Fig. 3. Step 3: Begin by making the first half hitch around the chest, just behind the elbow.
Fig. 5. Step 5: Stand behind foal and begin to put tension on the rope. The foal will then lie down.
● Pass the rope over the foal’s ribcage again about 6 inches back from the first half hitch and snug it up (see Step 4: Fig. 4).
● Have the assistant hold the foal and position yourself behind the foal and put pressure on the rope until the foal begins to lie down (see Step 5: Fig. 5).
Squeezing
● Keep the same pressure on the foal when it lies down and same pressure for the 20-minute duration of the squeeze (see Step 6: Fig. 6).
● Allow the mare to be standing close viewing the foal. They seem to know the foal is asleep and stand watch.
● Protect yourself from the foal kicking or mov- ing its head during this time. Some foals seem to move once or twice during the 20 min- utes of squeeze. The amount of pressure is
just the amount needed to have the foal lie down.
● When you pull on the rope and the foal begins to lie down, keep that same pressure on for 20 minutes. Using a luggage scale, it should reg- ister at about 10–20 lbs of pressure.
● At the end of the 20-minute squeeze, release pressure on the rope and allow the foal to stay down or get up as it chooses.
● Slowly move the rope away from the foal. Do not force it to get up. Let the foal sleep more if it wants.
● When the foal gets up, allow it to do whatever it wants and observe. Do not attempt to as- sist nursing or push to the mare.
3. Results
The squeeze procedure has been used for plasma administration for Rhodococcus equi prevention in over 200 Thoroughbred foals on one farm over a
Fig. 4. Step 4: A, Keep the rope snug (photo of first half hitch in place). B, C, Photos of two half hitches in place. AAEP PROCEEDINGS Vol. 64 2018 251
