Each year, we offer the opportunity for purchase of our foals in-utero. Our sincere goal is to help our clients to realize their dream; find exceptional quality future prospect for sport. We endeavor to produce useful, athletic horses that bring joy and are successful in their future endeavors.
Our healthy foal guarantee and commitment ensure it’s achievable for clients to secure the best talent for the future. Together, we can plan for a healthy, top quality foal and share in the joy of the process. A 25% deposit secures your foal of choice, with the remainder due when when we transfer ownership of the healthy foal. Our foal purchase price includes all routine care (trims, deworming, feed, etc) until 1 month after weaning, as well as inspection and Hanoverian registration. When you are ready for your foal to come home, we can arrange for export documentation and assist with travel arrangements.
Available for 2024: $8,500-12K USD
Avaia x Feinreich (Furst Heinreich/Sir Donnerhall II) – AVAILABLE!
Avery x Banderas (Balou du Rouet/Grannus) – UNDER CONTRACT
Healthy Foal Guarantee
Our in-utero agreements are meant to give you peace of mind. Our goal is for our mares to deliver a healthy foal that meets all milestones, and passes a “Healthy Foal” vet check. The vet check is generally done ~12 hours of age; a complete physical exam of the foal that includes a blood test (iGG) to confirm that the foal has received essential immunity transfer from the mare. The results of this veterinary exam are shared with the prospective new owner, and we provide up to 5 days for you to have any additional veterinary exams done to confirm the foal is healthy, and to arrange for foal health insurance. We provide lots of photos and videos of the newborn foal, and share detailed information on their care and health status. A foal’s arrival is followed closely, we provide preventive care (enema, navel disinfection) and monitor the foal’s health closely. An in-utero contract ensures that the foal you are buying is healthy, thriving, and that you have full-opportunity to confirm the health of the foal before we transfer ownership.
Should events occur that prevent the foal from passing a healthy foal check, we will offer you the option to choose another foal if we have one available, or a refund of your deposit. A healthy foal is what you are purchasing; an in-utero contract let’s you secure your choice foal in advance. We ask for a 25% deposit on signing, and the remainder is due when the foal is ready to transfer into your ownership.
The Process:
Producing a healthy foal starts months ahead of the planned delivery date, with a well-cared for mare. Quality nutrition is essential, even before the mare is bred! Our small scale means that our mares are cared for individually, and receive daily care to ensure they are in top condition throughout their gestation. Nutrition plays a key role in the development of a healthy pregnancy; proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals is essential for proper development of healthy structures right from the time of fertilization.
Our mares always have 24-7 have access to forage; quality pasture or hay, clean fresh water, and a feed ration balanced for their stage of gestation. They have access to a comfortable shelter, and a generous turnout field for exercise and fitness. We keep our mares in pairs or smaller groups, making sure they have a friendly companion and we can monitor their feed program. I have to admit, I have a “thing” for good feet. Hooves! Most important part of a sport horse, healthy feet are essential for soundness. Quality feed, a well-maintained turnout, and a regular care from a skilled farrier helps us keep our mares and foals in top shape.
Healthy mares are essential to produce a healthy foal. All our mares are on a regular vaccination schedule, and receive a “booster” one month prior to their anticipated foaling date. A mare with a strong, healthy immune system will be able to produce quality colostrum for their new foals. The first few hours of a foal’s life are a critical time; they need to consume colostrum from their dam to acquire essential antibodies that form a strong immune system. There is a short window of opportunity; good colostrum and a foal nursing well is essential – foals are not born with immunity, but acquire antibodies from their dam, via passive transfer through their gut. This process needs to occur early, ideally in the first few hours of life, as the ability for the gut to absorb immunoglobulins decreases greatly after 24 hours of age. As part of the newborn foal’s first veterinary check-up, a blood sample is taken. We routinely test every foal’s iGG level, to confirm that their immune system is strong and ready!
