jessj
Well-Known Member
Hi All!!! I am new to the forum and just wanted to introduce myself! My name is Jessica, and I am in central alabama. I grew up on a farm and have had quarter horses my whole life, but am new to minis! My husband (who has never been around farm animals at all!) and I married last year and bought our dream house. It has a 2acre chain link fenced yard...we soon decided that was WAY to much grass to cut! So we cross fenced about an acre of it for pasture. Our plan was to get a mini and maybe a couple of nigerian dwarf goats and we already had chickens so they free range in the pasture now. So I called a man that I have known for a long time who is a horse trader. I told him that I basically wanted a "pet lawn mower". Didnt care what color or any specifics...as long as it is small-ish gentle(i have a 7yr old daughter and a very green husband, so of course no studs). A couple of days later he brought me Darla (who at the time was named Beauty, but the daughter thought Darla suited her better). He gets a very fat little girl off the trailer and says "she could be bred...i've had her for about 3 months and she was runnin' with a lil' bitty stud when I got her...she's just been out in one of the back pastures since i got her" So the husband and the daughter are immediately in love...and she really is a little doll. Very gentle, great temperment. I started checking her out, looking her over, checking teeth, picking up feet, that kind of thing and I notice that she has a pretty full bag, and I can get clear liquid from it. That was 10 days ago, yesterday morning her milk went from very cloudy to almost white and went from salty to bland, and this morning it went almost completely white and sweet! I am a little worried. I don't know much of her history. She is 3-4 yrs old, so I am thinking this is probably her first foal. She isnt super tiny, about 36inches. Luckily I have a job that is very flexible ( i am the animal control supervisor, and animal cruelty investigator for our county) so i am able to check on her very often! This morning between 6-7:30 she was acting like she was in first stage of labor ....rolling, biting sides, pacing, and she had some clear discharge. But by 8:30 she stopped and was just standing around in the barn, and I had a couple of cases that I really needed to get to this morning. So I headed on to work. I have been by to check on her 2 times since and stil more standing around. I just stopped by my office, and am about to run back and check on her again! That is the story of Darla! I have really enjoyed reading all of your posts so far! Any advice or helpful hints are greatly appreciated!!!
OH!! I almost forgot! She has been on pasture only, and we have awesome pasture here, but I plan to add grain. With our quarter horses we have always fed a mixture of oats, alfalfa pellets, and dry beet pulp shreds....is that a bad combo for a mini? I have fed omolene in the past as well and like it...i have seen several posts from those of you that feed omolene...just wondering! Thanks! Jess
OH!! I almost forgot! She has been on pasture only, and we have awesome pasture here, but I plan to add grain. With our quarter horses we have always fed a mixture of oats, alfalfa pellets, and dry beet pulp shreds....is that a bad combo for a mini? I have fed omolene in the past as well and like it...i have seen several posts from those of you that feed omolene...just wondering! Thanks! Jess
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