RB Foals...4 Colts!!!

[lindad]

Great looking colts! Congratulations! It will be fun to watch them over the next few months and years.

[Michelle Clarke]

Gavin (Maris' colt Gavilan...) is doing better today. Talked with my repro vet and she figures since he is early, his lungs are not fully developed - hence the short breaths. Since he has a normal temp and is not acting sick, I'll just keep an eye on him. Today he was acting more like a foal; active but with good bouts of solid sleep. Poops are getting more normal and overall he is doing well. Both he and Vegas have been moved into the bigger pens to run and play. Vegas is sure a handful and wants constant attention from me - think he knows he's special!

Tomorrow afternoon, Leza and Vegas go into the small grass pasture next to the broodmare field. Vegas gets to meet his yearling aunties over the fence before being turned out with them in a few days. Should be lots of fun and I can't wait to see what all the girls think of him.

Joy stayed near the barn today, every time she saw me she waddled up to the gate for me to let her in. I made her and Tasa stay out until 3 before I brought them in. Both ladies are looking like they are getting ready. I did not milk Joy today but Tasas' milk is still skim colored.

[zhiaral]

Get some rest - but I can't deny I'm impatient to see what the rest of the brood will look like!

[Michelle Clarke]

Joy has wax this morning and looks like foal is in position. She is miserable - did not want to go out, then came right back to the gate 15 minutes later. I let her in and had a hard time getting her stall cleaned with her hoovering over me for attention the whole time and shoving me with her head in my back when I ignored her. Poor mare!



Tasas' milk is still cloudy - but she won't be far behind Joy!

[zhiaral]

Poor ladies. I can't blame them for their distess - that's one of the reasons I've never wanted kids, myself!

[Michelle Clarke]

Joy had a grullo colt last night. No pics yet - rough time - Joy is nuts. She was afraid of her contractions; would not lay down, baby poking out the back and she is spinning. Finally laid down, I pulled the foal out before she could get up. Then she nurses on herself for five minutes while she is laying down. Gets up, freaks about the placenta hanging between her back legs and starts licking the foal like crazy - won't let him rest. I could barely get in to pick up dirty shavings without her threatening to take my face off. Had to move Tasa from next door so she did not take out the stall. I wanted to get a halter on her so she'd stand the heck still so the guy could nurse. No way. I finally gave her some grain with a small dose of Valerian in it to calm her butt down.

So, running on two hours sleep. First check this morning, she is calmer, little guy up and nursing - moving around the stall well. Phew. Gonna be a tough day!

This is Joys' second foal, first here. She is a super sweet mare and I never expected this from her. Geeze, the goofy Thoroughbred mare I had did not act this bad...close...

[gotkiger]

Well congrats on the colt. I hope you get a bit more rest at some point today and that joy calms down and stays calm. I am sure her colt is magnificent and handsome. I can't wait to see pictures.

[zhiaral]

Eesh - what a strange reaction! I hope she settles after this one. Maybe there was something traumatic that happened with the first foal? I knew one mare who was psychotic about her foals, but she was a rescue out of a neglect situation, where she'd been kept half starved and repeatedly bred. Only one of her foals survived more than a week or two during that time - and that one was two years old when she was confiscated, and still nursing off her dam. To put a happy note on that - they both ended up healthy, happy horses once they were rehabbed, and got new homes. Here's hoping that a good experience with this foal settles Joy down for future foals!

Congratulations on the colt! I eagerly await photos - when Joy's comfortable enough to take them. Three down, one to go!

[Michelle Clarke]

Joy has settle down some, still don't trust her but I was able to clean her stall without fuss and I even got my hands on the little guy while he was napping.

I think you are right; she must have had a traumatic experience with her first foal, at least in her eyes being a maiden. Most likely she foaled out in a pasture with the older mares and maybe even the stallion. Possibly one of the mares could have stolen the baby for awhile; she is just super over protective and frantic about it. Poor girl. I gave her lots of love today too.

Okay, here are two quick pics before I pass out. I need to hurry up and sleep before I go and do something silly like call him "Elvis"!

[fantasykiger]

OMG! he is so handsome! congratulations!!. I don't know that it takes something traumatic to set a Mustang mare off. I had several foals with my Mustang mare and for what ever reason she had one colt she refused let me near. For my safety and the foal's I just tossed them out to pasture as she was fretting so much.

[zhiaral]

Such a handsome young fellow!

Perhaps continue the avian trend? Though after finding a page that lists Spanish translations of birds... I can't deny that I like Paloma, Buho and Carabo better than Halcon or Aguila!

[DianneC]

That's about the cutest thing in the world! Love the way he's built. Boy, that does not sound like a fun birth. Glad you were able to calm her down some. My first thought was the same, wonder what happened and if she'd had a foal before, must have been tramatic whatever it was.

[Michelle Clarke]

It may be a close call with the two colts - though, honestly, Vegas has the whole package. Joy's colt is still immature acting, so we'll see over the next few days. It may take a few years to decide!

Gavin is coming along nicely - great looking colt! Here's the Aunties' looking on today...











More of Vegas...

[lindad]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

[ctxkiger]

Michelle,

Nice Colts! Congratulations.