A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - The Legacy Continues - The Second Foal Crop Part 4

Part One of the Baby Boomer Series

Part one of the Second Foal Crop

The weather was really awful that winter. I can remember if it wasn't snowing it was raining non-stop.After the tragic fall that Scandalous had taken, I had long since stopped putting my Arabian horses outside when it was slick. I think that Legend was nearly a month old before he even got outside for the first time.

It had finally warmed up enough that ice was no longer an issue but there was water everywhere, or so it seemed. We live on wetlands here. During most of the year the water table level is right smack at the top so puddles and lots of them are a way of life. The horses are used to them.

Arabian horses are always full of spirit but when they've been cooped up for a while, they really turn things on when they finally get outside. Faye must have been going stir crazy in the stall with that colt because when we turned the two of them out, she ran around with her tail over her back snorting and blowing totally leaving poor Legend behind.

Faye was kind of oblivious to the frantic colt. I say "kind of" because she glanced back to see where the colt was but his worried nicker didn't stop her from ripping around the pasture and circling the pond. She had more energy than she knew what to do with. Snorting and blowing and putting on a show.

The colt didn't have a clue what to think about all this water everywhere. He was bouncing around trying to avoid the puddles but there were really more puddles than semi dry ground. Trying to keep up with his mom and avoiding puddles at the same time just wasn't working. Eventually the young horse decided that keeping up with his mother was more important than getting his feet wet.

As the mare made another pass around the pond, the colt decided to take a short cut to catch up with her. He turned sharply and headed straight across the pond! That's right, the pond!

The pond drops off sharply and is about eight feet deep. The colt's feet began flailing as he realized there was no bottom beneath them. With all four legs churning ninety miles an hour he sunk down to his neck in the icy cold water screaming hysterically.

The colt's legs were working so powerfully, even though he'd plunged into the pond, he didn't sink past his neck, not even getting his face wet. He turned, swimming toward the far edge, bleating the whole way.

I raced to the edge of the pond calling the colt. As he approached, I got down and grabbed his front legs pulling him up out of the pond. I swear his back legs barely hit ground and he bounced up, racing off, not even acknowledging my rescue. Squealing like a scared pig he raced after his mother.

Faye had never missed a step. I don't think she'd even noticed that her baby had jumped into the pond until about the time I pulled him out. As he frantically approached the mare, she stopped, turned and stood there snorting as he ducked his head down under her to nurse. He definitely needed the security of the milk bar to soothe him. The mare nudged him roughly as if protesting his cold, wet body touching her.

To be continued................

The Second Foal Crop Part 5

Visit Blog Village and vote daily for this blog Here They are now measuring the rankings by votes out, so if you find my blog on the site, please click that link too to improve my rankings. TY

baby boomer Arabian horse Arabian horses horses horse dream horse maiden mare first foal