April 10, 2007
Soxy went into labor about 4:45 p.m. Lisa McCutcheon, their neighbor, noticed that her two horses were looking over the fence at something, and Ginger, Soxy's best friend, was standing there not moving. When Lisa saw that Soxy was down she called me and I rushed over. By the time I got there, the foal's nose and front feet were out.
Ginger was standing watch over her friend, making sure that everything was OK. Ginger knew what this was all about. She'd had foals of her own in the past.
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Ginger watches over the foaling.
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Almost there - just two hind feet still to come out!
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"Here I am, Mom!"
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One hour old - Soxy and her foal were moved from the front yard
to the quickly constructed "nursery" where they would have shelter
from the cold wind. Thanks, Joe and Lisa for helping. Joe just
missed seeing the baby being born, but Lisa managed to get it
all on video. Not quite as exciting as being there, but close!
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 Mealtime for mom and baby. We called Harry and Jan,
the wonderful people who had adopted Soxy
and Ginger last fall, and gave them the news that
they now have three horses!
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Thursday, April 12. Soxy and her little colt are doing great.
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 Ruth and the baby. Photo by Lisa Sharp. A big thanks
to Lisa for helping set up the fencing for a larger
turnout area for Soxy and her new baby.
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What a handsome boy he is! Now we just need to come up with a good name for him.
Soxy is turning out to be a wonderful mother. She has come to trust her human caretakers and lets us fuss over her baby, but is protective of him at the same time, especially when he is nursing.
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Soxy, Baylee and Ginger - June 2007. A happy family!
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Baylee chasing after Auntie Ginger - June 2007.
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The horses came to live at Ruth's place after little Baylee
became a bit too friendly with the neighboring horses.
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Baylee has visitors! His manners are good enough now that he can be trusted (most of the time!) to behave himself with company.
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 All dressed up and ready for a new adventure - Baylee wearing a halter borrowed from his buddy, Bindy, the miniature donkey and a hiking pack, borrowed from Max, Ruth's black Lab dog.
Baylee got his feet trimmed for the first time in early July. He now stands quietly for haltering and being sprayed with fly spray. He has no fear of anyone or anything. After over a year of rehab, his mom also can be sprayed for flies, had her feet trimmed for the first time, and is comfortable wearing her fly mask and can easily be haltered and led. Ginger, too, has responded well to her new training and is doing well. It'll be a little while longer before Ginger fully trusts that no one will hurt her, but she too now wears a fly mask and will stand for being sprayed with fly spray and leads well. |
More photos to come!
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