Week in Review

Busy week of a busy month!

We're done foaling - yeah.  Valentina finally popped day 349 from her last possible, I'll-cover-you-as-you-exit-the-pasture-date.  So we're not sure how long she actually carried him, but it's a first for me in eleven years of foaling.  I think 342 was the longest in the past!

Fortunately she had a beautiful bay colt.  I keep looking and kinda hope he'll grey out, as I've never had a grey foal before, but if he doesn't that will be good to, as we don't know yet how strong Topper's greying gene is, as the two fillies don't appear to have it.


He's very leggy, pretty Topper head and short back.

Definitely all boy from the screaming at one hour old, while running circles around his dam.  I've yet to figure out why colts (in general) are so much more active at birth than the fillies.  But I've had some that are just 'all that'!

So the third and final foal for 2011 foaling - Wesco Farms TC Up All Night OTG.  I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to sleep again too!



His two sisters, Wesco Farms TC Ascended Allure (Bailey) and Wesco Farms TC Defiantly Different (Cricket) are both doing well.  Bailey is already pending for sale, which is good.  The intent is to sell ALL foals this year and likely next too.


Bailey is shyer than Cricket, but they've finally reached the age where they're starting to play together.  Very cute to watch as they're so closely marked.

Dystocia Chart

This is from an old AMHA pamphlet I've had the pic lying around for ?? years. If you would like a copy email me - michelle@wescofarms.com

Dystocia Chart

It's December which in Northern California can mean - warm in the 80's or wet and gray. We have the wet and gray right now.

We need the rain, so I can't really complain but my mood tends to go into the gray bleah too, when it's like this. I want a roaring fire, hot chocolate and a good book. My guilty side says how many things I need to do, so I'm sitting at my PC going through more horse related stuff.

I did get stallion reports done and dove into the AMHR paperwork yesterday. It's not quite as bad as I thought - yeah! Other than photos and filling out a registration for Remy (so Binks will be double registered too), it's coming together.  I think I've been building up my ant hill into Mt. Everest for no reason at all!

Confessions of a Miniature Horse breeder

As I've written about over this last year, 2009 was my 'non-breeding' year.

I didn't breed ANY horses. Not one. Zero, nada, zip!

Apparently that didn't sit well with my herd, so taking on the responsibility themselves, I've had quite the foaling year in 2010, six foals - five colts, one filly.  Pretty good in a very embarrassing fashion.

I have this illusion, that I maintain and hold to dearly, of being a responsible breeder. I'm selective on which mares and stallions I do cross.  I only breed a few every year (4-10 out of the 40+ we have here).

I do what I assume all of us do, and put thought into my breeding program and plan crosses and future crosses!

• I look at pedigrees the parents, grandparents, siblings. Who's produced what in which cross and how did it turn out? 
• Conformation is judged - he needs a better x and she has a better y.
• Movement - good, lazy, moves out, trot's in preference...  
• Personalities - she's a bit of a biotch, he's a pocket pet, etc.  
• How have any other foals matured?  Do I like it, if not why not? If I do what do I like and why?
• Color usually falls last in my equation as I don't breed appys/pinto's intentionally - healthy is my color of choice! 

Well sadly I must admit the stallions and mares have done quite a good job deciding this on their own without my laughable expertise. I'd like to think it's the overall quality of the horses that has helped (hey I want some credit!!!), so that any of them can be crossed and produce a pleasing Mini.  But I'd like a say in who, what, when!!!

I especially do not like the surprise, no one knew you were pregnant mares, which seems to be ET's long lasting legacy to me. Her and two out of three daughters have done this so far.  Hiding their pregnancy and then smugly coming down off the hill with a very healthy foal!

2009 admittedly was not my best year (personally speaking) and was why I didn't breed.  But our boys and the creative use of fencing mishaps and opportunities resulted in this extended foaling season and to my embarrassment a LOOOONNNGGG 'Who's Your Daddy?' year!

To recap:

• February's opening surprise #1 Etoile blessing us with Kiega.  Sired by Ringo in a creative use of the round pen.
• March LeeLee had Bruiser, Ringo fence jump
• May, Chiclet blessed us with Rose, Rohan's contribution.  You ever see a stallion jump a fence and beeline for a mare?  That was Rohan.  He knew which one to get to and he's faster than we are!
• June, Baybee had Chaos.  Suspected sire Frenchie, second only to Ringo in creative fence breeding and escape tactics
• Then all summer we've watched Libbe, Remy and Maria.  Libbe has had a bag since May, the cheater and still no foal.
• September, Cookie following in her dam, ET's, hoof steps surprised us with Bambam.  Suspect Frenchie.  DNA/PQ pending.
• November 8th, Remy finally exploded and brought forth her adorable, yet to be named son, a pretty bay. A solid bay foal out of a solid bay mare.  Suspected sire?  We had thought Frenchie, but highly improbably with his dilute color to sire a bay.  Ringo? possible but unlikely. So this one will be parent qualified by elimination.

So for not 'breeding' I'm pleased with all the foals. Only one filly, but they're all healthy and really nice!   Maria still looks round, but no bag to speak of, so we go she is/she isn't/she is/she isn't and keep watching her.  I've never had foals this late in the year on purpose!

2010 we had ZERO fence jumps, so unless Ringo had some midnight love through a fence.  All foals should be sired exactly by whom the mares were bred to and born in a 3-4 week period - like I like it!  Short, sweet, sleepless month.

I just hope foaling season is over.

September catch up

Well it's been a few weeks again.  What can I say - life gets busy!

