FOAL NEWS NETWORK
March 5, 2013
As native Washingtonians, and having raised our two children Michael and Elizabeth in the city, I cannot but wonder how it is that they both have ended up living horse-centric lives - Liz, with her daughter, Calli, who is an event rider and Mike with his wife Kate, a rodeo rider, now raising horses.
Once again we find ourselves in the land of horse trailers, broken down farm equipment, watchful hawks, long and straight plowed rows and horses. It’s not “...a chicken in every pot,” nor “... a car in every backyard, to boot." It’s a horse in every yard! There are yards and ranches full of horses everywhere.
Yes, we have returned to Oakley, California - this time on foal watch. Mike and Kate’s quarter horse, Sally, will be giving birth soon. The due date is March 6th. Three hundred and forty days of gestation are coming to an end and we are camped here at The Diamond K Ranch, standing by to sound the alarm when she goes down. Baby monitors have been installed, heat lamps are being put up, privacy screens are being built around her paddock, the placenta bucket is in place and Bernie and I are double and triple checking our camera gear.
We have all been briefed on the I, 2, 3 Rule:
1. FOAL SHOULD STAND WITHIN 1 HOUR
2.
FOAL SHOULD NURSE WITHIN 2 HOURS
3.
PLACENTA SHOULD BE PASSED IN 3 HOURS
Meanwhile, Sally just eats and eats and eats. There’s grass to be grazed, flakes of hay to be eaten and carrots, apples and peppermints to be mooched.
The four of us, as well as other horse owners stop by her stall and paddock all day to check for signs of the impending birth.
The Sally Diaries
March 22
The donkeys across the road watch me like a couple of hawks, and their braying wakes me up at 4 in the morning.
March 21
I love to visit the camper and hustle Peggy for treats. She is a sucker.
March 20
Mom tries to gets me out to graze for at least a half an hour every day.
March 19
I sure hope Grandpa doesn't fall off that ladder while he is installing the closed circuit camera to watch me
March 18
When Mommy scratches my withers, I try to be nice and scratch hers.
March 15
Hair falling out, itching, swollen ankles… so ready for the next phase.
March 14
The vet just left. She checked me out, and told Mom the baby won't come until next week. I am so sad, it's getting hard to move.
March 13
Don't you hate it when your ankles get all swollen and you halve to wear icepacks?
March 12
Pretty soon you won't be able to see over my wall. No peeking!
March 11
Do I have to tell you how to do everything.
March 8
Is it comfortable there in the camper, you voyeurs? With your hot coffee and your privacy? You think you are impatient, try being me! SOOO BIG. SOOOO UNCOMFORTABLE.
March 7
It's about time you two started building me some privacy screens.
March 6
My neighbors at the ranch all wonder when I will finally drop this thing.
March 5
Tomorrow, tomorrow. Will it really come out tomorrow?
March 4
My boobs are getting bigger...I’m starting to bag and get waxy. What’s happening to me?!!? When, oh when will this thing come out?
March 3
Grandpa Bernie got the webcam installed today. Big brother is now watching my every move. I bet they’re having a cocktail while they watch me. Big grandparents are watching!
March 2
Grandpa visited today. I hope the baby doesn’t look like him.
March 1
Welcome to the ranch.
Kathleen, maybe she'll have twins!!!
Michael
Looks like sally is enjoying her pregnancy and her treats! Can't wait to see the new baby :)
Debralee
Sally, its ok to give birth now. We are all ok with it. No need to hold it in anymore...GET THE DANG BABY OUT ALREADY! No pressure though...
Calli
Thanks for the update! How fun for you. Mama and baby have to do all the work so….cameras at the ready! I recommend a box of tissues if you or Bernie or Sully are “weepers” – it’s pretty special. Won’t say congrats until see photos of grand-foal up and walking! Thinking of you today (the 7th) and looking forward to a joyful birth announcement. Congrats, Grand-mare and Grand-sire!
Janice
Looking forward to watching the big event! Thanks for setting it all up!
Debbie
Is the millennium falcon your only home?
Eddy D
Life is very strange!
Ilo-Mai
I-M,Thanks, I laughed out loud at "Life is very strange." I also cannot believe how major horses have become in my life. Yesterday I mucked out a stall... a task I managed to avoid for almost 75 years.
Holy cow, looks like Sally is ready to drop her foal any time now. I hope to catch it on the video feed at some point. Looks like she has a loving family and a wonderful place to raise her foal. Her Mom and Dad must be very proud. Good luck Sally get lot's of sleep, tomorow is going to be a very busy day. : - )
Donna
What a beautiful mare!! At least you have webcam to do foal watch. We used to sleep just outside the stalls!
Mary, Dan and Bridget
My brother has a mare that is due any day now too. He put her up in the barn Sunday when we were down there so the other horses wouldn't bother her and she wouldn't get stuck foaling out in the cold. Wonderful job you have there watching the video feed while sipping a beer.
Sheila
