A one-of-a-kind, hands-on short course in foaling out mares is being offered to owners and breeders by the Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University on Jan. 16 and 17.
Unlike most classroom-only courses, this short course will combine classroom learning with actual "wet lab" experiences to help owners with a foaling, working in partnership with their veterinarians. Participants will actually put their arms into facsimile mares and learn how to determine what position the foal is in.
"What we are trying to teach is how to recognize what is normal for a foaling and what is abnormal," said Dr. Pat McCue, Director of the Equine Reproduction Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Most mares foal out unassisted, but there are emergency situations when a horse owner will need to call their veterinarian and will need to know what to do until the veterinarian arrives. Training in emergency care for the mare and foal can make the difference between life and death.”
Dr. McCue said the short course offers levels of emergency training similar to what one might find in a CPR or first aid course, but more in-depth and geared toward the mare and her foal.
Many mare owners or new foaling attendants have limited foaling experience and do not know what to expect. The course will teach them how to recognize the stages of foaling as well as steps to take in emergency situations, emphasizing appropriate decision-making to optimize a successful outcome.
Lecture topics include care of the late-term pregnant mare, prediction of foaling, normal foaling, routine care of the newborn foal, complications of pregnancy and foaling, foal resuscitation, problems in the post-foaling mare, and medical issues of the newborn foal.
Laboratory sessions will include training in:
Space in the course is limited and registration is required. For more information, visit:
http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/bms/erl/erlsc_owners.htm.