First a belated Congratulations to all the AMHA World  & AMHR National contenders.  It's a ton of work and commitment to go to either show - so kudos to all the participants!

The horses have all been fine, not thrilled with the heat (100-104 last week), but they're getting hairy and doing well so that's good.

No major illness or injury (minor colic one day with Chaos - baby tasting everything), trimming has been a breeze with all the horses in extremely cooperative moods.  Life has been good.

We're planning on doing some re-fencing next month and think we have a usable plan, now its taking fencing out and hopefully putting it in a more logical fashion.  I don't know why when you move to the country even with the best intentions, stuff accumulates and pens get added and your property starts getting that cobbled together look. /sigh for unlimited income to do things right the first time.

This was a bit exciting today - a flock of wild turkeys.  We usually see groups of 1-3 and this was at least 20.  Anya and I were both fumbling with phone-cams so the photo didn't come out well, but at least she got one shot.  The funniest thing, I saw the tracks yesterday on the road and assumed it was one of the orchard trucks that had an unusual tire pattern - lol!  Yesterday we saw a huge group of quail (is it a covey or a bevy of quail?) in th same spot.  I guess our coyote population has been reduced as we're having much larger groups of wild life roaming around - yeah!

The big surprise this morning - no laughing is this was a very deja vu moment!  I went out to feed the horses and I noticed a 'black' mare on the hill with a few of her buddies, just hanging out.  Is that unusual?  When we're feeding - oh yea!  Finally the rest start coming down to eat and low and behold - it happened again!!!  Black mare with a baby.

I know don't laugh.  It's starting to be a pattern here!  Black mare coming down off the hills with a new foal!

I could tell it was Cookie, and apparently she is following in her mother and big sister's (ET & Una) smug 'who needs you human' attitude towards foaling.   She had apparently had her son - black colt, big star and one white hind fetlock - last night out on the hills. So that mean ET opened foaling season in February with a surprise and Cookie is closing it with a surprise.

The biggest surprise is, we've been watching Maria, Remy and Libbe all summer as they 'look' pregnant, and Cookie most definitely did NOT!  I was discussing breeding her next year - lol!

Took a couple of pics of the new boy, I'll add them later!





So more eventful happenings here.

Miscellaneous Monday 6-7-10

Baybee foaled over the weekend.  Looks to be a Frenchie foal, so double bred Callita grand-son, with a splash of Rowdy and Buckeroo.

We're anticipating Maria and Libbe to foal this week too.  Hopefully before the summer heat really hits.

The new boy is a buckskin with blue eyes, and very cute.  Baybee our only maiden this year has taken to being a mom in a great way.  It's nice having a maiden 'get it' from the very beginning.

My elite photography skills have been at work and I've lots of butt, open mouth, closed eyes and wonky photos so far!  I'll be going out this evening to try and capture him better.

Miscellaneous Monday 5-31-10

Busy the past couple of week.  Our website is up, but only the basic pages.  I'm taking a CSS class this summer so I'm holding off adding back much of the information and individual horse's pages until then. It will make life easier to change things after I'm better with my CSS skills.  If anyone does need information on our horses, please contact me - I have it all - including all the reference horse page information.  Which I've been debating about loading all the photos on a Flickr or PhotoBucket account.  Being a pedigree junkie I always love looking at the ancestors of my horses.

Foaling season is dragging on, as we're still waiting on Libbe, Maria and Baybee to foal.  So much for the theory on keeping older mares pregnant! First ET, now Maria (24).  Both haven't been bred in 5+ years and one night of fun with (I'm suspecting Frenchie with the three remaining), and we're having a foaling season.

We did take Topper's mares out last week, so he had about 3 weeks to do his magic.  As this was his first time pasture breeding we'll see which of the mares did get covered.

Took some photos a week or so ago FINALLY of Ringo (thanks again Jenn for helping out!).  

It was about time considering all I had were yearling ones and he's now seven!  These are right out of the field, unclipped, so he's a bit flyaway looking but at least we have a few.  

Miscellaneous Monday

Another Monday after a busy weekend.  My wonderful elves (Holly & Gary) were out whipping the place into shape - yeah!  All these overdue projects are getting done thanks to this wonderful duo.  I have a year or so of work for them - lol!  That was for your benefit Holly!!!

Sunny went off to Tracy to his new family on Saturday.  The boys herd is shrinking.  We're debating on having Little (Grosshills Littlemans Anticipation) gelded as he's not selling, but we know he'd love to have free run time with the mares.  

I hesitate to do it as his foals have been nice and everyone that has them is very pleased with them, so we'll see.  As fly season is on the horizon he may dodge that bullet until Fall anyway!  

We are considering offering Demon for sale.  I really don't want to, but Ringo is my big gaga baby, and Topper is definitely a keeper.  So, do we need a two roans and a grey pinto stallion - no! 

Speaking of foaling - still waiting on the ladies. Chiclet is starting to bag up, but isn't due until June 2, but early could be umm today!  Hoping she'll hold out another couple of weeks.  Babyee is just getting a bag too.  Interesting to see who's your daddy on her foal! Fence jumping stallions obviously spread the love around!

We had a family powwow today, and we did decide to breed Topper to 4-5 mares for 2011 foals.  As Topper has never pasture bred, it may be a learning experience all the way around and we're likely to have fewer foals then the fence jumpers are siring this year!  Just in case he takes to pasture breeding like the rest have, we're not taking any chances and only allowing him a few mares.

