Update on Solidare and Her Foal

While I really needed the break, being gone to the Daffodil All Arabian Horse Spring Show with Solidare and her foal not completely out of the woods was difficult. I couldn't help but feel guilty that I was leaving my mare and her baby when I am still so worried about them.

I'm not always a big fan of my cell phone. It seems sometimes to me to be more like a leash than a help but this weekend having the means to check on Solidare and her colt made being away much more bearable. It gave me the opportunity to check in whenever the two horses crossed my mind instead of having to wait for reports when I got home.

Sometimes when I checked in there really wasn't much new happening. Other times there were little tales of colt activities that made me think maybe, just maybe, we were rounding a corner with him.

The first tale was of the little varmint kicking at his mother for no apparent reason that Lindsay could see anyway. I figure the mare probably corrected the colt for something he didn't like but either way, protesting is always a good sign in the newborn.

The next favorable report was the colt was actually caught scampering around his mother. Running in circles, just for the sake of running, is always a good sign. Even though I didn't "see" it myself, this was the first ever play like behavior seen from this foal. It did my heart good.

Sometime Saturday, the little delinquent tried to kick Lindsay. This was a first for this colt as well. He's shown no sign of aggression towards his human caregivers up to this point. I can tell you that's NOT normal for any colt born here. Usually the aggression begins within the first hour.

Then, today, the colt decided he didn't like Dave coming into his stall. He challenged the man, no less, puffing up big and tall and stomping his feet. Dave scolded him, "What do you think YOU're doing?" and the colt wheeled and turned running off behind his mother.

Funny how normal unacceptable behaviors become welcome when "normal" anything is better than nothing. Not that we condone the colt's behavior, the little squirt was immediately reprimanded in all cases but it's a relief to see signs he's coming around.

As for Solidare, she is still revelling in her new baby. Everything about her behavior is bright and happy. She's moving more and definitely improving every day. She loves her baby SOOOOOOOO MUCH............and will probably dote all the more as he turns into the little devil colts on this farm are expected to be.

We still have the first turnout to look forward to. With Solidare's leg injury I'm not really sure how we are going to manage it so his exercise doesn't interfere with her needs with the tendon issue but we'll get something figured out. We always do.

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