Evaluate your foal from a distance, and answer these questions:

1. Was the foal on its feet by 1 hour?
2. Did the foal nurse by 1.5 hours?
3. Is the foal now active and nursing?
4. Is there milk on the foal's face or draining out of their nostrils?
5. Is the foal moving around normally or does it seem depressed?
6. Is the foal interested in its surroundings?
7. How much time does your foal spending down versus up?
8. Have you noticed the foal straining to defecate?
9. Has the foal passed their first manure (meconium)?
10. What else is the foal doing, or not doing?

Also evaluate the mare’s udder. Do the teats appear nursed - flatter and shiny, or full and dripping milk?

Depending on your answers to the questions above, your vet may advise you to evaluate your foal further, or recommend that they examine your foal.

I strongly recommend that you have your vet examine your mare and newborn foal within 24 hours of foaling. Short of that, you should be on the lookout for any abnormalities or illness, and contact your vet with your concerns and questions.

Regarding treatment of the umbilicus: If your mare foals in a relatively clean location and you see no problem with the umbilicus, it is best left alone. If you do treat it, use a very dilute solution of chlorhexidine or povidone iodine in water. I find it easier to use a hand sprayer and to spray it liberally than to dunk it in a cup or syringe case.