Destiny4ever
Well-Known Member
Destiny started pacing around midnight last night, at 1:37 she laid down and her water broke. She pushed for 10 minutes and I saw nothing emerging so I got a little nervous. Then what I THOUGHT was the bubble of the sac, emerged, but then I saw it was a hoof. Just one. Not two. So I freaked out. I let her push for 5 more minutes then rung my vet's answering serice.
I got her up and walked her a bit, hoping the foal would slip into the correct position. It didn't and she was still straining badly so after 20 minutes of pushing I reached in and tried to find the other leg. I could only feel the head and the one leg that was emerging. It was awful. The vet had been called at 1:55, he didn't get there until 2:30, fast yes I know but it seemed like the longest 35 minutes of my life. I kept her up and walking even though she kept trying to strain. Twice more I let her lay down and tried to locate the other leg.
The vet arrived and after sedating her a bit, discovered the foals' head and neck were pointing down and one leg was back. He seemed very reserved and said we'd try to move the head around. At this point I knew the foal had to be dead, and was just hoping that we could save Destiny. Poor Destiny was trying so so hard. After 30 minutes of manuevering he finally got the head repositioned and while Destiny was standing, he helped pull the baby out slowly. The nose came out and its nostrils were moving! BREATHING!
Finally around 3:05 the baby was delivered. He immediatly started scrambling around and snorting! Destiny just stood there, exhausted for like 10 minutes while we dried him off and cleared his airways. Before we could get a clamp on the cord he was scrambling around and getting half up. Destiny finally noticed she'd foaled and turned around to nuzzle him. We clamped and cut the cord. He was up within 6 minutes, nursing within 10!
This boy is A FIGHTER! Destiny was given a good dose of antibiotics, and made me promise to go get some sleep. Which I did, and came back this morning. She still hasn't passed the placenta so the vet is coming back out around 10:30-11am. Then Wednesday we are going to do an IcG on the colt.
I thought last night he was a sorrel, but this morning he is very very light colored with liver around the eyes and he has a pinkish tint to him. I sincerely think he's a palomino.
I'll have pictures as soon as I can post. Momma is doing good, and already eating her breakfast. She is a bit protective of him, but nothing like she was with Stormy. She at least lets me handle him. And boy is he inquisitive! Getting into everything, already running around his stall although he isn't even unfolded yet!
Whew what a night. I never ever ever want to breed a mare again. This is it. It was worth it in this case, but so scary. I could've lost Destiny as well as the foal. I'm just glad all seems to be going well. He's already pooped and is nursing up a storm. He's a very healthy colt!
Elizabeth
I got her up and walked her a bit, hoping the foal would slip into the correct position. It didn't and she was still straining badly so after 20 minutes of pushing I reached in and tried to find the other leg. I could only feel the head and the one leg that was emerging. It was awful. The vet had been called at 1:55, he didn't get there until 2:30, fast yes I know but it seemed like the longest 35 minutes of my life. I kept her up and walking even though she kept trying to strain. Twice more I let her lay down and tried to locate the other leg.
The vet arrived and after sedating her a bit, discovered the foals' head and neck were pointing down and one leg was back. He seemed very reserved and said we'd try to move the head around. At this point I knew the foal had to be dead, and was just hoping that we could save Destiny. Poor Destiny was trying so so hard. After 30 minutes of manuevering he finally got the head repositioned and while Destiny was standing, he helped pull the baby out slowly. The nose came out and its nostrils were moving! BREATHING!
Finally around 3:05 the baby was delivered. He immediatly started scrambling around and snorting! Destiny just stood there, exhausted for like 10 minutes while we dried him off and cleared his airways. Before we could get a clamp on the cord he was scrambling around and getting half up. Destiny finally noticed she'd foaled and turned around to nuzzle him. We clamped and cut the cord. He was up within 6 minutes, nursing within 10!
This boy is A FIGHTER! Destiny was given a good dose of antibiotics, and made me promise to go get some sleep. Which I did, and came back this morning. She still hasn't passed the placenta so the vet is coming back out around 10:30-11am. Then Wednesday we are going to do an IcG on the colt.
I thought last night he was a sorrel, but this morning he is very very light colored with liver around the eyes and he has a pinkish tint to him. I sincerely think he's a palomino.
I'll have pictures as soon as I can post. Momma is doing good, and already eating her breakfast. She is a bit protective of him, but nothing like she was with Stormy. She at least lets me handle him. And boy is he inquisitive! Getting into everything, already running around his stall although he isn't even unfolded yet!
Whew what a night. I never ever ever want to breed a mare again. This is it. It was worth it in this case, but so scary. I could've lost Destiny as well as the foal. I'm just glad all seems to be going well. He's already pooped and is nursing up a storm. He's a very healthy colt!
Elizabeth
