The tale of two BOGOF foals: Dolly and Willow

What lovely foals, Tessy Bear and suffolkmare!

I thought I'd add a little titbit to the Tessy Bear thread that lead up to Dolly's birth.

Abbie, remember all the support you were getting regarding pre-foaling things to look for in mares just before they foal? Well, my friend has been keeping her in-foal mare at our place since last summer. The mare is a show cob and her owner planned this breeding, the mare's first, to a well-known stallion, who has since died. The mare's due date was 13 May. Both my friend and I are well-seasoned horsey mid-wives. As the months progressed, the mare ballooned...her nickname being 'the hippo.' We've all been preparing for the birth, getting in new straw, sorting out the paddocks, cleaning the rubber mats, etc., as you do. Yesterday morning, we were greeted with a clone of the mare, a darling piebald filly foal. The mare did not have an udder, never waxed, never lost tone at her hips or her 'petunia,' never nested, didn't appear to have dropped, and only went off her hay for a couple of days, which we attributed to the new hay just purchased from a different source. The foal was born, presumably, in the early hours of the morning. The mare cleansed, the foal was suckling, and produced meconium (her first poo) all under the watchful eyes of her devoted dam, who, btw, never even broke a sweat. And, it was my friend's birthday. The mare was not under any stress from noise (we're in peaceful countryside at the end of a no-through lane), there are no other people on our yard (except for my husband and handyman), no dogs or other animals to upset her (she knows and accepts my horses and donkeys, which are in visual contact with her). This was the most stressless foaling we've ever encountered for human and horse! No lost sleep or late-night vet call-outs. If all foalings were like this, it's possible this green and pleasant land would be more overrun with horses than it already is!!
 
suffolkmare said:
Oops, about time I caught up on here,but first I have some photos from yesterday evening..

Hope you like these :)
Apparently she has a right strop if mum wont give her a drink! She may be learning abut halters this weekend :eek:
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Lovely update SM :) Penny and Willow are so beautiful and that last pic of Willow is stunning.

Really looking forward to seeing Dolly's update Abbie. It will be interesting to see what difference in size there is since your last pics.

Sending lovely sunny weekend thoughts to Team Dolly & Team Willow :D
 
Awww RutlandH2O, that has brought tears to my eyes! Must be my hormones lol Well done and good luck to all concerned.

I'm sure Dolly and Willow wouldn't mind sharing the limelight if you felt like posting a pic or two ;)
 
Strawbz & suffolkmare: As soon as I get the pix onto my computer, I'll attempt to post a couple. I certainly don't want to hijack your lovely thread. I agree, Sbz, I'm feeling very broody as well. Sm, when I called out to my friend 'happy birthday' yesterday morning, as I was walking toward her stable, she stuck her head out and said 'twice!' I hobbled as fast as I could (baaaad back) and saw she was weeping and then I saw the baby. What a surprise. To have been giving advice about all the signs, and here there were none! Willow is such a little dream, as is Dolly. Friend's foal is un-named now (she was sure she was having a colt).
 
Evening all :D
Here is Dolly doodars update staring Tessy Bear :)

Helping mum eat :rolleyes:
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Teethy pegs coming through !!
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Bog brush tail ;)
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Punk chick Mane anyone ?:D
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Mini Hoofs !
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Kiss !
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Strike a pose
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Mummy bear looking scrummy now she has lost her hippo belly !
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( i know she is sunburnt we have her plastered in suncream tomorrow)

And yikes can you tell Dolly has teeth ?
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Wow! Has Dolly filled out! What a cracking baby! I think I see naughty written all over her innocent little face!!

As promised, a couple of pix of my friend's newborn filly foal at about 7 or 8 hours young.

Mummy is still a bit yukky from the birth...

And another...
 
Rutland they are both stunning ! I love mummy she is a very pretty girly ! Foal has a very cute facial marking too !
 
They are all so yummy ! I remember when my guy was born and the weeks after how much time I wasted just watching him. Keep the updates coming, its such a lovely thread.:D
 
Dolly sure is growing up, gotta love her :) super cute and mischievous i bet :p
Poor Tessy's boobs have gone downhill since having Dolly ;) She looks good though.

Rutland - they are both gorgeous :D
 
Beautiful foals, just makes me want one more seeing these three. They are so different to mine that I bred 20 years ago this year, she was a typical TB, skinny, leggy little mite. Yours all look so strong and sturdy in comparison. Love this thread.
 
Tessybear, suffolkmare, Holly_H. and Strawbz: Thank you for your kind words. My friend will be thrilled. Mummy mare is the easiest, nicest person, and is turning out to be a super mum.
I am loving seeing Dolly and Willow, such stunning babies! To repeat what has been posted before: I love this thread!
 
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