A Guide to Foal Preparation - Irish Thoroughbred Breeders

All foals are individuals and need different feeding regimes.
Over-feeding can lead to irregular growth patterns and
OCDs. Alfalfa chaff and beet pulp are recommended to
lengthen chewing time and aid digestion. Replace starch
(found in cooked mixes and cubes) with high fibre to
decrease hyperactivity. Try to feed a little and often rather
than two large feeds. Remove uneaten food. Quality forage
is an important part of diet and should be included in
feeding calculations. Use a reputable brand of food with
stringent quality control and read and understand the
ingredients. There are no nutritional differences between
cubes and cooked mixes. Introduce any dietary changes
gradually. Invest in scales and use daily to monitor growth
and weight gain/loss.
Sales Preparation
Try to walk foals on woodchip. Always hand-walk, to
encourage easy handling and to be better aware of the foal,
leading to quicker and easier identification of problems.
Build up gradually from 5 minutes a day to 10-15 minutes
each morning and 10-15 minutes each afternoon. If they
show tiredness by breaking into a trot, ease them back
completely, allow a day or two’s rest and then begin building
up again. Never rush a foal, a forced preparation will be
IRISH THOROUGHBRED
BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION
As a general guide a foal should be fed 1% of its body
weight per day, 1Ib per 100Ibs or 1Ib per month of age.
A Guide to
Foal Preparation
recognised by buyers. Encourage them to walk into the
shoulder to promote a good athletic action. Have someone
assist by encouraging them from behind, if necessary. While
a foal will be walked far more excessively than it is used to
and will get tired at the sales, increased exercise will not
help. Keep to a steady and gentle routine.
Weaning
Weaning should begin in mid-September for early foals,
mid-October for late foals. Increase feed in final 2-3 weeks
prior to weaning, as stress of weaning will lead to weight
loss. A probiotic may reduce risk of ulcers caused by stress.
A 500-600Ib weanling should be eating 2.5% of body
weight, including forage.
Do not neglect the mare at this time as stress and weight
loss will adversely affect unborn foal.
IRISH THOROUGHBRED
BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION
Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association
Greenhills, Kill, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
Tel: 00 353 45 877 543 Fax: 00 353 45 877 429
email: [email protected] www.itba.ie
What The Buyer Requires
The primary need is to produce an athletic foal with a good
walk. A filly will also need a good pedigree, with winners in
the first and second generation. Buyers are not prepared to
take any risks, so the foal should be the product of a proven
mare and/or a proven stallion. It should have good joints
and good-sized feet and should not be rugged, as a natural
coat is generally preferred. The foal should not be too thin,
but it most certainly shouldn’t be fat. A fat foal will not look
good and will not move well. Most buyers do not want May
foals, unless buying to race.
results of stress, such as ulcers. It is not advisable to
administer sedatives, which are easily recognised by buyers
and prevent the foal showing itself to its best advantage.
An aggressive or hyperactive foal will benefit from a
reduction of starch in its feed. Applying Cribox or similar to
the tail before travelling will prevent chewing of the tail. It
can be washed out with hot water and washing liquid.
Bonjela is also recommended to use if the mouth becomes
sore during showing.
matching the nomination, bearing in mind the additional
costs of keeping the foal for the yearling sales.
Fetch a rubber mat to place at the door of the box to
prevent hooves being sheared by pawing. Paint the soles of
the feet, avoiding the frog, with iodine or similar proprietary
brand, which will alleviate the affects of being walked.
Ensure the tail and mane are clean and free from dust and
straw, and that the hooves are oiled and picked out. A good
professional presentation is essential in both foal and staff.
From Birth To Sales
The Buyer’s Veterinary Checklist
The vet will begin at the head, looking at the mouth,
recommending against a parrot-mouth. The eyes must be
clear and bright and show no sign of damage. Cysts will be
looked for behind the ears, and veins will be checked for
thrombosis and signs of medication. The vet will look for
scars on the belly and any indication of surgery. Most vets
will be forgiving at knees that turn out, but not so forgiving
at fetlocks turning in/out, since by December of the first
year that plate is at the end of growth and will not correct
naturally. A colt will also be checked that both testicles are
in place.
Sales Day Good Practises
Bring foals to the complex as early as allowable to give time
to settle. A probiotic, a day or two prior to the sales, (also
recommended prior to weaning) will help to alleviate any
Provide a door sign bearing clear and concise details only.
Display a veterinary certificate. It is not advisable to allow
further veterinary tests and the vendor should certainly not
allow the foal to be handled by anyone, which could add to
stress and possible injury. Foals should not be scoped.
Neither should they be trotted or lunged. Be available for
showing from 8am and ensure someone is available to show
the foal at all times throughout the day. Know who has
viewed the foal and how often and pass this information to
the auctioneer, together with crucial updates regarding
siblings. Allow the foal plenty of space when being walked
and allow a broad horseshoe-shaped turn. Bring the foal to
the ring 12-15 lots in advance to allow buyers extra time to
see the foal. Watch and learn from the major consignors.
Study the market and set a realistic reserve, not necessarily
Remember that foal preparation begins at conception. Plan
matings carefully. Ensure the mare is within the top 15% of
those visiting the stallion and use only a proven stallion on
an unproven mare. Does the stallion’s conformation
compliment that of the mare? Problems arising before birth
are reflected in the foal after birth, so take care of the mare.
Ensure a hygienic environment at all times. Worming and
early vaccinations are important and buyers prefer to see
vaccinated foals.
If possible invest in all-weather paddocks. Use nursery
paddocks when first turning out to prevent excessive
galloping, which may compress growth plates and lead to
OCDs. Keep paddocks clean and lift droppings daily to
reduce risk of R-equi and pneumonia. Rotate pastures. Turn
out for an hour first week, gradually building to 3 hours. By
4 weeks they should be out from 8am to 5pm. Foals should
be accustomed to head-collars from birth and should be
handled and led daily. All head-collars should be removed at
night, including mares’, to prevent entanglement. Feet
should be assessed by farrier at 3-4 weeks of age and farrier
should visit at 4 week intervals. Keep photographic records
and notes of each visit to assess progress and identify
problems.