The first foal
You can read a lot of books and you can talk to all sorts of people that have gone through the experience of having a foal, but in the end it is your own experience that counts as every mare is special in the way she brings a foal to the ground. That is why I want to share this experience with you.
Everyone tells you to look for this and that when the mare is close to the date. But TGM Cali barely any signs, and when the due date came around she had not even filled up her tits. I watched her closely and my husband and I took turns in getting up at night. Every day I put her out and took her back in, but nothing happened.
After two weeks of getting up at night I had the feeling it could come that night. But when I had dinner I still saw her running in and out of her stall. But then, the next thing I remember was that she was lying outside, so I quickly called my husband. When we got to her, the front feet and parts of Dakota's head were already looking out. With the help of a Vet who told us what to do by cell phone we slowly pulled the little guy out. I ripped the sack over the nostrils and the head and it was an amazing feeling to see these little nostrils breath in the first air.
The mother turned towards her little one as if to say, so that's what was inside of me. Then I had to wait! Everyone had told me that the foal has to get up quickly. But what is quickly? After the mare had gotten up we waited and waited. It seemed such a long time. All kinds of thoughts came to my mind. What if? If he does not have the force to get up. Things that you have heard come to your mind that you had tucked away in the back of your mind. Especially as he tries to stand up on these funny stilts and he falls down again and again. You feel it is an incredible effort on his part to get up.
At one point I guess I got too worried and called the vet again. She reassured me and told me it can take up to an hour. Later I realized it had not even been 15 minutes but it felt so long. Then the next worry! Will she let him drink? Why do we always think of the worst case scenario? Like a puppy that has not open up its eyes he was trying to find his milk bar. First at the front shoulder then he slowly made his way back. Even here again you feel that it takes much too long for him to find his milk bar. You would like to help him but you know that first, let nature do what is right. The mother helped him by pushing him towards the back when he tried to suck on her front shoulder. When we finally felt everything was fine for mother and foal we tried to get them into the stall. The mother went but the little guy needed some help from us to get over the step of the barn to finally arrive savely in the stall.
We only realized how exhausting it was emotionally when we dropped into bed. We did not even think about the next morning. Only one month later the little guy started to tease his mom. In the end I can only hope that it will go as smoothly with our next foals and I wish everyone for the foaling season the same.
Danielle Vetsch
Alpenacresfarm
Sassel, Switzerland
2011 News
About our Sport Morgans
Kate will soon become a mother and Commander a proud father. The foal is due in August. Commander will start his driving training, and Cali will start her groundwork followed by driving training. Dakota is looking for a new home and new owners to love.
Sometimes you come upon treasures:
Beautiful carriages to sell
Summer camp for kids
Read moreabout our first camp last summer.
Books of interest:
Hello Bobby Gisela Rhodes. Book for vaulting instructors. Wide range of vaulting game examples for childreen, adolescents, and handicaped people.
Das Morgan Horse - ein amerikanischer Allrounder erobert Europa. With information about our Alpen Acres Farm. From Regina Reiter. Available here.