WCR Top Cop

The mares we agree on Patsy, Swan, and Valentina.  The others we're going to consider tomorrow - Twila, Dresden, Annie, Sarah, Callita and Comet.  

Our biggest concern is Maria. She cannot stand to be separated from her daughter, Patsy. I mean not at all. Not minutes.  Not AT ALL! 

Wesco Farms Demons Checkered Past (Patsy) 

Patsy is five this year, but Maria treats her much like a newborn foal at ALL times.  So the dilemma is do we separate them and give 24 year old Maria a fit, or let her in and potentially get bred?  I don't think she's cycling and hasn't for a few years, but either way is bad.  She really gets hysterical even trimming her (concerned she'll have a heartattack or colic) if they aren't together.

My mares and their oh so quirky personalities!  Need to do a short story on Java the uber mom... lots of personality here!

Our internet tower is up and running - another big yeah!  So, we now have fast internet service direct to the house.  Soon it will be goodbye to ATT!  Loving this fast speed too!

Our website will be going down this week, and hopefully the main pages will only be offline a few days.  Reconstructing the whole site - 300 pages - ugh!  So likely to have a streamlined version of what it is now.  Saving all of the information to disk though - so it will likely show up here - lol!!!

This is one of my favorites - Charlotte you said it all well!  Check out Reflections if you want to see some gorgeous Minis (link below).

One of these priceless gems - wish I had penned it!

THE MINIATURE HORSE MARE'S SECRET CODE OF HONOR

The Miniature horse mare's secret code of honour is as old as the breed itself and is ultimately the breed's best kept secret. No Miniature horse mare shall ever produce a foal before it's time. (It's time being determined by the following factors):

1 .No foal shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your house must be a wreck, your family hungry and desperate for clean clothes, and your social life non-existent.

2. Mid-wives must reach the babbling fool status before you foal out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence mean your getting close.

3. For every bell, beeper, camera or whistle they attach to you, foaling must be delayed by at least one day for each item.

4. Vet check, add a day, internal add three. If you hear the words, "She's nowhere near ready. You'll be fine while I'm away for the weekend."  Wait 12 to 16 hours and pop that baby out!

5. Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.   When you hear the words "I can't take it anymore!" wait three days and produce a foal.

6. You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are necessary! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around in the bowl and then walking away from it are always good for a rise. Be creative and find new things to do to keep the adrenaline pumping in those who wait.

7. The honour of all Miniatures is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your stable mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. OH, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.

8. If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have this foal, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action! The power could go out and you could have the last laugh. You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!

9. Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each time someone comes into the stable to check you. Your stable mates will love you as the extra goodies fall their way too.

10. Remember, this code of honour was designed to remind man of how trully special miniature horses are. Do your best to reward those who wait with a beautiful filly to carry on the miniature horse mare code of honour for the next generation of those who wait!

From Reflections, a miniature horse ranch, Charlotte Lupton  12-1-2002 

The Ten Must Have's in your Foaling Kit

Foaling Kits are important to have prepped and ready.  You can't cover everything, but most normal and many problem deliveries can be handled if you're prepared.

I'm sure everyone has their own personal set up and favorite 'must have' items.  We've tried different containers, stuff over the year and for the past few have used two plastic tubs - clear with lids - one the most used items, the other the dry items - blankets, rags, towel.  There are more things we keep on hand for foaling, and between January-February we take stock, clean or reorder as needed.

I have a dystocia chart that I review annually (also the books Blessed Are the Broodmares/Blessed Are the Foals).  I've delivered over 150 foals (I'm going to actually count one day!), but a refresher always helps!  It's good to know what you're feeling inside to match that mental image of a foals structure.

Other very important prefoaling must do - make sure your trailer is ready to go should you have to transport quickly.  If you can, have it hooked up just in case or at least ready!

   

Main foaling kit  - 

1. Nolvason and a bottle/bucket to prepare a dilution (for dipping the cord and/or sterilizing hands, etc.) I use an old style film case or shot glass size jar for dipping and a bucket for everything else.
   
2. Petroleum Jelly (vaseline is a name brand) for lubing.  I buy these at the Dollar stores and use one tub per incident (no mixing or contaminating that way)
   
3. Clean towels, rags and a large sheet (dry off the foal, clean up mare, self) The sheet I like to put under the mare for clean delivery)
   
4. Clean pair of scissors (sterilize with the nolvason)
   
5. Miner's headlamp (you wear on your head for hands free light)
   
6. Phone with the vets telephone number preprogrammed  (not in the kit but ready)
   
7. Extra pair of hands (friend, child, spouse) Okay hard to pack but oh so helpful!
   
8. Garbage Bag for placenta
   
9. Halter & lead for the mare
10. Rubber gloves (Honestly I rarely use these, nolvason clean hands/short nails works)

**This is our bare bones most used items.  We do have other items should we need them (colostrum, syringes, bottles, other blankets, chains/ropes, all kinds of useful items that can be grabbed/used in a pinch


Post Foaling Kit -

1. Banamine (dose mare after foaling) with fresh syringe
   
2. Ivermectin (dose mare after foaling) with fresh syringe
   
3. Foal Blanket (a couple different sizes)
   
4. Child size enema (dump out the contents and filled with warm water and a drop of soap)
   
5. Udderly EZ (the easiest way to milk a mare) with clean bottles and 60cc syringe
   
6. Foal Response (dose the foal)
7. Child's nasal aspirator (in case nose's need to be cleared)
8. Digital thermometer (I buy new every year)
9. Camera for that first baby photo (check the battery/card so its ready)
   

This year, I've been keeping the post foaling things in two gallon-size ziplock bags as its the stuff we need after the foal is out.  

