Molly in Ohio
----- Original Message -----
From: haflingerhorse@hotmail.com
To: haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 1:26 PM
Subject: [haflingerfriends] Re: First 2010 Foal at Rivervalley is tragic...
Hey Dawn,
Sometimes we do just need to sip the coffee and take a nap! :) Even though it drives us nuts, sometimes we just need a day to do nothing. There is always a million things that 'has to be done' on the farm, but in reality if the horses are fed, have water, and shelter, that is what has to be done. The other week I had 9 of our horses out on the state route. There I was, all by myself, in 2 ft of snow, watching my beloved herd trot down the middle of the road,no one to help me, poor Johnathan standing by the barn watching. I finally got them up into the pasture, and wouldn't you know it, I could not for the life of me get the gate closed! To much snow and ice. I could not believe it, and finally, I literally sat down in the snow bank and just cried, those big, gulping tears. And you know I'm not one for the waterworks! :) It was just one of those days. After I had my mini meltdown, I stood up, pushed meself through the snow and kicked that darn gate until it was free, trudged back to the barn, got Johnathan, and went into the house for some hot chocolate. Went back out later to finish watering the horses in the barn, and there was my dog, dead in the road. She had gone with me to get the horses in. Of course whoever hit her didn't stop to tell me, or say they were sorry. It was just one of those days I guess.
BUT, I will very much thank you for your story, because after reading it that night I went out and checked on the mares, and probably one of them is going to go early, so she will be staying in. If you had not written about your story, I may not have paid as close attention, as she isn't due for over a month, and so we are just doing the daily quick checks, not the several times a day, cameras on checks. So thanks for the story, we had some coyotes get some calves last year, same thing, cow calved, and the coyote was there and snatched it up before mom could even get up. When they are hungry they will go after anything. We are so very sorry about your foal, but thankful for the reminder to watch over everything as foaling and calving season is here.
Jacque in Ohio
Woodward Performance Haflingers
www.hfbhaflingers.com
>
> Not even the phone- LOL! Well, here I sit sipping a cup of coffee this fine morning and absorbing the last few days around here. Between the adventures I seem to have I have come to realize that sometimes people are right when they tell you to jut stay home I guess! Yesterday was tried and proven!
> However, there really is too much to do to just plop down and fold my arms up and take a nap. So, I have already been out this morning and OMG is it cold! It snowed again last night, and is about 0 right now. Hopefully it warms up a bit. All this snow and ice is making things hard to do around here. I want to start some youngsters but don't want anyone getting hurt so thats out the window. Need to build and rebuild fence but that isn't so easy when the ground is quit frozen! Maybe I'll just plow AGAIN! I did check the girls yesterday and Folly was doing much better, though a bit down. She was with the herd and although she didn't come to feed just yet, I think she will today.
> Yes the foal was born breathing, however she had him down into the willows of a stream bank, and the coyote simply waited on the other side, as soon as she dropped to foal he was there to get dinner. She did fight- she is cut up, however, the foal was quickly drug down behind the willows and she never had a chance to save him. Trust me that although we only saw the one, there was many more that weren't seen! You can tell that a foal was born alive by the lungs and how the linning looks. So, I am sure she was born alive. Folly just shouldn't have foaled over there, if she would have stayed with the herd she'd have been fine, but all mares generally go off to foal somewhere quieter, away from comotion. Mothernature does not always make sense to us in some forms.
> I did not save this mares colostrum, as she isn't bagged up hard for one, two she is out to pasture, and three I already have plenty in the freezer!
> Frozen colostrum last two years, refriged it last one year. Needs to be reheated via water bath, not microwave! And yes, I always have colostrum around here and always get calls every year from vets, friends, clients, ect that need some. So, it is tradition around here to take the best colostrum we can, without over milking our mares so their foals have plenty. I generally get some from every mare that foals, but Folly has been through enough and I don't need it.
> Well my freinds, I am tired of sitting and need to get to work in some form or another...so I'm off the face another day around here! Thanks again everyone for your support!
> Sincerely,
> Dawn
>
> --- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, Str8nascar@ wrote:
> >
> > My life is very dull compared to yours, Dawn. I can't wait to get up
> > there so I, too, can have as much fun as you do. :-)
> >
> > Little does she know that I almost called her when my gelding had himself
> > complete wrapped in fence wire. Thank heavens this lil guy came from
> > Dawn's Ranch, he never panicked! I maintained composure, which doesn't happen,
> > especially when it involves one of the horses. I just kept saying, "what
> > would Dawn do." I cut the fence wire. LOL Gelding walked over to the hay
> > pile and assumed the Haflinger position-eating, as if nothing had ever
> > happened. These horses are just incredible!
> >
> > Hang in there my friend, tomorrows a new day. Stay inside, under the
> > covers, do not open the door, do not talk on the phone!
> >
> > Hugs!
> > Sandy
>
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