The Hunter

2002 - 2009 ApHC Leading Sire of Performance Horses
NOMINATED TO THE APHC HALL OF FAME 2010

Congratulations!

• Clint and Lois Smith of Ocala, Florida on their purchase of Some Kinda Chip
• Myterra Ranch of Canada on their purchase of CircleBar Grey Gun
• Mike Paschiotta Family, Agent Amy Wunderlich, on their purchase of Kip N Chips

On-Farm Foaling Kit:

• Scissors (to remove our foal-alert monitor) Baby bottle to collect the colostrum (mares first milk-before foal nurses)
• Iodine or Novalsan to dip navel as soon as it disconnects from the mare
• Bucket for warm water and ivory soap & non-sterile cotton to wash mares teats before the foal nurses
• Latex gloves- sometimes foaling can be messy business We keep a set of nylon web-type lines to help pull a foal if absolutely necessary.It is easier to have these close at hand than to go hunting for something in case of emergency in the middle of the night.
• 10 cc of Banamine- just in case the mare panics and becomes extremely violent and painful.  This should be administered IV if at all possible to insure quick response. Do not use the banamine unless absolutely necessary as this will inhibit contractions, and inhibit the mares ability to pass the afterbirth (placenta)
• 5 cc of penicillin to each foal at birth (this is simply our farm protocol)
• Cell Phone with your Veterinarian On-Call phone number pre-programmed.

First we manage the foal - dipping the navel, administering the PCN in the lower rear gluteals. Then the mare- tie up the remaining afterbirth once she has gotten up, if possible it is easier to tie it up while she is still down (that is the messy part!)  When she gets up let her see the foal and  smell- never interfere with the mare bonding with the foal- then move in quietly, wash her teats and surrounding areas with the warm soapy water- collect enough colostrum for evaluation and LEAVE THEM ALONE.  Mare and foal bonding cannot be over-emphasized especially during the first hours following birth.  8-12 hours post foaling we re-dip the foal’s navel in either iodine or novalsan (we have found that iodine solution still works best in our soil and climate) but novalsan is becoming the choice among many other farms.

The second most important thing post-foaling 8-12 hours is to do a foal IGG test.  This is a stall-side testing that checks to be sure your foal has received adequate antibodies.  Even if you have really good colostrum there is a possibility that your foal will not get a complete transfer of immunity and this can cause major problems and possible loss of your foal for no apparent reason.  If the IGG is tested within 8-12 hours you will still have time before the gut seals off and you can orally administer colostrum.  Once the 12-15 hour window is closed the foal will need a plasma transfusion that is sometimes difficult and very costly if the IGG transfer is not at adequate levels.

*This is not meant to change a protocol that is working for you, or conflict with your veterinarian