The Waiting Game Update

Mar 22, 2011 1 Comment by

Finally on March 19th, the day of the biggest full moon in over 20 years Vivian decided it was TIME. We put her out about noon, weather was not the best and she walked and walked and walked and walked then suddenly down she went beside the round bale. Got her up, in the barn [...]

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The Waiting Game

Mar 04, 2011 No Comments by

A lot of horse breeders spend most of their time anticipating – they anticipate their mare cycling properly, then they wait for 14 days to ultrasound her safe in foal. Next, they wait for her to foal 11 months later.Voila – we’ve waited a whole year in no time at all. This year, I kinda [...]

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Foaling Information

Mar 21, 2009 No Comments by

Although my two babies aren’t due into the big, bright world until May I know some of you are getting your babies now. It makes me long for the smell of milk and the ticklish feelings from their whiskers as they explore my face.  I always worry they will think my nose is a teat [...]

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Predicting Foaling Time

May 08, 2008 No Comments by

I usually see my baby horses being born. My mares think it is perfectly normal that I am busy helping. They would probably miss me if I wasn’t there. Or so I like to think anyway.  Many years of watching, sleeping in the barn and not sleeping at all have taught me some of the [...]

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Examining the Mare’s Placenta

May 07, 2008 No Comments

Just as important as making sure the mare passes the placenta soon after the birth of the foal is examining the mare’s placenta to make sure it is all there. There is an interesting article about the placenta and examining it on the website of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Causes of Foal Mortality, a One-Year Snapshot

Feb 08, 2008 No Comments

Interesting article from the University of Kentucky: Neonatal losses are a significant problem for the equine industry. Of the 1,294 fetal, neonatal, and juvenile equine cases presented to the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center from September 2004 through August 2005, 259 cases of neonatal mortality were evaluated for this study. Cases included only [...]

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