Sweet Girl Day 3

Several of you have mentioned that you are suddenly unable to post comments on blog entries. I am having trouble with that myself and am working on the problem - I suspect Blogger changed something in an update. Stay 'tooned! 

On to the baby pics! Today's pics are from Dolly's owner and model horse hobbyist, Kelsey Kramer. The photos I took are not nearly as good as Kelsey's - thanks for letting me use them.

The "grandmares" would really like a chance to love on their new little grandfilly.

Afternoon snack.

She is starting to fill out and grow already.

Soft noses together.

Sweet Girl seems to be bold and inquisitive. Listen to her mama nicker at her as she canters towards Kelsey..

I'll head out to the barn in just a bit for the morning check. Can't wait to see this little sweetie again. 

She has my heart.

Baby on the Way!

Whoo hoo! Look at that belly! Yes, that is an in-foal Sultanna.

So, why haven't I said much about her pregnancy? Because late last fall I'd seen her squealing at Trouble, snaking her neck at him, and then turning and presenting her backside to him - signs of a mare in heat. I'd figured that the breeding had not taken and that she was an open mare again. (That had happened in 2021 when she was bred, too.)

Sultanna is a big-boned mare and although I'd had thoughts that she'd really "wintered well," I had written off pregnancy in my mind and thought she was simply putting on weight. But yesterday that belly line was unmistakable and a text toTim confirmed what I suspected. 

Yes, Sultanna is in foal after all. She is due in early April and I am thrilled.  

We're gonna have a baby!

Look Who is Here!

I went out to the barn early this morning and look what I found!

 Sultanna had foaled several hours earlier and has a beautiful colt.

 She was happy to let me come see him and didn't object when I handled him and checked him over. Neither did he.

He's the same color she and her full brother, Snickerdoodle, were when they were foaled so I expect he will grow up and be a beautiful palomino just like his dam and sire.

He's got the biggest white blaze - he's going to be a stunner when he grows up.

Sultanna may be the lowest of the low in herd pecking order, but her maternal skills are in full force.

 She sniffed noses with Abby but made sure her foal was protected.

I'm so glad he is here, I could turn cartwheels!

Three Checks and No Baby

Yesterday morning I went out early in the morning to check Sultanna. She and Hokey were grazing together in the nursery paddock when I arrived.

I went into the paddock and checked her - no milk was leaking yet, 

but she was very wet under her tail. I checked Abby and Diablo to see if maybe it was just sweat, but neither of the other mares had that wetness there.

Sultanna was also very restless, walking up and down the paddock and occasionally nipping at her sides. (Hokey was not nipping at his, so I figured it was not fly irritation.)

 She was cranky, too - for the first time in the six years I've known her, I saw her pin her ears and warn off another horse - in this case, poor Hokey. (He drew babysitting duty because he is so sweet and gentle.)

I decided to hang around for a while and see if anything happened. Two hours later, she had settled down and was standing in the corner.

Since Sultanna had settled down, I ran home, grabbed some lunch, walked Pepper, and then returned two hours later to see how she was doing.

There was no change in her behavior. Still calm and quiet, no pacing or restlessness, and the nips to her sides had stopped. She was standing in the shade relaxing. I stayed and observed her for a half hour, and then went home again.

At the end of the day I took a third trip out to check her. Again, there was no change in her behavior so I sent a quick text to Tim to keep him updated on her status and returned home.

Today I plan to again make several checks on her. That foal's got to come sooner or later! I have my fingers crossed that it is sooner.

Daily Sultanna Checks

Sultanna is nearly ready to foal. Tim has been checking her daily, and now that I can drive again (I couldn't until I stopped having headaches from the concussion) I am checking her every day, too.

You can tell by looking at her that foaling time is getting closer.

Yesterday afternoon I met Teacher Daughter Lisa out at the barn and we spent some time just enjoying the horses' company.

They especially love her because she gives the best neck rubs. Hokey and Trouble were so happy that she came with me.

 Abby got her turn, too. I also checked her rain rot and am pleased that it is healing very well.

Sultanna has the most gorgeous coat, and in the summer it just sparkles. Even in the end stages of pregnancy she is beautiful.

I'll go out later this afternoon and check her again. And I suppose I will be asked to rub a few necks, too.

Not that I mind!

Sultanna Shakes Me Up

Yesterday was sunny and cold with temperatures in the thirties. As I drove out to visit Abby, I was debating with myself as to whether or not I would park and get out of the car or just do a visual check since it was so chilly. I decided to drive down the road by the northeast and northwest pastures and do a quick visual first.

Abby, Diablo, and Trouble were out in the northwest field near the hayrack and happily eating. All good there! I continued driving past the old farmhouse until I could see the northeast pasture and behind it, the small pasture and loafing shed where Sultanna and Hokey are as we wait for Sultanna to foal.

Due to a slight rise in the ground, all I could see of Sultanna was a big yellow mound peeking over the top of the rise. Normally I can see whoever is in that pasture from my vantage point in the car, so I knew that that meant that she was lying down. (As yellow as she is, she looked like she was the sun coming up over a hill!) And if she was lying down, she might be foaling.

I quickly sped down the road, turned onto the road that bordered the east side of the property, turned into the lane to the barn, and hurried up the access lane to the pasture were Sultanna was pastured.

Despite the noise of my car crunching on the gravel as I drove up, she did not move. Not a twitch. That was really unusual for her. Was she ill?

I got out of the car and shut the door loudly, hoping that that would cause her to move, but again nothing happened. My heart sank - this was not looking good.

Finally I called her name. Sultanna's head popped up and her ears pricked as she looked at me. Then she heavily lumbered to her feet, shook herself and began walking, as normal as pie.

I breathed a sigh of relief. She'd been stretched out and enjoying the warmth of the sun! Apparently she'd fallen asleep so deeply and was so comfortable that it took a little more noise than usual to wake her.

So, no foal yet. And, it is still early days as Sultanna is not due until May. But, Sultanna herself was born a month early, so I would not be surprised if she foaled early, too. I guess we will find out!