Reaching A Peak April at breeding farms across the country signals a peak in activity. By Christy Couch. The days are getting longer, the grass is becoming green. The sun is shining warmer, and more Quarter Horse foals are hitting the ground. Keeping busy Amy Gumz of Gumz Farms in North Judson, Indiana, says she keeps busy in April with foaling.
Many clients choose to foal out their own mares since the weather is usually good.
Along with foaling can come problems. To prepare for the latter, Gumz says she collects and freezes collostrum from mares to have it on hand, and she maintains contact with associations that market nurse mares, just in case. Gumz says foal heat scours are always a potential problem. We also treat the foals that do scour very aggressively. Newborn foals are given a tetnus antitoxin within 24 hours of birth.