So, what's your 'Must Have' items?

** Foaling Chart (not dystocia only)
** Foaling Chart (same as above, also available a mare & stallion reproductive chart)

Foal Response™

I've been using Foal Response™ for a four years now.  My feeling is it is a great boost for a very small cost on getting foals going.  I like to see foals up and active very quickly, plus I like the added boost this gives with the probiotics.

 We've had zero foal heat diahrrea since we've started using it - a bonus just in that - but that could also be attributed to de-worming mares the first 12 hours.  I'm a believer in that as well.

We purchase 5-6 tubes with our annual dewormer, vaccine, syringe, eye ointment order and use it all! It's ideal for older weanlings should they get an upset/colicy stomach too.  

You can purchase it through Jeffers, Valley Vet and a number of other online equine supply companies.  It runs around $12-13 a tube.  It is recommended to give the full tube, but we give half to one third depending on the size of the foal.

Below is the info sheet on Foal Response™.



Foal Response™
Premium Quality Bovine Colostrum with Essential Nutrients for Foals
• Formulated to provide newborns, older foals and weanlings with the optimum immediate care
nutrition they need
• Contains KPx™ Technology colostrum, rich in antibodies to stimulate immune response.
• Also contains probiotics and other essential nutrients
Colostrum: Nature's First Food Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammalian mothers at or around the time of birth. For most mammalian species, colostrum is well recognized as nature's "first food." Colostrum is more than milk though; it is one way in which the mother passes her immune system "knowledge" on to her newborn. Rich in antibodies, immune proteins produced by the mother's immune system, colostrum gives the baby the ability to recognize and fight the hosts of immune challenges it will face in the upcoming days, weeks, months and years ahead.
In some species, failure to receive colostrum as a newborn can even result in death. That's how important colostrum is to mammals.

Taking Colostrum to the Next Level: KPx Technology Vita Flex Nutrition uses only KPx Technology bovine colostrum in Foal Response. KPx colostrum is produced in the United States by a team of scientists and dairy farmers working side-by-side to create what may be the finest commercial colostrum produced. KPx cattle are given optimized diets and living environments, and the harvest period for each cow is strictly regulated. In FDA and USDA certified facilities, state-of-the-art filtration technologies are applied, down to the molecular level, to mine this optimized colostrum for its most bioactive properties. KPx may be the finest colostrum produced, and we're proud to say that we use it in Foal Response.
Bovine Colostrum for Horses? Yes! Many of the antibodies found in bovine colostrum are not species-specific.
This means that your horses can see beneficial results from supplementation with Foal Response. Studies have shown that bovine colostrum can successfully replace colostrum for other mammalian species. Although bovine colostrum cannot replace equine-specific antibodies to certain pathogens, it appears to stimulate overall immune competence to a level equal to that of babies that are fed mother's colostrum. Equines can greatly benefit from the KPx colostrum found in Foal Response.

Foal Response: More Than Just Colostrum! Newborn foals require much more than colostrum for optimal health and protection. Foal Response has been formulated to provide newborns with the optimum Immediate Care Nutrition that they need. Colostrum has been long-studied for its positive effects on the intestinal tracts of newborns, but colostrum is only one piece to the "puzzle." Probiotics have long been recognized as an important factor in gut health, and Foal Response provides the live microbials (probiotics) that may be missing in your foal's gut at the time of birth.

The KPx colostrum and probiotics found in Foal Response, along with other essential nutrients, make Foal Response an ideal supplement for newborns, older foals or weanlings.

For Breeding Farms and Backyard Breeders Alike Its combination of colostrum, direct-fed microbials and other essential nutrients can be of great benefit to every newborn. Every foal, whether born on a breeding farm or in your backyard barn, faces virtually the same set of immune and intestinal challenges. Whether breeding for sale or personal use, it is important to start your foal with the foundations for a long, healthy and fruitful life. Foal Response is formulated to address and meet these unique needs of the newborn, and will make an ideal addition to every supplement cabinet.
Recommended Feeding Warm to body temperature. Feed entire tube immediately following birth. Feed more Foal Response as needed or directed by veterinarian. DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE OR OTHER RUMINANTS.
KPx™ is a trademark of Apperon, Inc.
© 2005 Vita Flex Nutrition

New Foal update...

A couple days late, (this flu is kicking my butt), so photos have not been high priority.  This is LeeLee's (Las Doradas Blazing Beauty) colt sired by fence jumper extraordiniare Ringo (Wesco Farms BuckeRowdyRoo).  A perfect match to Kiega!

 Leelee isn't overly thrilled about this or the dogs lurking in the background.  Although the dogs have a very healthy respect for the minis flying hooves and hang out literally under hoof during farrier visits - new babies are another story!  She's still in 'new mom' mode.

This is as yet to be named colt getting his daily molesting. He's strong and very tenacious, just like Kiega - I see driving in these two's future!!  Hmmm - matched pair blue roans = awesome!

Nice pedigree on this guy too! Ringo being a Buckeroo/Rowdy grandson (his sire is Juniors full brother) and LeeLee is a daughter of World Champion Little Kings Bay Ablaze (doa 2009) who is heavy Blue Boy while her dam was linebred Gold Melody Boy/Hashs Comet/Merry's Golden Mohawk - those gorgeous palomino Shetlands!

