If you have a mare that is due to foal and you have decided to use a foaling stall, then there are some important considerations that you must acknowledge prior to the event of foaling down indoors. Nature has always allowed mares to foal outside in a place where the mare felt most secure and was able to give birth without any predators to contend with. Nowadays, we tend to manage the birthing of horses and therefore the foaling stall is something that has become common practice with many horse breeders. One of the biggest considerations is the room that you are able to offer the mare. The stall should be approximately twice the size of a regular stall - at least. Ideally your stall measurements would be 12' x 24' to allow for optimum foaling conditions.
Preparing for the foaling well ahead of time will ensure that you have all that is required to allow for a (hopefully) incident free foaling down. The stall should be completely stripped bare and disinfected long before the mare is to be placed in there. By removing all of the old or current bedding you are able to assess the flooring of the stall. Take a look at the surface of the flooring and look for any dips, holes or indentations if it is an earth or similar surface. If it is a concrete or timber floor then care should be taken to ensure that there are no wear patches in the timber, and if so, it should be replaced fully rather than patched up. Timber will rot with moisture and usage and damage to a timber horse stall floor is bad news for the stall owner when it comes to maintenance, as it will need to be completely removed and replaced.
Should the surface of the flooring be earth or earth related, such as clay or limestone, then efforts should be made to keep the surface as even as possible. Many times horses that are stalled can develop bad habits such as pawing, especially around feeders or water bins. The entry area is also a high traffic spot that should be evened out if there is a particular drop in level there as well.
One of the most effective ways to get optimum wear out of your foaling stall would be to carefully consider what material you will use beneath your horses feet. A very popular material is horse stall rubber matting. Many of the reasons why horse owners choose this flooring option comes down to the safety for the horse, as well as comfort, less bedding requirements and also warmth.
Should you choose to use rubber matting in your stalls - especially for foaling down, then preparation of the stall surface prior to laying the matting should be considered. Ensure that your surfaces are level. If you have holes, dips or divots then make sure they are filled prior to laying the rubber matting. Failing to do so can cause injury to the horse and foal and can be uncomfortable for the mare to lay upon. Once you have evened out the under surface of the stall flooring then you are able to lay the rubber mats. Consider using specialty foaling and breeding mats for your stall that provide increased traction and are slightly softer than normal mats to properly support the foal.
Keep in mind that the stall should have been completely stripped prior to this application and the stall thoroughly disinfected and cleaned. All sharp and protruding objects including feed bins and waters should be removed, and thoroughly sanitized also. Pay attention to the ventilation in your foaling stall and make sure that the mare is able to move freely without creating a dust problem. Many bedding choices will increase the dust that becomes airborne and so choosing the right type of bedding will help to eliminate this problem.
Straw can have a high dust volume and using excessive amounts in a stall can create respiratory problems for horses. Foals in particular do not need to compromise the quality of air they need to breathe and so it is important to choose a dust free or dust reduced bedding for the stall. By combining rubber horse stall matting with your choice of bedding you will greatly reduce the amount of bedding required to keep the mare and foal comfortable. This in turn will help to reduce the amount of dust that can affect your mare and foal.
The right type of bedding materiel differs greatly and is often times dependent upon an owners budget and experience. Many breeders believe that saw dust can clog and clot in a newborn foals nose and mouth when born and should be avoided. Others believe that straw is deep enough to allow the mare to comfortably give birth and allows the foal to find traction when trying to stand. The best way to ensure that you use a minimal amount of bedding and yet still be able to offer maximum comfort is to lay specialized horse stall rubber matting down.
Once the foal is born, the mare will encourage it to stand and suckle. When this happens the foal will need a surface where it can easily grip in order to stand within minutes. Considering the amount of fluids that are evident when foaling, the need to have a high traction flooring is pivotal. Rubber mats can offer the best in traction regardless of whether the mat is dry or wet. This can be essential in getting a foal up and suckling as soon as possible, and any delay in this first suckle should be avoided.
Once the foal is born then the stall should be spot cleaned for at least 48 hours while the mare bonds with her offspring. Cleaning manure and checking that the foal has had its first bowel movements is imperative to the health and well being of the mare and foal. Use rounded edge, rubber type feed bins in the stall as well as water supply so that the foal does not knock or damage itself on them. Make sure there is a light within the stall area but not in a place that may disturb the mare and foal.
Should your mare foal down on a particularly cold evening then a heat lamp can also be installed above the stall to help the foal in its first few hours.
After allowing the mare to have at least 48 hours of bonding with her foal, give them some time outside in a safe and well fenced day yard. Be sure that the mare is not disturbed or distracted by other horses near her, and remove any horse that can come within touching distance in adjoining yards. The activity of foaling is an amazing and thoroughly enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Ensuring that you can provide the safest and most comfortable foaling environment for your mare, your foal will enter the world in a safe and secure fashion.
Treadall offers specialty rubber mats across North America. We offer a wide selection of horse and equine flooring products including: horse stall mats, rubber arena footing, foaling mats, breeding mats, wash stall mats and more. Customers in the USA can find our special foaling mats on our US site: http://www.horsematsusa.com/foaling-breeding/. Customers in Canada can find these mats on our Canadian site: http://www.horsematscanada.com/foaling-breeding/. Call us to discuss your equine flooring and rubber arena footing needs at 1-800-720-6287.
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