If you're determined to LEARN, I would recommend that you allow yourself the TIME to establish yourself with an equine vet. Perhaps there is something, like a community college, that has courses on horse health? Or, do you have other horse breeders with a few years experience foaling within three hours from you?
If you're serious about learning, as you are indicating, be willing to give up a couple of days or a weekend and travel to whatever is available.
To give you an example, my husband and I would go to people's farms/ranches, often hours away, and camp out at their place when a mare was very close to foaling. Sometimes all we learned was the mare's signs/behaviors in late gestation and then had to go home. But a few times we lucked out and either witnessed or helped take part in a birth. Once, it was a distocia that didn't end well.
It was a sad learning experience, but we did learn.
Then, we met a vet, who became our primary vet for approximately 15 years, who was willing to teach us all sorts of "self vetting" things. We have since moved into an area where what he's taught us is even more valuable, because like you, when things go wrong it takes awhile for a vet to reach us.
It sounds as if you are wanting to be proactive and good for you! Keep researching and don't be afraid to pick vets' and other breeder's brains.........Make friends with those long timers and find a mentor!
