InstructionstousetheMadiganfoalsqueezemethod

Basics

1. Age:Foalsdisplayingmaladjustmentsymptomsunder24hrsofage2. Contraindications:Ribfacture,respiratorydistress3. Rope:5/8inchto¾inchdiametersoftropewhichslideseasily-length16-18ft(5-

5.5meters)

Step-By-StepWrittenInstructionsPre-squeezeRopeStep:

1. Tieabowlineknotandmakeafixedloopsothattheropewillslidethroughlikeahondaonalariat.

2. Howtotiethebowlineknot:http://www.animatedknots.com/bowline/

RopePlacement:

Startingatthewithersareaplaceropeacrosstheneckandbetweenthefrontlegsandbringendofropeuptowithersarea(seeStep1Photo).Threadtheendoftheropethroughthefixedloopandadjusttoasnugfitsothereispressureonthechestbutnoairwayobstruction(seeStep2Photo).Passtheropeoverthefoalandmakeahalf-hitch.Snugtheropejustbehindtheelbowwhereacinchwouldgoonasaddle(seeStep3Photo).Passtheropeoverthefoalribcageagainabout6inchesbackfromthefirsthalfhitchandsnugitup(seeStep4Photo).Havetheassistantholdthefoalandpositionyourselfbehindthefoalandputpressureontheropeuntilthefoalbeginstoliedown(seeStep5Photo).

Squeezing:

Applyapullingsteadypressureuntilthefoallaysdown.Iffoaldoesnotliedownincreasethepressuregraduallyuntilthefoalslaysdown(viewvideo).Keepthesamepressureonthefoalwhenitliesdownandsamepressureforthe20-minutedurationofthesqueeze(seeStep6Photo).Allowthemaretobestandingcloseviewingthefoal.Themaresseemstoknowthefoalisasleepandstandswatch.Protectyourselffromthefoalkickingormovingitsheadduringthistime.Somefoalsseemtomoveonceortwiceduringthe20minutesofsqueeze.Theamountofpressureisjusttheamountneededtohavethefoalliedown.Usingastandardhomeluggagescale,itshouldbeabout10-20lbs(4.5-9kg)ofpressureifyouwanttousethat.

Attheendofthe20-minutesqueeze,releasepressureontheropeandallowthefoaltostaydownorgetupasitchooses.Slowlymovetheropeawayfromthefoal.Donotforceittogetup.Letthefoalsleepmoreifitwants.Whenthefoalgetsup,wesuggestingmimickingnormalmarebehaviorandpinchthefoalontherumporbacktoprovidetactilestimulation.Allowthefoaltodowhateveritwantsandobserve.Donotattempttoassistnursingorpushtothemare.

Step-by-stepInstructionswithPhotos

Step1:Puttheropeoverwithersandbetweenfrontlegs

Step2:Runtheropethroughtheloopatendoftheropeandsnugrope.

Step3:Beginbymakingthefirsthalfhitcharoundthechest,justbehindelbow.

Step4:Keeptheropesnug(photooffirsthalfhitchinplace)

Photosoftwohalfhitchesinplace

Step5:Standbehindfoalandbegintoputtensiononrope.Thefoalwillthenliedown.

Step6:Whenthefoalislyingdown,keeptensiononropeforthenext20minutesandrelease.