A Colt

 I was up at midnight checking the camera and all was quiet. The next time I checked it was 1:15 am and Rosaleigh was right in the middle of delivering, laying down and pushing. I watched on the monitor as the foal was born then got dressed, got the towels and headed to the barn. This is a strong big colt. I got him almost dry with Rosaleigh's help

Within minutes he was struggling to stand.

I didn't pay attention to the time but it was probably around 1:45 am when he was able to stand and take a few steps.

The stall was cleaned up and fresh straw put down. Rosaleigh's water buckets were filled and while I was working Star's stall was cleaned up too. Mark came down to check on the foal. The video below is of right after he was cleaned up, his struggle to stand and his first few steps. 

I left them alone then, hopefully he figured out how to nurse. It looks like on the monitor he is nursing but I'll check that out better later this morning, right now I need to get a little more sleep. 

Maybe Tomorrow

 Rosaleigh did not go into labor last night. I awoke at midnight to check the monitor and she was standing quietly just drowsing, no sign of first labor, pacing or looking at her belly. I slept until 5:00 am checked to find her the same, quietly standing. As soon as it was light enough to see she and Star were moved out to the pond pasture with Rosalie. Rosalie went right over to Valiant and showed so she was taken out and covered by Evan then put back in with the other 2 mares. The yearlings were moved into the other pasture so they could graze. I actually did this as training only taking one at a time. Asking for a few stops on the way and having them quietly walk behind me. Cabo was first. When he was turned out he waited at the gate until Dahlia was walked over. I cheated a little, Rosie was haltered and led but I just let Shadow follow on her own and she did. Once all 4 were in the pasture they moved out to graze. 

The stalls were cleaned and made ready for tonight then I walked over to mom's. A red eyed slider turtle was crossing the driveway and stopped right in the middle.

As Ruth was going to be driving up any minute I picked up the turtle and moved it off to the side of the road the way it was facing.

We had to stop and check out the progress of Mike's barn.

He had the lift working so demonstrated it for us.

It isn't really a people lift it is for getting all the heavy equipment needed for the next project. 

Below is the other room in the barn. That open doorway up at the top left will be where the mezzanine will be in this room. This will give plenty of storage space above and still have room to park tractors, jeeps, 4 wheelers and all kinds of stuff Diane wants out of the yard.

After the walk I left first for the Peoria post office to pick up the Berean mail. Skip cant be there tomorrow. From there I went to Sam's club to pick up cat food and more plastic cups. When the mail was dropped off at the Berean office I sent Joan a text to let her know I was on my way to the brake shop. She needed to drop off her car to get the brakes repaired and since it is on the way home I picked her up there so she didn't have to wait. 

When I got back Mark and I went to work repairing the breeding shed. We had a huge storm come through and it blew the aluminum panels off.

We started on it, Mark walked off to get something so I went mushroom hunting until he came back.

I found 10 nice size mushrooms but these 3 were found first all together.

They were rinsed off then put in some salt water in the fridge. I couldn't cook them tonight as we already had plans. We got the shed finished but I forgot to take a picture of that. Mike arrived to work on the waterer of the mare paddock and got that fixed. That paddock can now be used and we have lots of mares that need to come in for breeding. At 5:10 pm we left for Alexander Street Steakhouse where we were meeting Amy and Ken. That restaurant has an April special of an 8 ounce steak, 3 shrimp either grilled or fried, the salad bar and a side for $30.00. It was good we weren't in a hurry, the service was pretty slow but we enjoyed the salad bar. It really is the best one in Peoria in my opinion. Not that we go out to eat much. Below are our salad plates. 

The steak was very tender and delicious.

It really was a wonderful time to just sit and visit while enjoying foods that we didn't prepare ourselves. The restaurant charges 3% extra to use a credit card so we brought cash. We didn't get home until after 8:00 pm. I went straight out to the pond pasture to bring Rosaleigh and Star in. Rosaleigh is on the foaling camera again but again she is just very content to stand quietly. There is no sign of pacing or looking at her sides. She is not in labor yet.

Maybe tomorrow

Waxing

 I went out to check the mares early this morning and it was a good thing I did. Rosaleigh is waxing.

But that isn't the reason it was a good thing to go out early. As I was checking on the other horses I found Missy laying against the bale in the shelter with her back legs sticking through the gate and her tail sticking under the shelter. She was cast and could not get up. I got her legs free of the gate and opened the gate wide, got a lead rope on her and tried pulling her but she was just to heavy. I called Mike but he didn't answer so called Diane. She was going to go out to the barn to get him but just then Missy made a huge scramble and made it up so let Diane know I didn't need help. Then looked over past the last shelter and saw two of the yearlings were out. Disco/Cabo learned how to escape the pond pasture last year. I though he might have forgotten as he was grazing all day with the other 3 yesterday but not only did he escape he took Roseberry with him. They were both good, came right to me and let me halter them and put them back in but before I did I shut and locked the gate going into the pond pasture. They have lost their grazing privilege in the pond pasture until I can figure out where he is getting out. Mark came down with a bad cold yesterday that wasn't any better today so he stayed home from church. David had the morning message. This was about carrying our cross. He explained it so well. Click HERE to watch that message. At lunch our church's nameless IT guy let me know that the Wednesday night family night was posted to AC Central. Gabe Stickling had that very personal message. I'll post it on the Wednesday blog but also post it here if you would like to watch it just click HERE. The afternoon message was a little shortened and was by Craig Stickling then after the message he told us a little about the Elder winter conference. Click HERE if you would like to watch that. After church Joan took my car to go try on dresses at Faith's house while I took the wheel chair van with mom, Nancy and Mackenson home to mom's house. As soon as I got home the taco meat was finished and put in a crock pot the rest of the food loaded up for the barn. I drove first to the foaling apartment. Rhoda was going to work with Iris on Cookie and was taking knots out of her mane. 

