About this episode

This episode discusses the top three complications that foals face in their early life and how horse owners can prevent them.

Foals are especially vulnerable in their first months of life. Think about the first time you met a newborn foal—did you know it takes both knowledge and experience to protect them well? In this podcast, we'll dive into three of the top challenges horse owners face with foals just after birth to a few months old. This isn't a complete list, so remember, teaming up with a seasoned professional will always help you stay ahead of problems. I picked these three foal problems because they're common—and, good news, they're all preventable! Imagine welcoming a new foal into the world. Suddenly, you learn that one of the biggest risks it faces is failure of passive transfer (FPT). This can happen if the foal does not drink the mare's first milk within 24 hours of birth. Or, it may occur if the mare's milk leaks out before birth. The resulting weak immune system leaves your foal vulnerable to everyday germs. Illness and even death can follow. Have you ever noticed a foal with diarrhea? It's a common issue, with several possible causes. Diet is usually to blame, but sometimes more serious issues are at play. Have you ever noticed a foal struggling to walk, or perhaps heard about issues…

Topics covered

• foal complications
• horse care

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