Environment
The newborn foal’s environment is very important in ensuring its health.
Housing
Housing should provide a dry, clean, warm environment that promotes health, minimizes disease risk and mortality and so encourages high growth rates.
To help prevent common disease problems, provide:
- Warm dry bedding
- Adequate stall dimensions
- Easy access to feed and water
- Provide adequate ventilation with minimum draft
- Relative humidity should be kept low and air movements maintained even in cold weather
Consult your veterinarian on vaccination and de-worming programs.
Socialization
Foals need contact with other horses to learn proper social behavior. A quiet horse, pony or goat is an ideal companion.
Exercise
As the foal becomes stronger, it can be allowed adequate exercise in a small pasture or enclosure.
Exposure to sunlight (at least 2-3 hours /day) is important for bone development and foal health.
Climate
The climatic environment of the newborn foal can have a major influence on its nutritional requirements. Young foals need to be protected from the weather. Extremes in both heat and cold will impact the foal’s efforts to maintain a constant level of body heat and continue to thrive.
The critical temperature at the compromised foal’s level should be about 18-21 oC for the first 1-2 weeks of age. This temperature should be maintained if older foals are sick or weak. A heat lamp or a comfortable vest may be necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature during cold weather. Environmental temperatures outside their thermo-neutral range results in higher caloric demands simply for maintenance.
