FOALING DOWN

This can be an exciting and nerve-racking time for owners. To make things a little clearer here are some key points and tips:

All mares should have a tetanus and strangles (2-in-1) booster 4-6 weeks prior to foaling. This ensure protection is passed to the newborn foal via the colostrum when the foal first suckles. If you are sending your mare away to foal down she may also require vaccinations against herpes virus and salmonella. These are recommended to protect the pregnancy and newborn foal.

The mare should be given an all wormer 2-4 weeks prior to the due date.

Is your mare caslicked?

This will need to be removed prior to foaling.

PREDICTING FOALING IS IMPORTANT.

There are some physical changes which occur prior to foaling which you should look out for:

The muscles around the tail head will relax in the weeks leading up to foaling.

The vulva will lose the tight wrinkled appearance and begin to lengthen and relax in the days prior to foaling.

The udder will begin to fill 2-4 weeks prior to foaling and milk let down into the teats 4-6 days prior to foaling and have a tight appearance. 48 hours prior to foaling you may see wax on the teats.

If the mare is running milk or has milk staining on her hind legs be sure to advise your veterinarian so you can have an IgG test to assess the newborn foals immunity level –normally undertaken at 24 hours old.

Foaling alarms are helpful but should not be relied on solely, close monitoring of your mare is vital to act on any issues which may arise.

STAGES OF PARTURITION:

Stage 1 Positioning of the foal.

During this stage the foal repositions to extend its head and front legs into the birth canal. The mare may appear restless, pace the fence, and flank watch. It is important to monitor the mare during this stage, it can take 3-4 hours. This stage ends when the membranes are ruptured, and fluid is released (waters break).

Stage 2 Expulsion of the foal.

Active contractions begin and a white membrane called the amniotic sac will protrude from the vulva. You should be able to see the front hooves pointing down and the end of the muzzle. The mare may stand or lay down during this process. The mare will have forceful contractions which result in the foal being delivered. This stage is often longer in maiden mares however if the foal is not delivered within 15 mins or is not presented correctly contact your vet immediately.

Stage 3 Passing membranes.

If the membranes have not passed in their entirety within 4-6 hours contact your veterinarian. Retained fetal membranes can be life threatening to your mare.

NEWBORN FOAL

Disinfect the umbilicus of the newborn foal with 2% chlorhexidine solution and administer an enema. The foal should sit up and be responsive to stimuli. The foal should stand and suckle within the first 2-3 hours.

Hugh and Lorraine Cathels

Hugh and Lorraine Cathels of Cathels Equine have been long term supporters and participants of the Harness Racing industry. Hugh studied Vet Science at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1978. He married Lorraine in 1980 and they have two children – Holly and Dane.

Most of Hugh’s early career was spent in Adelaide and Euroa before starting a mixed practice at Cranbourne in 1986 of which he has been a much respected vet and member of the equine industry since.

One of the fillies he picked out from their breed was Gold Mistress (1982). After a spectacular fall in which both Hugh and the horse were severely injured, Gold Mistress was retired to stud. Gold Mistress produced the high producing dam in Gemfire who was their first Group 1 winner in the Tatlow, 1991. Gemfire has then gone on to be one of the most formidable broodmares. She left Garnet River who was their next Group 1 winner. Most of their pacers have been from this Madam Han family including top mare Star Chaser and her offspring Safari and Astronaut and many more.

The Cathels family are well travelled, having made many a trip with IRT over the years accompanying horses to their overseas destinations. They have also invested in some top trotting fillies from the Harrisburg sales – notably Waiting Room and Naughty III.

Hugh has some amazing stories of how veterinary science has progressed over the years – especially from where he started as an equine reproduction vet at a time when ultrasound scanning of mares wasn’t even a consideration. Hugh was one of the first vets to work with ultrasound when it was introduced and helped develop the techniques that we take for granted today. This was at a time when the use of ultrasound was in its infancy in human medicine for the management of pregnant women!

Together Hugh and Lorraine have made a formidable team with Hugh highly sort after as a vet and Lorraine the backbone and logistics manager for both the practice and their family over a dedicated career of long hours and genuine high quality veterinary work.

Hugh has not only trained but driven some great horses. He has had a long association with the Graeme (late) and Helen Head and their long time high producing line of horses.

Hugh and Lorraine are clearly one of the most passionate members of our Harness Racing Industry and have been long-term supporters of Harness Breeders Victoria. Hugh is scaling back his operations somewhat and we would like to thank Hugh and Lorraine for all their contributions to the industry and Harness Breeders Victoria over the years.

Written by Dr. Kath McIntosh

Unprecedented

2yo Vicbred Bonus

BREED LLOWALONG + BREED VICBRED = YOUR KEY TO A CHANCE IN TAKING HOME ONE OF FOUR $100,000 BONUSES IN 2027!

The first of July is often a time for financial bonuses to be announced and this year ALL the good news is coming from Llowalong Farms. Dr Kath McIntosh, principal of Llowalong, has just detailed a massive incentive to breed a mare to one of five select sires resident here in the coming season.

All foals conceived in the 202324 breeding season by any of the five Llowalong stallions listed below will be eligible to claim their owner a $100,000 bonus if they win their division of the Vicbred Super Sires 2YO Finals in 2027.

In all, an unprecedented $400,000 is up for grabs across the colts & fillies divisions in both the pacing and trotting finals.

Pastor Stephen + Soho Tribeca + Poster Boy + Raging Bull + Yankee Rockstar

The Bonus will be paid to the owner of the two year old at the time of the race - this creates not just an incentive to breed to own, but also significant value in breeding to sell, particularly at the yearling sales.

Boosting the value of your yearlings is paramount in a competitive selling market, and Llowalong will support breedervendors with materials to ensure buyers know they’re getting a chance at hundreds of thousands in limited bonuses with YOUR yearling.

Not only that, but Vicbred eligible horses by Poster Boy, Raging Bull, Yankee Rockstar and Soho Tribeca are also able to claim the top-tier $12,000 Vicbred Pure First Win Bonus!

EXAMPLE

SUMMARY

$100,000 bonus to the owner of the winner (at the time of the race) of ANY of these four races if the horse is sired by Pastor Stephen (trotters), Yankee Rockstar, Poster Boy, Raging Bull OR Lather Up.

• 2027 Vicbred Super Sires

2YO Trotting Colts & Geldings

• 2027 Vicbred Super Sires

2YO Trotting Fillies

• 2027 Vicbred Super Sires

2YO Pacing Colts & Geldings

• 2027 Vicbred Super Sires

2YO Pacing Fillies

The winner of the 2027 Vicbred Super Sires 2YO Pacing Fillies final is by Yankee Rockstar. Her owner at the time not only wins the Vicbred prizemoney and trophy, but will be paid a $100,000 cash bonus by Llowalong Farms The winner of the 2027 Vicbred Super Sires 2YO Pacing Colts final is not by any of our named sires, so no bonus will be paid out. However the winners of the 2027 Vicbred Super Sires 2YO Trotting Colts final AND Trotting Fillies Final are both by Pastor Stephen, so each owner will receive a $100,000 cash bonus from Llowalong Farms. A total of $300,000 paid out to winning owners.