Monday, May 5, 2008

Foaling Season 2008 on the Baby Boomer's Arabian Horse Breeding Farm Part 3



Part 1 starts here

When I reached down with both hands and tore that thick sack open, the newborn Arabian horse began to stir. Just a little at first, a brief wobbly nod of the head but enough to sooth my fears the foal might be compromised from the bad position. I looked down at my watch it was only a quarter to 12. This awkward birth had not taken nearly as long as it seemed. Now it was time to get onto the business of introducing this foal to it's mother and other after foaling tasks.

I grabbed the foal by the front legs first pulling her free of the mare. The cord was still attached. I could see the blood pulsing through it. Being careful not to disturb that necessary connection, I moved the filly just enough to get her free from the sack.

I didn't want the cord to be broken before those last valuable ounces of blood were transferred into the foal. I also wanted to avoid undue strain on the placenta. I didn't want anything that might cause a premature separation and damage to the mare's uterus. Best to let Mother Nature do it her way.

Poor Lucy was exhausted. She just laid there trying to see her new baby but too tired and weak to rise. Once the pulsing of the cord stopped, I gently pulled the foal again to get her closer to the mare. I couldn't believe the resistance I was getting. This foal was huge and I was having problems moving it far on my own.

Again I called for Dave to help me. This time he jumped in but not before he asked me the sex of this foal. I had been so worried about the condition of this baby, I hadn't even bothered to look. So I carefully lifted up the tail looking for plumbing.

I'm usually not so reluctant to know but this time I really didn't want to hear that I had another colt. Dragging my feet was my way of avoiding the disappointment of being the first breeder to get a colt from this lovely Arabian mare.

Imagine my shock and surprise to find what looked like girl plumbing. Now I'm known for checking my boys about three times. I just don't seem to want to believe that it's a colt. But seeing girl parts hit me about the same. I rolled this poor filly onto her back and flipped her legs open to find a tiny little udder looking at me. I'm pretty sure that's when the grin hit my face.

I immediately rolled the filly back to her side. A bit embarrassed I'd subjected her to such a shoddy examination. Poor filly has a lunatic for a human mom! Then my mind immediately raced to cyberspace and how in the heck was I supposed to tell them IT"S A FILLY! I knew the whole Mare Stare crew was watching after all.

Lindsay was still in bed. She's my sign girl. But then maybe that was just for Bey Aana, she is after all, Lindsay's mare. Without Lindsay I wasn't sure what to do. I knew that the field goal score sign (two arms straight up in the air) means colt but I never quite understood the message for a filly. Guess I was pretty sure I wasn't getting one of those.

So first off I got Dave to help me pull this filly around to the front so the mare could nuzzle her. There's nothing more sweet to the ear of a horse breeder than that first soft nicker of recognition uttered by the mare. Lucy stretched out her neck reaching for her foal. My heart fluttered just a bit.

Then I immediately shifted gears and sent Dave into the house to get me warm water and to send a message to the Mare Stare chat room. Type "filly" in the box and push "enter" while MiKael did a mental jig in her head. I worked at drying off the foal and shooting pictures for the blog while Lucy visited with her filly and Dave spread the news.

Lucy stayed down for what seemed like a long time. Even when the filly decided she wanted to rise, the mare was content to lay down. It was clear this ordeal had taken a toll on poor Lucy.

The filly on the other hand was beginning to assert herself. It didn't take long to figure out we had a pistol on our hands. They say that chestnuts are hotter than other horses. I don't know about all chestnuts but I know it applies to mine. And not only chestnuts but the ones that carry the chestnut gene from their father. They, too, are fiery creatures! This filly isn't going to be an exception.

It was clear from the start this tiny Arabian horse wants to do this life on her terms. She doesn't want help nor interference. She pretty much thinks she should be in charge and no way is she looking for a leader. Attitudes don't get much bigger than this.

The problems came in because she didn't want help yet she didn't know what she was supposed to be doing. Putting her legs out in front of herself was not a thought in her brain yet she wanted to rise. Getting up to her knees and then bouncing up from there just wasn't going to happen. She was too wobbly and a bit weak........but there was nothing weak about her determination to do it HER WAY!

This filly had me laughing right from the start. She actually reminded me of another filly born on this farm A Baby Boomer Dreams of Arabian Horses - The Legacy Continues - Part 6 I can't even tell you how much I love this mare, now 9 years old and what she means to me. It tickles me to see a younger version of her here now in the form of this filly. It does my heart good in a not so good time.

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

Part 4

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14 comments:

  1. Hurry MiKael! post the next post already! we gotta read more!! lol :)

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  2. Welcome to the world, little chestnut fireball filly! MiKael, I can hear the excitement in your voice about this filly. Can't wait to hear and see more! I hope Lucy has recovered, poor tired mommy!

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  3. She does remind me of that mare too! wow. Beautiful! adorable too! you have to give her a fitting name! I cant wait to hear what her name will be.

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  4. The little filly sounds like she's going to be quite an independent little pistol. You will have your work cut out for you. Can't wait to see how she progresses. If I were Lucy, I would be awfully tired and weak too, that was an ordeal for her, poor thing. I'm waiting to see what her name will be.

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  5. I having been watching this little redhead on marestare, and she certainly has a mind of her own!!! :) congrats MiKael!!!

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  6. I'm so happy you got your girl. She is going to be a real asset to your breeding farm.

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  7. LOL when I was watching you on that first morning in the stall with her I could see how spunky she was, wanting to buck and kick because she didnt want a lesson in being restrained LOL (Of course my phone call in the middle of that didnt help either).

    Looking forward to the next saga. Our power struggle on the breed or not to breed has started here so I will keep you posted.
    ((((Hugs)))))

    Lori

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  8. I have a few good ideas for names for her. She's such a handful lol.

    I can't wait to hear what you've named her. I know it will be fitting.

    I still don't have any foals on the ground yet. I'm not as good as you are at figuring out when they're ready. I look for all the 'classic signs' and the agitation etc... They just keep fooling me lol. One is 3 weeks over due, the other is due tomorrow.

    Keep the story coming. I can't wait to read more. It gives me something to do lol. :)

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  9. awwwww, just what you want a vigorous and heathy foal, plus the bonus of being a girl!

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  10. Great posts Mikael! I'm really enjoying hearing about your new colt... ahem... filly. ;) Congrats on getting what you were hoping for... she's beautiful and I can't wait to watch her develop. Lucy is gorgeous as well... I would have to believe that chestnuts are fireballs, mine was, and red headed people usually are. So, why not horses!? :D

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  11. Glad to see a post today! Hope momma is recovering quickly! Can not wait to see more pictures of the filly! And do we have a name yet? Can hear the joy in your typing, CONGRATS again!

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  12. oh my gosh!
    youve been VERY busy. Ive been reading and wow! beautiful little filly, she sounds like a smart one too :)

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  13. Seems like lovely Lucy and fiery filly are doing well. I have a name, how about Scandalous Afire?! You could have a naming contest.

    I love watching them when I can. I'm also watching some others on Mare Stare that were born the same day. Those have halters on now. I saw you doing the beginning halter training yesterday. May I ask why you don't leave the halters on? Just curious and still learning! Thanks :)

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  14. DJ has a great idea but I thought of two more Scandalous Fireball or Scandalous Ablaze

    She sure is a little spitfire!!

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