As the flu is pretty much fogging the brain, I haven't came up with a name yet.  Although as I've been reading the Histories by Herodotus on my iPhone, it won't be surprising if mysterious ancient Greek names appear this year!  Titan, Titus, Taras, Timon ....


NEXT UP

Next on board we think is Baybee - she's very round, but no bag.  She's starting to get the V from the side view too. She's a maiden so we're hoping everything goes well.  She's been paying lots of attention to LeeLee and her baby so hopefully has picked up some pointers - lol!

Update

It's been about two weeks since I last wrote anything - I've been reading blogs on how to blog - scary some of the suggestions! Others make you realize you're very boring, so why bother - lol!

Oh well, soldier on!

It's hot, the grass is shriveling up, the horses are almost completely shed out (belly hair is almost gone), so they're looking sleek and shiny. Everyone's a bit chunky, except for Flash - he's proving to be the hardest to keep weight on, but no one is skinny here!!!

I finally ventured on the forums again (SHG) today. It's the first time I've been on any online horse related forum since last Fall. I definitely needed the break. Getting to cynical about some of the people in the Mini industry!

Other things -

We've had the farrier out again and he's coming again on June 5th. Hopefully we'll be caught up, as the foals need to be done.

Our fly predators are out, not seeing a drastic reduction in flies yet, but putting them out monthly should help. I want to get the fly traps up too.

We have baby pools that need to be filled for the horses to. The boys have been making their own mud wallow, as they pull the water lose from their bucket every day or so, but the mares do enjoy the afternoon squirting and rolling. If they'd only not break sprinklers - lol!!!

Another mare loss -
Sad news, we lost one of our mares, Wesco Farms Ravishing Ruby, was found dead in the a.m. when we went out to feed. She was (we thought) a healthy three year old, as she hasn't been ill, no sign of struggle/colic/nothing, in good flesh, eating the day before fine, so ?? We're at a loss as to why she died, but I don't necropsy as 9/10 they'll tell me it's inconclusive and I still have a dead horse. We just hope she didn't suffer and is in a better place now.

It is a bit weird though, usually we lose a foal to some foaling issue, dystocia, etc., but this year all were born easily and have been very robust/healthy, so odd to lose a mare.

Speaking of foaling -
We're done - yeah! Two more colts to finish out with five fillies, four colts for 2009. I'm pleased with what the stallions sired and these foals will have to fill our cute baby mode as I don't plan to breed until 2010 or 2011.

I seriously need to reduce our herd number, so can't see continuing to breed until that is accomplished. As picky as I am about selling, it will likely take two years to get the numbers down - lol! It would be nice to be able to just sell to anyone that shows up with $$, but I'm not that way. There's no guarantees on a good home, but if I get a bad vibe from a potential buyer, or the questions aren't answered, etc., it's a no go! So, it will be a slow process!

Enough of that!

The foals are doing great, I wish I had pasture cam's so I could watch them play. April, Zydeco and Vanna look like three stuffed animals cavorting about. Very cute, little shorties!

April and Zydeco

Almost forgot the new foals!!!

These two will be in the grey zone of 'who's your Daddy' as they fall in the time when Ringo jumped the fence. We DNA/PQ all foals as a matter of course anyway. It will be interesting to see who Daddy will be though!

I'm guessing Ringo on this one out of Miss (Las Doradas Miss America Pie). Her and her son are already sold and will be going to their new home Saturday, so we do not have a name for him yet. Wesco Farms fillin the blank! Handsome colt though.

This guy, based on color, I'm assuming will be a Frenchie foal. It will be interesting to see the results! Dam is Valentina (Wesco Farms Brazen Beauty Toy4Me). As Val is a bay pinto and Frenchie is a dilute/silver (we think), it's more likely he's the sire than the blue roan Ringo! As I was listening to the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire when thinking up names - he's got the great one of Jai Ho! That's the song they're playing at the end which loosely translates to Hallelujah (how I feel with foaling season over!), so Wesco Farms Jai Ho it is!

New foal!!

Another filly - yeah!  And a total surprise one at that - 

Wesco Farms Count Your Blessings BR

 

This is Ringo's first foal (Wesco Farms BuckeRowdyroo:  Little Kings Bagheera Buckeroo x NFC Rowdys Lil Chiclet), and he apparently made good on my promise last year that I would breed him to two mares with his fence jumping twice last summer to get in with these mares.  

Una (Wesco Farms Bella Luna: Las Doradas American Eagle x Las Doradas Etoile de Mar) and he have always had a moon over the fence thing going on, so not surprised she was the one he covered!  Hopefully the only one!   She apparently didn't listen when I told her she could be done foaling last year with her son Shaman.

I have two more mares that we're watching that will now go on the 'who's your Daddy testing' list. The other nine mares were not bred back last year, but will be suspect and thoroughly checked and watched for the next two weeks.   Well Ringo's June 19 & 23 fence visits from last year extend my foaling season.   

 

As for Miss Una, she apparently hid being pregnant very well (versus Cajun who now looks 'un-pregnant' again) and did a fine job foaling out too!  

Mother's Day a.m., Frank ran an errand and came home said all the horses were up on the hill - should have been a sign go see what theyr'e doing as they only congregate on top with a birth or some other exciting event.  As a Mother's Day present my daughter fed the horses for me, so apparently either missed the little stranger or Una didn't come down with the rest of the herd and someone miscounted!  

