Sacking out foals

The older I get, the easier it gets, for me to admit that getting the little ones sacked out real good at birth makes it a little easier for me to start them at two's and three's. Imprinting or giving a little TLC to your foal is real good place to start. The foal pictured in the article is only a few hours old and already she has been sacked out with a rope and blanket. Sacking out your foals is time well spent. A few short sessions spent with a foal at this time in their life will build great trust in the human, so when this foal reaches an age to be handled daily and ridden, the dividends from the time spent at this early age will be priceless.

Here's a tip for you buckaroos. Take a moment (photo A) to notice the boots I'm wearing. My boots in the picture are steel toed. The babies are going to step on your feet when you handle them at first, not out of bad nature, but from survival instincts. My language and emotions are spared with a little foot protection. It is much better to swear by the boots than to swear at the foal

I also use a soft cotton or wool blanket to sack the foal out with. Naturally sacking out should feel pleasant feeling to the baby. The rope I use is XXX soft and has a metal honda. The soft ply is not as likely to burn, and the metal honda will release quickly if any slack is thrown into the lariat.

Photo B shows the minimum amount of sacking out that I like to accomplish with foals before I continue with their health care. I break the foal's sacking out into a series of steps. First, I place myself between the mare and foal, while the mother is either pacified with a little feed, tied with a loose wrap, or restrained to the outside of the pen.

When you first show up on the scene the foal will move away from you, then it will try to return to its mother. Simply keep placing yourself between the two. It helps greatly to kneel down to the foal's eye level as it returns to it's mama. This lower position lets the foal see you from its eye in a way that is not so predatory as if you were towering over it. Eventually the foal's curiosity will allow you to slip in a rub or receive a sniff from the foal. Build from this point.

Next, I pet the foal all over and restrain it lightly. Then I work my way down and pick up each foot. After these starting points, introduce the blanket, rope and other objects. Take your time. If the foal wants to return to mama and get a little milk for security, that's just right. The biggest problem is keeping the mare calm, as it is her instinct to protect her baby.

Once I get a little trust built I like to treat my new born with three deals. First I spray the umbilical cord with iodine. This treatment helps greatly to prevent infection, promote healing, dry and loosen the umbilical cord. Simply spray the cord from several different angles, making sure it is completely covered as in photo C. Some folks prefer to dip the cord rather than spray. I have learned a little iodine at birth will help prevent those ruptured looking knots you see on yearlings bellies.

Second I give a shot of tetanus and finally a shot of vitamins. This is all I do at this time. The foal's individual vaccines will be administered at a later date. In the mean time its immune system draws from vaccines given the mare during late pregnancy.

Remember now this is equine not bovine were dealing with. I find It is much easier to give the shots if you insert the needle by itself first as in photo D. Then replace the syringe back to the needle and administer the shot. This will allow a rubbing and stroking action from your hand before you insert the actual needle. I have found that giving the shots with all the components attached together is very awkward, and I end up jabbing the needle rather than inserting it smoothly. If you aren't experienced with giving shots better contact your local vet for advice. Of course the biggest percentage of folks that read this article won't be vets, however they will have enough common sense to recognize a horses butt when they see one.

Hope this tid bit helps you with your foals this spring. Always remember, "there is one bit that works on all horses, a bit of knowledge." Until we meet again hope the good Lord blesses you, your family and your livestock.

God bless, Pat Hooks