We HAVE SPOTS

The best laid plans always have a way of not working out. Last night Marika and Galena were kept in the foaling stalls under the camera as both of them have a lot of waxing. Lola was checked and she had none, instead of putting her in a stall she was left out as she was very content eating away at the big round bale in the shelter.  Early this morning I heard something, checked the monitors so thought all is well and didn't go out until 5:45 am. Imagine my surprise to see Lola with a foal. He was born in the shelter but when trying to stand ended up falling into some mud. Then when I was trying to get them out of the paddock we had to walk through some sloppy mud getting those bright white legs muddy. He was less than a hour old at 5:45 so best estimate of his birth time is 4:30 am March 31st, 2018. I ran down to the house to get warm water to clean him up. Oh my, why did we want spots? Do you know how hard it is to clean just born bright white legs covered in mud?  After cleaning him off the best I could his cord was well iodined.  Lola wasn't any better. Yesterday I noticed her laying down sleeping, she had picked a dry spot but then rolled and rubbed it in good. Hopefully today she can be cleaned up. I just snapped these two pictures of her new beautifully marked colt and will get better pictures once he dries and they both can be cleaned up better.

He is a big strong colt and nursing well. The vet clinic is closed today so will have to wait until Monday to pick up a foal shot for him. I'll have to watch him closely to make sure there are no ramifications of his outside birth and then trying to nurse off a dirty mare. I usually clean the udders well before a mare gives birth but that didn't even happen. Thankfully we had no rain until they were safe inside. It is pouring out right now. 

UPDATE they were moved into the indoor arena because Galena isn't getting along with Marika. Both those mares are back in the foaling stalls and the pictures below of Lola's new colt taken at 8:30 am a few hours after birth.

This is a beautiful colt, nice and strong and very very tall.  Lola and Valiant did very well.