I was totally spoiled for Mother's Day (slept in, no chores, breakast made by my hubby, my son washed my car in/out, flowers, chocolates and letters from the kids - great day!), there was no indication the horses were doing anything out of the ordinary.  We rarely see them during the day at this time of year as once they go back out they only come down in the evening for water, so didn't suspect a thing!

 

So today when I'm out feeding I notice Una, Annie and this little black stranger.  Annie came down to eat and Una made her way down once the rest were busy with their piles.  So we caught her (thinking she'd just had it), but this was a very robust I'm-not-just-born foal!  We locked them up and she's been doing laps racing around, very independent little girl!  All legs (a definite B mini) the Shetland blood is showing in this cross - lol!  Otherwise a nice looking foal.  Doesn't have the big bug eyes I like, but otherwise well put together.

 

What bothers me - I've been sleepless for weeks watching the wrong horses - lol!!  I've been watching Missy (Una's half-sister) for a week sure she's having it, but no!! 

There is comedy in this somewhere, right?  

  

The Three-fer night

In the last post I mentioned we had lost our senior mare, Stouts Ladybird.  

Later than evening, I'm out telling the pregnant mares about Lady passing, and mention (yes I talk to my horses!) that the next one to have a filly will have our new 'Lady' in remembrance.

 

I guess that got them all in the mood as we had three foals born that night! 

 

 

JAVA (Las Doradas Orions Miss Java Jive)

She's looked ready for two to three weeks, but apparently the moon and planets were aligned correctly for her, so when I went to check the mares about 1:30 a.m., I see a silver-something foal running laps around Java in her side of the shelter.  I thought Twila's daughter, Surprise had got in somehow and was half curious as to why Twila wasn't having a total wingding, but when I got to the shelter its a newly born, soaking wet colt.  This one is all stallion from his first minutes of life - he's pawing the ground, lifting his upper lip (flemen), very loudly announcing he's here and acting like he was a few days old not freshly minted!

 

Now is the fun with Miss Java.  She thinks I'm evil as either I'm going to steal her baby or stick something in her or in her mouth that is not pleasant.  Mind you I've owned this mare since she was four months old (she's nine now), BUT she is Jazz Jubilee's little pistol daughter (Jazz is half sister to Cajun my mare with her own broomstick!), Java definitely takes beyatch lessons from Auntie Cajun!  I finally get him caught and treated; dried off and blanketed; then back with very angry Java!

 

 

Chiclet (NFCS Rowdys Lil Chiclet)

Picking up all my paraphernalia, I head towards the house, half way there I look back to see Chiclet release a huge pile of manure - oh no - that was a clean the bowels out poop!  She circles twice and down she goes.  

 

I ran and grabbed more supplies and clean towels/blanket returning just in time for her foal to be born - sac has broken half the foal out, so I lift her up onto a clean towel, drying what's emerging.  Chiclet is up immediately (very clean deliver - I love old stretchy mares!), breaks the cord, so I treat that, check equipment - filly yea! 

 

Chiclet won the Lady contest. 

 

Her daughter is another lively one, solid black with a huge forehead covering blotch of white.  I barely have her dried and blanketed and she's talking and wanting to get up! Very insistent our new little Lady she  was up and standing within 10 minutes.  Clean up everything and waiting for Chiclet to pass the placenta when Jamaica laid down and said me me - my turn!!!! 

 

You must be @#%% kidding!  

 

 

Jamaica (Wesco Farms Jamaica Me Crazy)

 

 I checked her, yep a nose and one foot facing the wrong direction a bit of an angle and up not down, the leg almost up to its knee is out.  An oh crap moment! 

 

I start yelling for the kids  (at 3:15 in the a.m. - so glad we have so few neighbors!).  While I'm waiting on them, I get her haltered and up and try to check - being less than 28" and a maiden there isn't hardly room for a finger, so I tell Maxim get the van ready, hand Anya the lead to walk her out to the van and go in to call UC Davis. 

 

We drag miserable Jamaica to the van, keeping her up - still no progress on the foal.  We load her unhappily in, leaving her loose. 

 

Anya and I leave, with Jamaica stomping around the back of the van, terribly unthrilled with this new experience.  Fortunately, we're only 15-20 minutes to UCD, we're almost there when I hear distinct foal sounds.  Anya says no that's Jamaica in pain, that's why it sounds different.  I hear it again and said that's a baby!  Of course no street lights on the country roads, and being well equipped no flashlight on us, so we keep driving to UCD.  Anya goes to let them know we're there, I check to see Jamaica standing with her new daughter sprawled underneath her screaming like a banshee - definitely very much alive. 

 

Jamaica had delivered her and the placenta (still attached), so we figure we're at UCD and they had awoke the emergency surgery team (the vet and I had thought this was a c-section for sure), so one vet grabs the foal.  We attached the ramp, lead Jamaica down and into the emergency room.  They check both and everything seems in order, considering the presentation I had, Jamaica was tear/bruise free which I thought was surprising.   I'd really like to know if she had Vanna with a leg back or her rolling and farting in the van just gave her some extra room!  

 

Jamaica all of a sudden realizes that the little stranger trying to stand unsteadily is hers, and starts calling her.  I'm so thrilled as often I've seen the maidens want to exam the new invader but don't seem to have that instant bond.  She takes to the I'm a mom immediately - yeah!

