideline only and your veterinarian should be consulted immediately if you have any concerns about your new foal’s health so that the proper diagnosis and relevant treatment can be administered as soon as possible.

PMU Foal Adoption Network has taken all available precautions to ensure that your foal does arrive at his/her new home healthy, but there are some situations which MAY arise which are unavoidable due to the stress inherent in long-distance transport. The following information is shared to provide you with the basic knowledge to recognize these situations and how to deal with them.

Prior to Arrival at Their New Home:

Your new foal may have traveled hundreds of miles, possibly with stops along the way. This is also a weaning period for these babies - being apart from their dams for the first time. The trip will tire them out, they may be depressed due to the major changes in their short lives, and they may have some minor cuts or scrapes sustained while traveling in a trailer with many other foals. Remember that the foals are transported “loose” in a trailer - safer at this age as they will find their own balance and a comfortable position to travel in. The foals are coming from Canada and North Dakota in the Fall and may, at time of transport, have already developed a fairly substantial winter coat. Foals traveling to the southern areas of the United States may experience additional stress as they will have to adjust to the warmer climate. Keep in mind that these foals will adjust quite quickly to their new environments… mother nature responds and they will shed out accordingly.

Understand that the foals will NOT be halter broke or easily handled when they arrive - they will have had almost no handling at this point and it will take the adopters time and dedication to gain their trust. When adopters pick up their foals from the drop points, the appropriate foal's) will be sorted out and herded into the trailer for the journey to their final destination.

Safeguarding Yourself and Your New Foal:

Remember that these foals are not familiar with people. For some, you may be their first actual contact with anyone other than “Mom” or their buddies. Up until this time, any contact with people will have been done using a chute or small paddock. These foals are completely untrained and, weighing over 400 pounds on the average, fully capable of causing injury to both you and themselves if they feel they are being threatened. They are not like foals who are hand-raised and imprinted at birth. They are born naturally, in large fields, some not even seeing people until they are “rounded-up” at 4-6 months of age and brought in for separation from their dams. The majority of PMU farms use substantial board fencing for handling of their horses and foals, therefore these foals are not familiar with wire or electric fencing and may panic if exposed to it. Their short lives have been spent in the company of other horses and foals and once separated upon arrival at their new homes, they may panic. Please try to plan ahead and ensure that your new foal will have an inviting yet TOTALLY SAFE environment to enter into.

Your Foal’s New Home:

Not enough importance can be placed on providing a safe and healthy home for your new foal. As these foals are not yet used to being kept indoors, a small, properly fenced area would be ideal. This area should be sufficiently large so that the foal has plenty of room to run and frolic, but small enough that catching the foal is possible. It is important for the foal to be able to exercise adequately and to allow their bodies to develop properly. A shelter from the elements is a necessity: a run-in type shelter or stall in a barn is suitable providing it allows shelter from wind, rain, snow and the heat of the sun. It should large enough to permit the foal to move around easily and also take into consideration the number of horses/foals using the same structure. If a shared structure is being used, more than one entrance should be in place to avoid confrontations between the animals using it. If you plan on bringing your foal into a stall for periods of time, the stall should be of an adequate size that the foal can move around freely, be solidly constructed and have all additions (feed tubs, waterers, etc.) safely and securely attached.

Suitable fencing is VERY important. Fences should be strong, safely constructed and high enough (minimum 4 feet) to discourage jumping. There are several types of fencing available, most are acceptable. One or two strand electric, barbed wire or page wire are NOT recommended. If you have any concerns regarding fencing, ask your veterinarian or a reputable breeder in your area.

Remember also, that water and salt should be available free choice at ALL times whether your foal is turned out in a paddock or field or spending some time in a stall. ALSO NOTE that foals should not be allowed access to pasture full time immediately upon arrival – they must be eased gradually into grazing grass/pasture!

Health Concerns:

Your Veterinarian is your best resource to answer any questions or concerns regarding the health or condition of your foal on arrival. The following data is provided for information only - your veterinarian IS the expert!

Quarantine:

ANY new horse/foal arriving at a barn should be quarantined for a recommended minimum period of 4 weeks. This will minimize the risk of any contagious ailments that may be carried by the foal being transmitted to other animals. There are situations where the foals may be carrying a contagious disease that may NOT manifest itself until several weeks later, therefore the longer the period of quarantine - the better, 4 weeks is simply a recommended minimum.

The quarantine area should be totally separate from all other “horse” areas. It should be safely constructed as described above. There should be NO possible chance of contact with other horses – whether over a fence or a stall partition - and REMEMBER that you as well as other family members and pets (dogs) can be carriers of disease if your foal is infected and you are visiting other horses. Dealing with the foal on an individual basis rather than during a routine shared by your other horses would be advised, ideally having a change of clothes for your foal visits and washing your hands thoroughly if contacting any other animals. Do not share buckets, feed containers, salt licks, brushes, etc. with any other animals.

