Considerations of Breeding Part III

The Baby


The filly pictured is 2 months old. She is Shilo. She is now changing colors. She began as a bright chestnut and is now turning liver like her mother. The only reason I was able to see her is because she ended up with Pneumonia and had to be shipped to the veterinary clinic. This clinic happens to be 2 miles from the barn that my horse's are at. As discussed in an earlier blog, the babies are kept at another farm. Another thing to think about when deciding whether or not to breed is what if the baby gets sick? Shilo has had to spend almost a month at the clinic. By the time she got there, she was so sick they didn't know if she was going to make it.

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Considerations of Becoming a Horse Breeder- Part II

Foaling Time

Well, we've made it to about a month prior to the mare foaling. Now, how early or late she foals depends on her previous history. If she is a maiden mare, you won't know and will find out soon. You need to decide where you are going to have the mare foal. If you choose to have her foal on the farm, it is now time to get a foal alert. This is just like a human baby monitor. You put one part in the stall and the listening device by you so you can hear if anything is going on. You could also just get up every hour and check on the mare. You could decide, especially with a maiden mare, to have her foal at the equine hospital where you know there is someone there 24/7. There are the added costs of keeping the mare at the clinic. We tend to send ours about 2 weeks prior to foaling. A good indication of when she needs to be sent is either prior history or when the mare starts to bag up. If the mare has been pasture boarded only, this would be the time to start bringing her in at night.
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Update: Raquel-The Filly

Well, Raquel finally made it here after all that went on yesterday. Read the blog: It Makes Me so Mad. She will have her surgery tomorrow morning and go to her training barn tomorrow afternoon. She is the baby in the first photo and the third. She is no longer a baby and no longer bright chestnut as the picture under Buck Almighty shows. She is now pretty big and a dark liver chestnut with white socks behind.

I can't say that I ever want to deal with the other barn again. What an unprofessional way to behave, but I guess we all have our own definitions as to what a professional is. I am just relieved she is here where I can see her and make sure she is ok. I hope, if all goes well, she will be in the show ring in two years like her big brother JC (a.k.a Buck Almighty) who is also on this page many times.

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