Rhoda and Iris took Cookie to the round pen for a real riding lesson.

About then Ella arrived. She was so excited to be here and was excited to help me out. We checked the udders on both Rosaleigh and Star, then got Rosalie out and put her in the outdoor arena so Ella could work with her a little before Mike saddled and bridled her up. Rosalie was so well behaved. She had been out at Middle Grove and had not been ridden for 2 years but behaved perfectly.

I just have to brag on both my daughter and the mare. Rhoda did all the training on Rosalie and what a wonderful riding horse she turned out to be. At 3:30 pm I needed to get to the barn to start cutting up peppers, onions, shredding lettuce and get the supper going. We try to eat around 4:30 and usually everyone arrives early. Supper was finished and ready right on time. Stephanie's Aunt Kathy and her husband Mike (whom we have known since childhood) came for dinner tonight. They are going to use the barn, the apartment and 4 campers for their Kieser weekend in June and needed to see how it would all work. After supper we took the tour and Kathy thinks it will work out just fine. The volley ball players arrived just as Mike and Kathy were leaving. Soon the barn was filled with people, both children and adults. The kids have just as much fun as the adults on Sunday nights. Before it got dark today Rosaleigh and Star were brought into the stalls and I have them now on the foaling camera.

Rhoda saw Rosaleigh rolling today and she was probably getting the foal in position. She is standing quietly this evening eating hay and there is no sign yet of any labor but it is raining outside now and I sure didn't want to take a chance of delivery outside tonight. 

Brand New Evan Colt

 Rosalie needed to be teased so she was put in the back field with Rosaleigh and Star. She didn't show right away, she was just glad to be in with her friend (Rosaleigh) and grazing. 

Star made her way over to graze with them. She isn't really friends with either of these mares but is more secure with them.

I was walking back to the house through the pasture when I saw a robin egg shell. At first I thought the wind must have blown it out of a nest but there wasn't any trees nearby. Maybe the wind did this but more than likely something got the egg and brought it here then broke it open and licked out the yolk. You can see a little yellow of the yolk on the broken part.

Interesting that the egg must have been broken here on the ground. The back gate to the yearling paddock was opened. Below I'm asking them to come out to the pond pasture to graze. They were a little hesitant.

They soon followed me. It was so peaceful watching them graze this morning while listening to the birds sing.

After breakfast I made my way over to the barn to organize toys and bring back 12 pounds of ground beef. 6 pounds were left out to defrost while the other 6 pounds were put in my freezer here in the house for next Sunday. When Rosalie finished grazing she walked over to Evan and started showing so I brought her out, tied her to the breeding stand and brought him over. She stood much better today and was successfully covered. Just as he finished up Diane, Rachel and Joan came walking over. I mentioned I didn't get the memo about walking later in the morning and they explained this one was spur of the moment. I really didn't have time, we ate lunch then at 12:30 pm Mark and I left for Israel's double header baseball games in Marquette Heights. He was actually batting when we arrived.

He didn't get a hit, the pitcher walked him. He ended up making it to home after stealing a base or two. He was on 2 more times and each time made a run. The first inning he pitched it was 3 and out. The second inning he got the first 2 batters out, the 3rd got a base hit and the 4th struck out.  They won the game by a lot. The second game was a little tighter but they still won by 13 points. 

Below is a video of just some of the game.

I'm leaving the mares out tonight. It is going to be a warm night and the mares are in the clean field. They are not waxing but one never knows. The 6 pounds of ground beef was browned and put outside to cool down. That will be put in the fridge tonight then turned into taco meat tomorrow after church. 

Word came to day that Whiskey the only outside mare we took in last year delivered a gorgeous huge black colt.

His hooves were out and he was on the ground in 9 minutes, standing in 35 minutes and nursing on his own in under an hour.

We no longer take in outside mares but we had promised Whiskey's owner we would breed her back 2 years ago. This is the second foal Whiskey has had by Evan. The first was a filly also pitch black and her owner really wanted to repeat the breeding. I'm so glad for her sake that we made the exception.

Blossoms

 I went out early to check the two pregnant mares udders and out to the field for grazing. Rosaleigh was very glad to get out on the field. She is also showing she is closer to delivery than Star Temple. 

Below is her udder.