A sufficient quarantine period is recommended for other reasons as well. Firstly it will help ensure the health of the foal and also other horses/foals on the property. It will allow the foal a chance to adjust to their new home without the added stress of adapting to new and strange horses. Even though the desire will be strong to put another horse or foal in with your new arrival for companionship, it is best for all concerned to keep them by themselves. The only departure from this recommendation would be in the case where more than one foal had arrived together. A quarantine period will allow you to get to know your foal and introduce yourself in their life. They will soon realize that YOU are the source of food and companionship - this will become a very important part of their acceptance of their new life. Remember that all foals are different - some may accept your presence quite readily whereas others may be resentful and afraid and will react as nature has taught them - with teeth and heels or simply by avoiding all contact. Find out what it is your foal likes enough to overcome these fears - food is usually a good start. Sometimes, a good scratch is just the ticket. Be persistent but don’t overtax the foal by forcing your presence on them - they will come around on their own time. Foals are curious by nature and once they find that people aren’t the ogres the foals think they are, the acceptance will come quite readily. TIME and PATIENCE is important. Each foal is an individual and the time it takes for them to accept humans will vary accordingly. Foals housed individually tend to bond with people more quickly than those who are in a group.

While in a quarantine situation, a general assessment of the condition and health of the foal can be done as early detection of any illness is important. Make a visual assessment of the foal’s overall appearance - do they appear sound? Are they as bright and attentive as is reasonable? Are there any cuts or scrapes that may need attention? Also, monitor your foal’s intake of hay/pasture and any additional feeds they may accept. It may be advisable to feed hay at this time so the amount eaten can be monitored. If possible, ensure that the foal is passing manure and urinating normally. Manual water supplies such as buckets or troughs are recommended in place of automatic waterers so that the water consumption can be watched.

Your Foal’s Feeding Program:

Remember that your foal has come from a completely different environment than their new home. They have spent the first few months of life living with their dams in large open fields, depending first on the mare’s milk and graduating to pasture. These foals have not had grain in their diets so it should be introduced slowly and be a feed suitable for foal consumption. It may take a few days for the foal to become accustomed to eating grain, but they soon find the taste VERY likeable! Also take into consideration the weight and breed type of your foal and feed accordingly. Draft foals will have somewhat different feed requirements than a light breed foal.

Good quality hay is the most important part of a foal’s diet and is essential to proper growth. Ensure your foal has sufficient hay offered - many people feed hay free choice as opposed to giving specific amounts. If you are unsure of the quality of your hay, invest in the small amount it costs to have it analyzed - it is money well spent. A mixed type hay - timothy, grass, with minimal alfalfa is recommended as it is usually well-balanced and highly palatable.

Grains, complete feeds and/or supplements are also an important part of your growing foal’s diet. There are many opinions as to what type of feed your foal should be given. Some people prefer a complete, pelleted foal feed, while others like to use sweet feed combined with one or many of the vast array of equine supplements that are available. If you are unfamiliar with the best feed to offer your new foal, consult your Veterinarian, a reputable breeder in your area, equine nutritionist or a feed analyst that may be affiliated with a local feed store. Ensure that the ration is balanced, taking into consideration the makeup of your hay, and your environment. (A foal living in the sunny south will need a different type of ration than one going into a Canadian winter.) Remember to adjust your feed ration as your foal grows, monitoring his or her growth and joints routinely for signs of any developmental issues which can happen with any youngster.

Clean water should be available at all times and care taken to ensure that water containers be kept clean. With the foals arriving in the pre-winter months, also ensure that extremely cold water is not presented (adding warm water or use of a water heater may be necessary).

Salt should be provided at all times - a salt lick is recommended. Some people may like to also have a trace mineral block available as well or may want to add a mineral mix to the foal’s feed ration.

Ensuring the Health of Your Foal:

De-worming:

Your foal may or may not have been wormed prior to arriving at their new home. It is recommended that the foal be wormed soon after their arrival (usually as soon as the foal can be handled safely). Your veterinarian can recommend the best de-worming product to use - at this time usually a wide-spectrum type. They may also suggest having a fecal sample analyzed to be able to specifically target the parasite infestation the foal may have. High potency de-wormers such as Quest, with the active ingredient moxidectin, should NOT be used. This de-wormer is extremely strong and if the foal has a large concentration of parasites, the parasites may die off in mass and may cause an impaction resulting in colic. This de-wormer is designed for the mature horse and for horses on a routine de-worming program. A long-term de-worming schedule can be recommended by your veterinarian. De-worming your foal may prove tricky at first if you are using the syringe type products. Pelleted and liquid forms are available that can be administered in their feed, which may prove easier to use. If an “in-feed” form is used, ensure that the foal consumes the required dose. Some of the syringe types are flavored and once your foal gets a taste they may be accept its use. Every foal will be different.

