At 8:30 this morning, the foalert alarm went off and I shot out of bed. Karen and Aud rushed out just after me and I got to the pasture to find that Echo was having her baby. After last year's hard birth and rejection of the foal, we were all nervous about this one. Also, she showed so few signs that she was ready. I think her vulva didn't stretch as it should have - she had a very hard time pushing the baby out. Karen and I pulled and pulled. Took 15 - 20 minutes. Had a lot of trouble getting the shoulders around her opening. She kept getting up, then going and laying down in the mud, then standing up again. Finally Karen and I were able to both pull and we got the baby out.
Echo immediately started talking to the baby and turning to check it out, even as the feet were still in. That was a very good sign. We cut the bag and tried to keep the baby as warm as we could in the mud-puddle it was in. Once he (its a boy!) was out, we called Dave out and he lifted the baby and carried it to a stall which we quickly prepared for them.
Through the course of the day we stated to worry about her mother instincts. She had episodes of striking and biting at him when he nursed, then other times seemed fine with it. We talked to the vet a bit, but are waiting to see what develops.
By mid-afternoon Mariah's milk was white and she was waxed up. We expect her to foal tonight. We put her in the big barn, but she really didn't want to be there. Are keeping an eye on her now.
Turned Chance and Ghost out to big barn pasture today to give them some grazing time. Brought them in during evening.
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