Birth of the Horse King
April 19, 2013
Time compressed before our eyes last week. Sally was still clinging to the creature growing inside her body. Clenching her birthing walls together she was standing firmly foal-less as she headed into her second year of pregnancy.
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12 hours old |
The longest mare gestation period we could find on record was 445 days!
Our panic was rising... at what point would we surrender and start heading East for our “Save the Atlantic Salmon” job in Maine. 3,000 miles was going to be a long trek in a short time for we more mature travelers.
Despairing of ever seeing the baby born we decided to give up and leave on Saturday morning, April 13.
Please, Sally, please have the foal, we begged.
At last, even Sally could hold out no longer. On the evening of April 9th, sometime after we finished watching a re-run of Person of Interest and before starting The Big Bang Theory, we did one of our constant checks of our 24/7 Sally-CAM.
THERE IT WAS, A BABY HORSE!!!
It was standing, and nuzzling between Sally’s front legs looking for the snack bar. A few minutes later we watched, while we called Mike and Kate, as it located the teats in the usual place but kept on moving around.
Mike and Kate arrived about 15 minutes later, and we all went into the barn for the first live look. Awwwww. Goooood Girl.
Sally looked very worried and slightly guilty. “I don’t what happened or where it came from. Are you sure I’m a good girl?"
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Less than 2 hours old |
All that four-legged cuteness came out of that tummy!?! I mean Sally was huge, but this colt is no longer an abstraction of an idea... it is a large living breathing creature. We watched it wobble about making tiny little whinny-barkey sounds, attempting to suckle all manner of elbows, noses and knobs, and rapidly stealing hearts like a pro.
While Kate was busily counting hoofs, nostrils, eyes and ears and sifting through the straw looking for the placenta, I was tearing up in my usual sappy way. Yeah, yeah - the miracle of life.
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All body parts were accounted for and appeared to be in good working order. Karen, the stable owner, arrived and she and Kate attempted to determine the sex of the baby by shinning a flashlight between its back legs. It did not go well, the baby let out a series of panicky squeals, Sally makes a very low mare warning rumbles and everyone gave up.
Time to leave mother and child alone for the night. The baby has found the teats and happy, slurping sounds are coming from between Sally’s thighs.
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2½ Days Old |
The next morning we could see for sure that the baby was indeed a little stallion and that a star had been born. Mother and baby are doing fine. Welcome Leroy, you are beautiful quarter horse colt.
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3½ days old - Leroy busts some moves with Mama. |
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What an absolute amazing event to watch. Nothing more miraculous that the gift of life. Wow!
Deb
You wrote a great story. I enjoyed reading it.
Gail
Great news!
I-M
Ho hum; you seen one colt, you seen....
SH
Man, do we miss youse guys (weak attempt at NY accent)! Little Leroy is growing like the proverbial weed. Sally is enjoying motherhood now that Leroy knows his way around the milk fountain, although she still gives him a nudge once in a while. Aunt Talli has settled down as well. Soon, it will be time for Padova or Etta or even Talli to get preggers. The weather here is simply beautiful -- maybe 90 degrees tomorrow.
Safe travels, Dear Friends.
Mare
CONGRATULATIONS!
That is one beautiful baby, almost as cute as my first born!
Anne
ITS A WITTLE LEROY FACE!
Calli
Awwwwww - at last and in the nick of time! Very special baby Leroy has arrived. Thanks for your patience and congrats to Sally. Safe trip east.
Cindy
Oh, my gosh... what a beautiful horse!,Got goose bumps looking at pictures. The colt cam was incredible.,So very happy for everyone.
Now I want a horse.
Marny
Giddy Up
Yipe-Kai OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
What a Handsome young man! Wasn't it worth the wait?
From Horses to Fish, you're doing your part!
Can't wait for the next post...
Bronco Billy
A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. WHEN CAN I BET HER?
Tony
How beautiful!!
Anita m
I have never witnessed the birth of a colt so thanks for sharing the video-cam of Sally giving birth to Leroy. Little Leroy sure has some long legs. I think he will be the king of quarter horses!
Congratulations are in order to Mom, Dad, Grandma & Grandpa.
Donna
Nothing more beautiful than the miracle of birth!!! My heart pounded with anticipation watching this video so I thank you from my heart and soul for sharing it with me. While we want things to happen in our time, it is Gods Time in which the right thing comes at the aright Time and so it is proven through Sally that the wait brings the greatest of gifts. An incredible Blessing all are so thankful for. Sally looks wonderful and that baby is so very very special a miracle.
Love to you.
Samantha
