Foal Watch

Foal Watch – AVS 2434 (1 unit)
Spring Semester Course

This in person lecture course provides students the opportunity to learn information regarding basic equine breeding management, care of the pregnant mare, methods to detect impending foaling and parturition, difficulties that might occur during foaling, post foaling care and potential problems/disorder in foals.

Topics for this course include the following:

Breeding the Mare and Choosing the Stallion
Fetal Development, placenta, and position in utero
Preparing for the foal: housing, monitoring mare and building a foaling kit
Stages of Labor: Stage I - Foal position for birthing/Mare behavior, Stage II – Foal expelling and Stage III Placenta delivery
Normal Foaling and Dystocia
Post-partum behaviors in the mare
The first 12-hours of a foal’s life
Congenital and Genetic Disorders in the foal
Rejected and Orphaned Foals
Foal Behavior from birth to 6 months of age
Basic handling and halter training a newborn foal
Health checks for foal and types of weaning practices

Each week a new topic is introduced, the course is offered to any student enrolled at the University and is offered every Spring Semester, Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 5:50. Students have the opportunity to watch the mare’s delivery their foals via live video feed and also suggest registered names for the new foals. There are ‘optional’ opportunities to observe the handling of the foals after they are born, which includes halter training, leading, and learning the normal ‘hands-on’ aspects of foal health care.

Foal Watch is offered spring semester.

Interested students please call Animal and Veterinary Sciences, (909) 869-2216, to see when courses are available.