Congratulations!! Having a foal is such a wonderful
experience
make sure she has a tetanos injection (serum) asap - she can have the
first set of vaccinations when she's 6 months old or so (rabies, flu,
rhinopneumonia, whatever you usually vaccinate for)
I'd recommend you spend lots of time with them, grooming and caressing
mummy, and let the foal come to you when she's ready - I personally find this
imprinting stuff (ie Miller and co) can be counterproductive and you sometimes
end up with a foal which doesn't want to see you
ribby is normal in the first few days sometimes weeks - just make sure
she's passed her first droppings ( meconium) within 24 hours and call the vet if
she gets bad diarhea ( spelling?), this sometimes happens and can
badly dehydrate the foal
take lots of pictures!!! Shiny Penny is a nice name actually - consider
keeping it?
From: Barbara Moulton <outermostsoul@xxxxxxxxx> Subject:
[RC] A JOYFUL DAY long with questions
Joy the
wondermustang has had her foal. I had a very important meeting to go to
yesterday and was leaving an hour early so I moved her portable electric
fence to fresh grass to make things easier on the horse babysitter and she
ducked out under the rope/wire and took off for the trees along the Snake
river. Both times before when she escaped that is where she headed-
An hour later I caught her and put her into the smallest drylot pen Horsey
jail and hurried to make it to my meeting 1/2 hour late. Home at 4:00 ish
Heather ran out to meet me and said I think Joy's in labor. She did
look uncomfortable and I took her straight to the new foaling compound
we built in the backyard. We just made it in the gate and she laid
down and delivered a stunning filly. It was the hottest day so far
this year at the hottest part of the afternoon. The foal was expected to be
be dark bay like Joy and the stallion or maybe black like Joy's mother
and several horses in the stallions pedigree. NO she is bright
coppery dun with a dorsal stripe two high white socks in back and a perfect
little blaze. Must be something from the mustang side of things to get
that color and chrome. both mom and dad had one tiny little sock and grandmom
mustang was jet black with no white at all
questions now- the filly
nurses eagerly and even aggresively but is stil looking ribby is it normal
to take a few days to fill out? she is EDPP very well. Should the filly
have any kind of shot soon- Joy was fully vaccinated including WNV on
schedule this year.
I sort of imprinted her just felt over her legs
and ears, lips and tried on the halter that was way too big ( she has such
a cute tiny little head with kind of big ears)i was realy hurtibng from
chasing Joy that morning with my bad legs and have the swelling
and bruises to go along with it. the first day she was super
friendly but shy today- is this to be expected- I never had a baby on purpose
before so I am not sure.
Joy is from Little Owyhee HMA and the daddy
is Impressive Destiny ( Egyptian arab owned by Shelia Harmon Eagle ID) any
name suggestions since I was expecting a dark baby the once I was mulling
over don't work