Vaccinations:

Consult your veterinarian for their recommendations, but it is not unusual to wait administer vaccinations until the foal has completed the quarantine period. Administering vaccinations upon arrival could actually mask any ailments they are designed to combat. Also, as the foal will already be under stress and tired from their travels, inoculations may affect them negatively.

Shipping Fever:

This ailment is quite prevalent in young foals who have been exposed to the rigors of a long trip. The symptoms displayed are similar to those of a cold: discharge from the nose, lethargy and often a dry cough. The main cause of shipping fever is stress and the respiratory environment in a transport trailer. Besides the long trip, your foal has gone through the stress of an abrupt weaning process and changes in environment. If you suspect your foal has shipping fever, consult your veterinarian promptly. If left untreated, fluid can settle in the lungs causing pneumonia. Of course your foal will be tired and somewhat depressed after their long trip, but if these symptoms persist more than a few days or are accompanied by those symptoms listed above - call your veterinarian.

Strangles:

This ailment used to be uncommon, but with the increase in transportation of horses from infected regions and the negligence of some horse owners/transporters, is becoming increasingly common. It is a highly contagious disease characterized by inflammation of the nasal and mucous membranes, and with abscesses forming in the lymph nodes (lower jaw area). Initially, the foal will show signs of increased lethargy, difficulty eating/swallowing, a thick nasal discharge and sometimes drooling caused by the inability to swallow easily. The abscesses will enlarge as the infection manifests itself, eventually breaking open to release large amounts of a thick, creamy pus. The incubation period of strangles (between the time the foal was affected and the onset of visible clinical signs) is between 4-14 days but can also be as little as 2 days, and as long as 21 days. There is also a fever which develops as the abscesses enlarge. Once the abscesses rupture, recovery is usually rapid and complete within a couple of weeks - although there is a very slight chance that other abscesses may develop. It is best to let the disease run it’s course, ensuring that the foal is monitored as closely as possible and in as comfortable an environment as possible. If the abscesses do not rupture on their own, your veterinarian may recommend intervention in the form of hot compresses or in extreme cases, lancing. As this disease is VERY contagious, extreme care must be taken to control the cleanliness of all items the foal comes in contact with - washing any implements, brushes, etc. very well and even disinfecting them. Bedding should be disposed of in a secured area or even better, be burned. Once all symptoms have disappeared, the foal will remain contagious for at least 3 weeks but a further quarantine period of up to 6 weeks is recommended. It is important to note that humans and pets are largely responsible for the spread of the strangles virus within a farm; humans carrying the very persistent virus on theory clothing and on their shoes, and pets, by walking through the infected area, to where the other horses on the premises may be. If your foal develops strangles, DO NOT go from the foal’s quarantine are without changing your clothing and either changing footwear or dipping your shoes in a strong disinfectant solution.

“Bastard Strangles” are basically a mutated form of strangles, rare but usually fatal. They are caused when the abscesses form in other parts of the body - lymph nodes in the intestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, etc. Rupture of the affected nodes can cause life-threatening pleurisies or peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs and lining the chest cavity, or inflammation of the membrane lining the abdomen and abdominal membranes). As these abscesses are not visible, treatment cannot be administered quickly and adequately enough to aid in the foal’s recovery. Fortunately, incidents of “Bastard Strangles” are rare.

Please note that giving your foal the Strangles inter-nasal vaccine upon their arrival could actually encourage the onset of “Bastard Strangles” by oppressing the disease within the confines of the body if the strangles bacteria is present in their system. Administering antibiotic treatment as strangles is just developing may also cause “Bastard Strangles” ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN prior to administering any treatment to your foal if you suspect he/she is ill.

Consult Your Veterinarian for Further Information.

* * * * *

Note from PMU FANI:

While we have endeavored include everything in assembling this fact sheet, there may be questions you have about your foal’s situation, which we have not covered. Never hesitate to contact us with your questions - YOU ARE PART OF THE PMU FANI FAMILY. As adopters ourselves, we can appreciate how overwhelmed you may feel with a new foal. We want your adoption process to go smoothly, and your foal’s transition to his/her new environment to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Adoption of a PMU foal is a very rewarding experience and we want to make it as successful as possible for you and your foal.