 

UCD was fairly gracious, one vet was trying to lecture me that as this was a dystocia I was likely to face a dummy foal and I should leave her there for 48 hours as a precaution.  I wanted to say it wasn't much of a dystocia if she had it on her own in the van!  She proceeds to tell me it was abnormal for the placenta to be delivered so quickly after the foal was born (or at the same time).  I calmly told her in the 150+ minis I've delivered, I've found it to be relatively common.  She then stated that minis are at a much higher risk for retained placenta.   I repeated to her again 150+ .... only one retained placenta.   I really wanted to say let the ink dry on your diploma, deliver a few hundred mini's then call me, okay!  I didn't though - but it was tempting!!   I'd love to know who writes their educational books.  Most of the vets are fantastic at UCD, but every new class there is always one . . .

 

We've been very delayed on the whole naming foals this year as nothing seems to be coming to me (a rarity!), except for Jamaica's foal.  As she was born in our white van we're toying with the name Vanna White! (hey it sounded really funny at 5 a.m. on the drive home!) Vanna has stuck for her ranch name at least, but I'll likely 'pretty up the Vanna White part - LOL!

 

So all three mothers/foals are doing well today. Missy is on deck with Val and Cajun not far behind.  May 17th is my ending date - so only a couple more weeks, then I'm off foaling duty until 2011 or 2012!  It will be weird after 10 years of this to not be foaling out mares next year, but I think I just might enjoy the sleep!

Wesco Farms - name to be determined 

with parents named Frangelico Flashback and Java Jive . . . poor guy 

you know it will be different!

(Wesco Farms Frangelico Flashback x Las Doradas Orions Miss Java Jive)

Wesco Farms Remembering Lady BB

(Las Doradas Bonus Bucks x NFCS Rowdys Lil Chiclet)

Wesco Farms Miss Vanna White BB

(Las Doradas Bonus Bucks x Wesco Farms Jamaica Me Crazy)

Foal #3 for 2009 and a bit of a ramble

It's been a busy week so far and HOT - unseasonably hot in the 90's in April!!  The AC has been on, breaking my rule of never before May, but sweltering in the house was not an option.

The horses are doing well, I can't believe Java and Missy have not foaled - they're orca size, but I know horses can get bigger, its just halfway through foaling season and in zombie mode - I want to sleep!!!   

Anyway, on to #3 foal.   Calypso's foaling was textbook and unconventional at the same time.  I've been watching her since mid-March, and seriously since April 1st.  She's had a few foal losses, although non that I can attribute to her, more ID10T errors, but that is another long story!  With this one, she's been keeping her legs crossed and refusing to foal.  Apparently Sarah and Chiclet were not the buddies she wanted around her at foaling!

I had been out around 12:45 a.m. giving the preggies some alfalfa so I could check all of them. I decided for some reason to open the gate allowing the two groups back together - it gives them more space and bottom line I'm a bit unconventional with my mares - they're all use to being together and isolation is torture for them - at least they think so.  Besides Miss April has been getting in with them she's way to curious!

So, I opened the gate and was checking everyone - Calypso waddles through and starts neighing - her daughter Jamaica answers and comes running.   They look like two bookends, as wide as they are tall!

**Short digression - 

Jamaica is Wesco Farms Jamaica Me Crazy - sire is Little Kings Echo Diablo -and she's a maiden that we're crossing our fingers will be issue free her first foaling.  I will have five generations of this line, so that will be exciting in itself!  Jamaica's the smallest bred mare other than her dam and we waited until she was a full five years old to breed her.   When we thought the kids would show Jamaica was my daughter's favorite - this is their first show and our first clipping attempt - pretty pathetic I know! **

Back to the birth.  

Calypso is walking in a very determined fashion to the area where the pregnant mares are fed - this is about 400 feet past the gate, thru two other gates/smaller paddocks.  

I'm watching the mares (by flashlight) making sure no one is bothering Sarah and April.  She seems thrilled to be back with her buddies and they're all acting fine.  

Calypso reached her destination the dry dirt area by the water trough (glad she missed the overflow muddy area).   All of a sudden she lays down, rolls, stands rolls again and goes down - stiff legged.  I run over and her water broke.  

I'm thinking it figures you stinker!!  Here in the dirt with all the others around and now you want to foal!  I forcibly make her get up as the sac and a hoof are emerging!  I drag her by her mane into the runway next to the house.  No easy task, as this is half the way back we just came, but I'm pulling her with one had, flashlight in the other, screaming like a banshee for help - cell phone is in the house of course!  

 I get Calypso into the run, and she goes down again.  I look fortunately its two hooves and a nose coming out - the sac is still intact so I leave that and just keep traction.  My daughter comes running with the foaling kit as I bark orders to my fantastic assistant (thank you Anya), and she retrieves a few other things for me.

I'm keeping traction on the foal, but allowing Calypso to do the pushing.  Out comes foal and as soon as his (it's a he!) hips were cleared, I broke the sac and began cleaning off his head, and massaging him awake.  We're happy  - healthy, black and white pinto, cute and all the right parts in the right places!

Calypso apparently un-thrilled with this process, jumps up, breaking the cord and walks away!  Most of my mares are way to curious about their babies and would be all over them, but no she takes off walking around.  

So we dry the foal off (he's on a clean sheet), towel him fairly vigorously, do all the foal checks as normal.  By then she's passed the placenta - this is all in about 15 minutes from her water breaking.  I have my daughter halter her so we can introduce her to her son.  She's not interested at first, but we proceed with Calypso's post foaling work and start to milk off some colostrum for the foal.  He's laying there and finally she goes 'Oh! Is that mine?'  Now we have determined mom wanting to see her baby!

