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NOTE: Jo, who does all our foaling, says that the Foaling Bucket is invaluable. You have at hand everything you will need and it has made things much easier! There, from the horse's mouth, so to speak (not that Jo is a horse, but you know what I mean!)

In the Thordale Foaling Bucket
1.  Headcollar (mare size) and rope attached.  An old shawl or headscarf for putting around the foal's neck for guiding/steering and handling. This is a very safe and gentle method for both foal and mother who will be watching.

2.  Surgical scissors or sterilised blade - you can sterilise using the old-fashioned match method, ie hold the blade under a lit match for as long as it lasts or by rubbing alcohol, and then burn off the alcohol with fire, or hold it over a gas flame until the blade glows.  Do not use the gas flame method for scissors!

3. Navel spray - useful if you have to cut the cord.  You can make up a mix of hibiscrub/alcohol and put it in a plant spray bottle or use Purple Spray (a broad-spectrum bacterial, virucidal and fungicidal disinfectant for the sterilisation of external wounds and infections). Iodine spray or in bottle – dip the end of the cord in if you have to cut it.

4. Gloves - if you are squimish - latex either short or long.  Make sure you get your right size and that they are brand new.

5. Syringes - a variety of sizes - always useful

6.  Drugs - Doxapram hydrochloride (marketed as Dopram) is a respiratory stimulant -  it stimulates the brain if there are complications.  Place a few drops under the tongue if your foal is not breathing and it usually helps kick start them.

7. KY Jelly or Lubrel (if you are going in – stops pain and tearing due to dryness). Cover your hands or gloves with it.

8.  Clamps - order from the vet or use those freezer bag closers.  Useful for navel clamps.  You can risk an umbilical hernia or infection in the foal if you just cut the cord badly rather than clamp it.

9. Lambing rope – (cord with a loop at the end) - available from the vets.  Handy when you can't get a grip and things are slippery like legs in utero.

10.  Torch and spare batteries or have it charged and ready.

11.  Mobile telephone with the phone numbers of the vet on it, ready and charged up.

12. Kitchen paper towel - when is it not useful?

13. Alcohol hand wash or gel - an alternative to when there is no soap and water about for your hands.  Infection kills.

14.  Jute string - string is always useful.  Bailer twine will do!

15.  Emergency Foil Space Blanket - provides essential warmth; treating and preventing the onset of hypothermia - you can buy them on the internet.  They cost a few pounds and don't take up much space in your bucket.

16.  Clean old towel - for drying off and rubbing down any chilled foal to stimulate and warm them up.

17. Good sharp knife/penknife – another useful piece of kit.

18. Mucous extractor – washable too! Can use in noses and back of the throat. Clearing the airways fast is a priority.

And lastly, your foaling bucket should have a firm secure lid.   A brewing bucket or a nappy bucket are good.  I think it might be an idea if the lid is attached to the bucket somehow so that it doesn't blow away when your back is turned!

It might look like too many things but you probably have most of it around the house/croft anyway so it is just a matter of putting them all together in a bucket and having it ready to grab if necessary.

Easily Found but Kept Nearby

1.  Sterilising tablets (Milton) - if you go down the bottle feeding route, you must be prepared to sterilise everything like you would for a newborn baby.  Foals are very vulnerable to infection at that age.  The Emergency Packs will have enough sterlising tablets to last a few days, then you can buy more from any chemist.

2.  Bottle, teat and a 1 litre plastic jug.  Start keeping a few empty coke bottles or fizzy drink bottles around. Check that the teat is the right size for a foal (screw on – lamb teat are not too big and clumpy) and also fits the bottle top. Thordale will keep a supply of teats and bottles and there are some teats in the Emergency Pack.

3. FoalStim Foal Probiotic Colostrum - nutritional supplement of colostrum and energy drink. You give this first to get the foal up and sucking.   Thordale will keep a supply available for purchase and one at Lerwick Vets

4. Col-Late – Foal colostrum on its own – make up a little feed for next feed if still no milk from the mare.

5. Mare's Replacement Milk Powder - Aintree Foal Milk or Bailey’s Mare’s Replacement Milk.  The Emergency Packs will have enough replacement milk powder to last a few days. You can buy Multimilk from the Lerwick Vets, Harbro or Dean’s.

6. Glucose powder - vet or chemist or Harbro

7.  A few cartons of Goats Milk kept in the freezer can get you out of a spot if you need to rehydrate quickly and all you can manage.

8.  Arnica 30c tablets - Health food shops or chemists sell them.  Excellent for post-birth trauma and bruising.  

9.  Foal rug - if you have one that small or cut an old jersey down the middle and fit the foal's front legs through the arms.  A cardigan would be good because you can button it up under the foal's belly.  Don't expect to want to wear this item ever again!

10.  Heat lamp ready to rig up if you have one around - make sure the bulb works.  Not essential but if you have a redundant one lying around, it could be useful.

Emergency Pack available from Thordale Stud, Shetland and Orkney 24/7

Cost £10.00

1.  Mare's Replacement Milk Powder - Aintree Foal Milk - enough for a few days

2.  Sterilising Tablets

3.  Teats

4.  Feeding Instructions

Feel free to tell me of other essential things if you think of them and I will add them to the list.  

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