It appears Marci was not the ONLY bred mare headed north!!!

[Beth Worden]

Member when Lisa had Marci shipped back home from Sandy's? A mare I bought (IceWalker) was on the same trailer. Well....Birna has not had good luck dieting. Her butt firmed up, but she just kept getting bigger and bigger in the gut. I was riding her A LOT to get her in shape. Finally I took a really good look at her last week and decided to call the old boy I bought her from. Asked him if there was ANY chance the mare could be bred. "Nope," he says. The only male horse she was around was his Dad's yearling TWH colt and his momma that ran with Birna early last spring for "awhile". BINGO. This morning I had my vet out and we have live foal. Could possible be here mid-February. I am calling Billy (the previous owner) this evening and get some more details on this stud. All I know right now is he was a yearling, bay, and registered TWH/Racking horse. Hopefully, I can get some details and pedigree, etc. He better be a good gaiting son-of-a-gun. I had planned on breeding Birna in May to a TWH (who gaits like a fool and looks old timey Morgan), but that plan is off now. Actually, I am tickled! I love 2 for the price of one.

[ErinC]

:shock:

[DebbieS]

Oh, how exciting! A surprise baby. Maybe you'll end up with another "Bruiser" like CarolU! I can't believe the guy thought she'd had no chance of getting pregnant with a yearling stud-colt with her :roll:

At least you know who dad is....

How fun!

[CarolU]

Yes Beth...your story sounds SOOO familiar. It was over the holidays that I had my vet check Bella and found out for sure.

Have fun!

[Beth Worden]

Carol - Oh yes!!!! Believe me, I thought about you during the past couple weeks. Same, same...

[Monty]

It can happen - kills me that people let yearlings run with mares !
History I have on Monty is - he had a filly that looked like him on the ground at age 2 - (so he had to breed at age 1 ) ,and then he was gelded ! :lol:
He bred a SB/Arab mare :roll: Have to wonder what her gait is like :shock:

[jodiTowne]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!! How exciting! I will have to come down to see. Those of us in line for your babies will be excited too.....a baby a year sooner than expected!

[Beth Worden]

Jodi - is this a hoot, or what??? Poor Birna...No WONDER she was grunting so much. I really feel like an idiot not catching on before this. It's not like I haven't raised horses before. The thought just never crossed my mind. The timing of this birth presents a problem, tho. I do not have a box stall!!! I always bred my mares to foal outside in pasture in April, May or June. I think I am going to board Birna at the riding place down the hill about 2 miles. The gal that owns it used to take lessons from me as a kid!!! I will check with her this evening if she has an extra box stall. It would be handy for sleeping there when waxing begins. Whoa boy...this is too funny.

[jodiTowne]

I was wondering about where you would keep her. AND....can there be any ill effects on the baby because of Birna's "diet"? Now I feel bad for her! No wonder she bit you.LOL!

[Beth Worden]

Naw...she was still getting her meager cup of grain and a cup of hay extender (and still is), with her hay. Her "diet" consisted the same as Lukka's except with more exercise! And, as we all know, a leaner Mom is a healthier Mom. The only ill effect she has shown is the last time I rode her (2 weeks ago) she hated her crouper! Well it was in the same notch as the last time we rode, but the darn thing was too tight! I wondered how the heck the crouper could become too tight when I rode her in the same saddle as last time, etc. She gave a little scootch when I mounted and I got back off quick cause I just KNEW what was coming next. I rode without the crouper and she was fine. Pokey, but fine. And gruntie. LOL

[Barbwire]

I think you should throw Lukka in the trailer with Chewy when I come to pick her up on Saturday. That way Birna will have a nice big stall all to herself. Yep, that's exactly what I think you should do. ;-)

[Terri]

I think you should throw Lukka in the trailer with Chewy when I come to pick her up on Saturday. That way Birna will have a nice big stall all to herself. Yep, that's exactly what I think you should do.
Careful Barb, Abbey might just hijack the trailer trip if she does.

Congratulations Beth. You just saved a stud fee! ;-)

[Moniece Dickerson]

Oh how EXCITING!!Yep,Rosa was born at the end of January but wasn't due till Feb. about the time yours is and I can tell you it'll be soooo cold.You will appreciate that stall at the bording barn SO much.How very super exciting!!!!!Your friend,Moniece

[CarolU]

I don't know...can you zero in the foaling date with a breeding date? It seems Marci came up from Sandy's fairly late in the summer. Did they remove or geld the colt in early spring?

A vet can only tell so much by palpation. We got a 7-9 months along evaluation of Bella. We planned for 9, turned out to be 7. Bruiser wasn't bord until May. But, I had heat lamps, an enclosed stall, straw, and a baby blanket for him to be born in March. LOL

[Beth Worden]

Carol - I have not called the previous owner as yet, but will and get some dates. I am hoping for at least April. April here is not bad (cold-wise) and I've had many foals born then with no problems. March is not good here. Too wet, windy and many snowstorms here around then. So...I guess I am just waiting and watching and if she starts to bag, I will get her a home away form home. If she holds off until April then she will foal here. I do have a couple options.

[CarolU]

Yeah, that was my delima. I spent about $600 to get a wall built for one of my south side stalls. He was bruising my wallet even then. LOL