He's more active although unable to stand on his own yet, so we hold him up to give him some Foal Response and a bit of colostrum.  Then put him back on his towel and leave them alone for a few minutes.  My son came home - the uber-milker - and he milks out twice the amount of milk/colostrum that my daughter and I could get - so I gave some more to Zydeco and froze a bit of it.  We use Udderly EZ (no I don't get paid, but I do rave about this product!!) as it makes milking a mare soooo much easier!

We ended up milking Calypso on and off for about 24 hours as she has fairly flaccid nipples that aren't quite inverted, but are hard for foals to latch on to at first.  Zydeco was wearing so much milk on his face I wasn't sure he was actually getting any!  But everything is going fine now.  She's been doing great with this baby and if the rest of the foaling season goes like this we'll be very happy!

Introduction - Here is - 

Wesco Farms Zydeco

(Las Doradas Bonus Bucks x Las Doradas Calypso Queen)

 

His name is in keeping with the whole Cajun/Creole flavor that began with his grand-dam Mardi Gras!

Welcome #2

Welcome foal #2 - Wesco Farms While U Were Sleeping.  I've toyed with the names -  Caught Off Guard and While U Were Napping,  Ha Ha Fooled U - as Twila pulled a fast one.  

All our energy has been focused on Calypso, Chiclet and Java so she went off in the corner, quietly had her daughter (yea a filly!) and was very nonchalant about the whole thing!

As for specs on this filly - color is anyone's guess!  Dam is bay roan, sire is listed as palomino but I think he's silver and he carries overo.  So, we'll have to see what she changes into!

She does have blue eyes, white legs, facial white and legs that are looking B size likely or very tall A.  Twila is being a fantastic mother, so we're happy for her.  

Other news 

- We're officially on the last month of foaling, as everyone is due today, with last foaling dates (unless someone goes over) of May 17th.  So, we're praying for healthy and alive foals, healthy mares with an extra pretty please on the fillies with color!!

- Sassie found her sister Peanut's hole into the pregnant mares pasture and is now in there.  Deva has overly curious daughters (heck our whole herd is!) that see a 3" opening and must go!! So both those stinkers need to be booted out.  Peanut eats so much she's almost as round as she is tall.  

  

- Its really hot today for April.  Someone said it should be in the 90's so ugh!  Too hot for that!

-  Good news from Kris Murphee - Zorro x Bonnie produced a black colt -unexpectedly from a pinto x buckskin, but there is that chance.  Fortunately healthy and alive - those are always my goals.

- Bad news from Jen & Susan Davis - Chocho hiplocked in a bad delivery and her black colt died.  They did like the foal well enough, so Cho is coming back in a few weeks to bred back to Bonus Bucks.  Poor ChoCho mooned after him and followed him around like a puppy so I'm sure she won't mind!  That was their second black colt this year.  Seems like Northern CA is having the year of black colts!

- My most senior mare Stouts Ladybird, I'm not sure if she's reaching her end of days, but she seems to really be slowing down.  She's 26 and just seems more tired everyday.  She eats, is in good flesh, etc., but lays down more to sleep and just seems  . . tired.  Tina is also 26 and is very robust, still cycling and acts 10 years younger than her age.  So, I'm not sure if I'm worrying unnecessarily, she's not acting off or sick, she just seems tired.  That's the only way to put it.  I was going to let them out on the hills, but may hold off.

- I need to get on to ordering fly predators.  They really help and with the heat we're having now the flies will start popping out.

Thats about it - off to go check the new foal!

It's a beautiful day . . .

Warm, sunny, a few whispy clouds and no wind.  

No wind is a big plus here at certain times of the year - when we first

 moved here not recognizing the unique weather pattern we had I watched a metal shed (9x12ish size) roll over a fence, take out a pipe from our well - can we say fire hydrant water shooting 35+ feet, continue rolling, jump another fence and land on another building!  We've learned to secure things since then!

So to feed the horses without eating hay or wearing it is a wonderful and exciting.  My feeding outfit is ugly to the extreme - low ride muckboots, old pants, 2 knit shirts (mock high necks), a long sleeve sweater, floppy hat, sunglasses and gloves - I wear this gawd-awful outfit as it keeps the majority of the hay from contacting  me - and I wear it year-round rain or shine!  You see, I have a bit of a contact allergy to grass hay and alfalfa, plus I hate having my hair full of hay, plus I hate having my hands look to much like they belong to a ditch digger (a slight vanity I know!), plus I'm part vampire and hate being in the sun - so I dress in my peculiar yet practical way, not for pretty!

Photos!  

I took the camera out and took many horrid photos of the horses - why can they looks so breath-takingly awesome yet I can capture the exact moment they open their mouth, turn their head or do something else not cute . . . bleah!

NFC Rowdys Lil Chiclet (our Rowdy daughter)

+++++++++++++++++

Las Doradas Orions Miss Java Jive

She's looking very rotund (from the side - dropped/bagged) and I'm going to laugh if she beats Chiclet and Calypso.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Retired mare Tanglewood Farms Maria (yes missing an eye), 

with her two daughters

 Wesco Farms So Chic (Holly) in the middle, and 

Wesco Farms Demons Checkered Past (Patsy) with the lovely gaping mouth.

Four photos to get this - and this is the best so just imagine the rest.

++++++++++++++++++

Las Doradas Cajun Courtesan - 

the sneaky mare has been hiding she's pregnant!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Sarah (Cajun's half sister) with daughter, Miss April at 17 days old

I have a few of the boys but they still need to be edited and reduced in size - my camera takes them sized about 24x30 something, but the quality is good.  Now to just get a good photographer behind he lens!