Born a minute before midnight, a tiny chestnut colt, born with absolutely no signs of his imminant birth! Ok the mare was due - a maiden mare - but happily ate her tea and all her hay, no laying down resting after a day out in the field, or appearing uncomfortable in any way, normal droppings, inside of vulva not 'red'. Watched on camera all evening, then went out around 11.30pm to do late night hay feeds and to pick up droppings to keep stables clean. Gave her and every else their hay, she took a mouthful of hers and then lay down. Seconds later she was pushing! Grabbed my mobile and rang daughter asleep in the house - call failed! Rushed to the house, thankfully close to our buildings, woke daughter and rushed back. Mare still violently pushing and getting nowhere. Starting to panic! Daughter arrived and after another couple of minutes something started to show -- RED!! Thanks to the advice given here on LB we waited for a second or two. Mare jumped up and went down again right by her door. Got the door open and we all spilled out into the corridor - luckily well strawed up as it can get wet. next push and the red split open itself (at the 'star' ??) Two feet visible plus a nose resting on the fetlocks! Very very tight fit, but working slowly with the mare we managed to get the legs to advance a bit and as the head was so tight it seemed to get held back. Suddenly we had legs and head free, slightly lifted the legs to free the elbows and his chest was out, he was wriggling like mad and broke the bag. The mare suddenly rolled right over on to her back and we were enveloped in flailing back legs and she was still pushing violently. Thought, help, she's trying to clear a hip lock (why do we have all these awful thoughts right when we dont need them!). Pushed her back on her side and with one last push he was out!!
After a couple of minutes the mare got to her feet and we had to make a fast cut of the cord as it did not break and she was dragging the foal with her! Two minutes later the afterbirth just dropped out of her, so I do wonder if he was a partial red bag delivery, if that is possible, as I have never had an afterbirth follow so quickly -- made me wonder if it had seperated or partially seperated as she was first pushing?
He was up on his feet straight away, no messing, and within 5 minutes he was drinking, no searching, just straight to the teat and on!!
The vet came (we had already phoned in our panic!) and went into raptures over our tiny little boy - rushed off to get her camera and took pictures! And I thought she had come to check things were ok! However after a cup of coffee she did check and gave both mare and baby a clean bill of health. We all stood nattering for a good half an hour - while I was hoping that the other two maiden mares in the barn would foal right that minute LOL!!
Momma mare is Ancaster Hermione (5 years and approx 30" UK - 29" USA?) and naughty Daddy is Darmond Boogerman's Bravado (Dragon) -- I say naughty as daughter has threatened to put him up for sale for £1 if he throws us any SOLID CHESTNUT foals!!
Pics will follow tomorrow. Apologies for long post, very excited and got a bit carried away!
Anna
After a couple of minutes the mare got to her feet and we had to make a fast cut of the cord as it did not break and she was dragging the foal with her! Two minutes later the afterbirth just dropped out of her, so I do wonder if he was a partial red bag delivery, if that is possible, as I have never had an afterbirth follow so quickly -- made me wonder if it had seperated or partially seperated as she was first pushing?
He was up on his feet straight away, no messing, and within 5 minutes he was drinking, no searching, just straight to the teat and on!!
The vet came (we had already phoned in our panic!) and went into raptures over our tiny little boy - rushed off to get her camera and took pictures! And I thought she had come to check things were ok! However after a cup of coffee she did check and gave both mare and baby a clean bill of health. We all stood nattering for a good half an hour - while I was hoping that the other two maiden mares in the barn would foal right that minute LOL!!
Momma mare is Ancaster Hermione (5 years and approx 30" UK - 29" USA?) and naughty Daddy is Darmond Boogerman's Bravado (Dragon) -- I say naughty as daughter has threatened to put him up for sale for £1 if he throws us any SOLID CHESTNUT foals!!
Pics will follow tomorrow. Apologies for long post, very excited and got a bit carried away!
Anna
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