A SAFE PLACE TO FOAL
What your mare will need is a clean, safe, quiet place to foal. Horses have been giving birth on the open range for eons and this is still an acceptable choice. Allowing the mare to foal in the pasture even has some advantages. An open grassy area is likely to be cleaner than a stall and provides a healthy environment with adequate room to foal. You won’t have to worry about the mare crowding into a corner or foaling too close to a wall. However, many owners prefer to confine the mare to observe her progress.
Should you choose to foal your mare in a stall, provide one that is a minimum of 14’ x 14’. If possible, the stall should have a floor that can be readily cleaned and disinfected. Dirt or clay floors make sanitation more difficult. Also provide adequate clean bedding. Straw (particularly wheat straw) is preferable to shavings, as it won’t cling to the wet newborn or mare the way small wood particles can. Remove manure and soiled bedding promptly and disinfect the stall between deliveries.