Star Temple had lots of burrs in her tail so I took some time to get those out and brush her tail.

She has quite a thick tail. She also has some in her mane and forelock but didn't want to stand for those. She was very content to graze. I just realized the picture above shows the new barn (now almost 4 years old) and below shows the indoor arena and the stall barn. 

As she is a maiden mare her udder isn't very swollen at all. She still has a thick winter coat.

That coat is coming off in handfuls. The birds will be glad they like to use that hair for their nests.

About the time that I finished with the mares it was time to be at mom's house. Ruth couldn't come on the walk today, she was babysitting grandchildren. About then Sarah sent 3 pictures. I was really confused as I could tell the background wasn't from this area.

It turned out she was in Bluffton at Bill and Bethany's house, staying there for a couple days to get one of their dogs bred to a stud dog less than an hour away from Bethany's house. Nice that she had somewhere to stay for the 2 days needed.

Mom's flowering crab apple tree has exploded with beautiful blossoms.

It is more protected than our redbud tree which is just now starting to blossom.

Mark graded the roads again today. We had a quarter inch of rain last night so perfect time to get this done.

The stalls needed to be cleaned from last night and since Rosaleigh is getting close we must get them ready for foaling. I spent a couple hours getting them done today.

Tomorrow I'll get them thickly bedded, 2 water buckets each and fresh hay. Praying for a safe and successful start to our foaling season. Last year our very first mare to foal was Tatiana. She was put in the stall on a Sunday morning as I could see she was close. I checked the foaling camera's right after the first service and saw she was down pushing but no legs were coming out. I called Karin who ran over to the barn. She confirmed this was not a normal birth. I called the emergency vet clinic number. Tatiana needed to have an emergency C section. The foal died just before Dr. Hoerr was able to get him out then Tatiana died the next day. We not only lost 2 purebred Friesians we ended up with huge vet bills. Almost always things progress perfectly but in the 24 years Horsemeister has been in business and hundreds of foals we have had 3 C sections and only one of them was successful. I admit to praying for Rosaleigh as I was taking her out to the field. 

Rosalie IN

 Before going to mom's this morning the pregnant mares needed to be checked on. Neither of their udders have changed. We still have time. The 4 yearlings were very curious.

Rosalie was also watching.

Joan showed us the collapsing retaining wall at mom's that must be repaired on the work day.

After the walk I noticed the lone tulip at our house. Mark planted 50 bulbs a couple years ago of mixed tulips and daffodils. The daffodils came up but only this one lonely tulip.

I left then for Sam's club and found they had strawberries on sale a 2 pound box for $1.97

I sent out a family text and ended up buying 8 boxes. I also found grated colby jack cheese for $1.99 a pound but only in the 5 pound bags  only bought it after googling if I could freeze it. The answer came back yes so bought the bag. I ended up buying 3 rotisserie chickens, one for Diane, one for Joan and one for us. The ingredients for haystacks were also purchased. A lot of the food was taken to the barn and put in the fridge there. Mark and I had some of the chicken for lunch. The rest of the chicken will be made into chicken salad. The day was so warm and sunny Dahlia, Cabo and Ayanna were put in the field next to Evan. They loved being able to graze on that new spring grass.  Dahlia was taken first and she galloped around while waiting for the others. 

Below is a video I only thought to take as she was starting to get tired.

Rosalie was taken out next as I wanted to see if she was in season. She didn't show at first, was more interested in grazing but as soon as she realized it was Evan went right over and showed.

He thought she smelled amazing, either that or he is saying, "wow does she stink."

Cabo was led over with the golf cart.

All three settled down to graze.

My next job was to unhook the stock trailer and hook up a camper. Today we wanted to take 2 campers over to Joan's as she has someone coming to check them out for rental. Mark came up to help with that.

Joan was mowing at mom's, Berlica was mowing at the barn and Mackenson was mowing at our house.

When we finished I needed to move Rosalie out of the pasture. She was not leaving Evan along so decided to get her covered.

She really wasn't in a good standing heat as she tried to kick but Evan got the job done even though she didn't stand well. I'll try again in a couple days. Cabo and Dahlia were taken into the stalls and grained and today they were left in there for a few hours. They were given fresh full buckets of water and plenty of hay. At 5:50 pm Berlica needed a ride over to Miguel and Laura's and when I got back they were taken out of the stalls and put back with the other 2. I moved a bale in the big paddock (used to be Raven's paddock)

Tomorrow the yearlings will be moved over and that way have access to the back field but the automatic waterer needs to be turned on first. Mike came tonight to turn it on and it wouldn't. It was on at the pit, just no water reaching the waterer.

Mike will need to take it apart another day, it was too late tonight. The yearlings were put back outside. They left a mess in their stalls but I didn't clean them, that will be done tomorrow. Dishes needed to be done and supper made.

Berlica wasn't sure where her mom went tonight. I explained they went to the home to see Dan sing. Berlica wondered what KIND of dancing do they DO at Skylines? We were both confused at that point. until I realized she thought I said dancing instead of Dan sing. Tonight was the pancake supper at Skyline's and Dan's group was going to be singing.