Thursday, January 29, 2015

T-Minus 70-ish Days Til Baby!


Omigoodness. I really can't believe it, but my baby horse is now about the size of a large dog, and weighs about 70-80lbs. February is just around the corner, and the munchkin is due in early to mid-April. That's just a little over two months away!

So far, knock on wood, everything has been a breeze for old Pmare. Despite being almost 19, and the fact that gravity hasn't been particularly kind to her, P looks awesome. She caught on the first try, has needed no hormones or drugs to get her to this point, has been completely comfortable and happy, and is super shiny and plenty fat, still keeping easy as she always has. She gets her freechoice hay, her bit of alfalfa, her same tiny amount of hay pellets/fat supplement, and her preggo vits/mins. That's it, and she looks amazing.

Awkward family photo
Love me bring me cookies

Mostly I let her be a dirty beast, but I did wash her socks this week and trim her mane (badly). I run a brush over her most days, but she's not a fan of being clean, so usually she just luxuriates joyfully in her filth. Mares...

I think the baby is going to be just as food motivated as mom is. If you push on P's flank, you can feel the little kid kicking halfheartedly back at you, which in turn sort of annoys P (she'll turn her head and give you this look of general exasperation). Bring out P's alfalfa though, and the baby starts doing the alfalfa dance - you can see it jiggling and bouncing around in her flanks while mom is eating!


I have a list of foaling supplies I need to get - it's nothing terribly complicated, just the usual suspects. I've foaled out plenty of babies - hell, I have a degree in repro work - but it has been a number of years since the last one, and I am trying to make sure I remember everything. I have her shot/deworming schedules all set, but I still have to decide if I want her to foal outside or in a stall. I want her to be able to move around, but her paddock is quite rocky, and it is April so it might be muddy (which, of course, will mean inside for sure). We'll just have to see, I suppose!


But can you believe it is already getting so close???


10 comments:

  1. She looks fantastic! So excited!

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  2. Can't wait to see the baby!! "Watching" him/her grow up (if you let us) is going to be so cool!

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  3. Oh, the a-n-t-i-c-i-p-a-t-I-o-n!! I would be beside myself. I'm looking forward to sharing him/her with you. :-)

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  4. ahhhh so exciting!!! i know zero about repro and foaling, so i'm super eager to read all about it here :) (and obvi super eager for the widdle baby foal too!)

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  5. I can't believe its so close no can't wait to see baby!!

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  6. I'm so, so, so excited!!! I can't believe how close it is. I can't wait!!!!! She looks great by the way!

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