Our mares are watched closely as they come up to their expected foaling date. For most, we will take a daily milk sample and can monitor key signals of impending foaling. When it’s time, they have a large straw-bedded foaling stall ready and are under steady watch. Video cameras let us keep a close eye on a mare, but still let’s her rest and prepare to foal in a quiet secure location.
Our foaling kit is ready; preparation for a new arrival is exciting and terrifying. It’s an amazing process, but can also come with heartbreak and challenges. We are close at hand when labour starts, watching closely without disturbing the mare.
Foaling is a fast but tough process for a mare, while they are resting we make sure that the foal is in a safe position and able to breath comfortably. It’s best for both to rest, and to let as much blood as possible pass from the placenta to the mare. Mares will nicker and immediately look for their foal, the bonding process is underway almost as soon as the foal is on the ground. Provided all is well, we’ll let the mare start to clean and dry her foal. We’ll give a quick hand here, to check over the foal quickly. We also take the opportunity to give newborn foals an enema, to help them to pass meconium and disinfect their navel. We monitor key milestones: a foal should stand by 1 hr, nurse by 2, and the mare should pass the placenta within 3 hours of delivery. While the mare is licking her foal dry and bonding, we will collect colostrum and help her foal get a fast start with a first bottle. It’s miraculous how much this perks up a foal! With warm colostrum in their tummy, they immediately gain strength. Soon, they are trying to organize their legs to get up, and start questing for the “milk bar” for more! A big stall, with lots of straw is helpful here. Standing up, and first steps are often only accomplished after some failed attempts. Having a safe environment, with lots of room and bedding is needed. Once they are up and nursing, we watch closely to see if they are able to pass their first stool. Meconium is thick, sticky, and can cause problems for foals in their first hours. A preventive enema helps them to comfortable pass this stage, and let them focus on nursing. Nursing provides essential nutrition and immunity; once the foal has nursed well – they are ready for a nap. Foals often have difficulty figuring out how to lie down again, so again – lots of bedding helps them with their first few “crash landings”. The next few hours are nurse, sleep, repeat. We watch closely for “pees & poos”, lots of both = a foal that is feeding well and feeling well. In the first few days, we disinfect the foal’s navel several times a day. This is critical to prevent bacterial infection, as the navel can be a route for bacteria into the bloodstream. The stall is kept immaculate, and the navel “dipped” in 2% chlorhexidine every few hours until it has dried up, and ready to fall off.
Provided the deliver is normal, and the foal and mare reach the milestones on schedule – the first vet check will happen within 12-hours after foaling. During this check up, our veterinarian completes a “head-to-tail” physical exam on the foal, takes a blood sample for iGG testing, and as a preventive measure, gives the foal an injection of vitamin E and selenium. Our mare will get a check-up too, to make sure she’s recovering well from her foaling. We also deworm mares just after foaling, this helps to reduce the transmission of internal parasites to the foal.
We have a nice big foaling stall, and find that most of our mares and foals are quite comfortable in here; the mare rests and recovers from foaling, and can take care of her foal without “worry” for the first day. Our video let’s us watch them, and keeps the foal in a save environment. Provided the foal is developing well, we’ll start introducing short turnout periods at about 24 hours of age. Gradually, we increase the turnout, until the foal is strong enough to move out to the maternity paddock full time.
We have a nice, safely fenced paddock set up for the new mare & foal. A clean, well-bedded shelter, and a small paddock with grazing for the mare ensures a nice transition. As the foal develops, we extend the turnout and let them have access to the adjoining field. At 2-3 weeks, they are generally ready to join other mares and foals in turnout. Eat, sleep, play, repeat!
Custom Foal Opportunities
Our mares are available for custom-breeding opportunities. Options are endless now, with frozen and fresh-chilled semen. Depending on your choice of mare / stallion; available from $9.5K USD / $12K CAD. Let’s work together to make the perfect match.
Shallow Brook Farms 