Waiting to leave work..

Waiting to leave work right now, Severe Thunderstorm warning in effect for Southern Alberta.. 

Sun's shining right now, but that's here in Calgary - was off at 2:30 but my ride wasn't here - looked at the window at 2:45 there they were... Come outside and they're gone. It's now 3:12 - the downside to car pooling. 

I want to get to the barn do I can get Mum and Foal into the barn ..  

Weaning a Foal

Found some great information on a Horse Site, have to start noting upcoming tasks we are to do with Atticus at the right times and at the right age. I'm going to consult our training and the facility owner with the weaning of the foal, halter breaking and hoof trimming.



But an interesting part I just read is that there are two methods to weaning a foal:

• Gradual Separation: moving the Mare & Foal into neighboring paddocks where a fence separates them and the foal is unable to feed on her milk
• Abrupt Separation: moving the Mare & Foal as far apart as possible out of eye and earshot of each other

Weaning is usually done between 4 and 6 months, providing the foal is healthy and able to eat on it's own and drink water and that the Mare is healthy and the foal isn't taking away to much from her.. some people wean as late as 9 months if the Mare's healthy and the foals good.

Another great suggestion made is to turn out the foal with other foals who are being weaned or weaned if possible.

information collected from The Horse Health Zone

Another great source to help with the transition and lesson stressed caused is Low-Stress Foal Weaning 

Story of ATTICUS

Signed, Atticus Kent. Turned his spaceship into a living horse and was later known as Superman! 

The original story of SUPERMAN was that Kal-El was born to Jor-El (a scientist) and his wife Lara Lor-Van, when their planet of Krypton was about to be destroyed they saved their son Kal-El by sending him to the planet Earth. Kansan Josephus Kent found Kal-El and presented him to his wife as their own where they soon after named him Atticus Kent. 

Similar to either the Kal-El reference from wikia: http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Kal-El_(Earth-1863) and the Wikipedia reference for Man of Steel (Superman film): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_Steel_(film) Atticus was taught the values from his adoptive parents of equality among people.

In the original story after his mothers funeral, his father Josephus told him the truth of his origin. When Atticus learned of his spacecraft he unearthed and it received a holographic message from his real parents Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van where he discovered his true mission was to:

Live among the Native Americans in the Western American plains as they are the good people in contrast to the more advanced who south to threaten the aborigines' 
existence

He then forged his spaceship into a living horse and rode out..

Another Atticus, was Atticus Finch from the novel 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' the character was known to be a knowledgable, kind, fair and ethical Father that taught others to live with morals and by principals. Noble. 

New Superman movie MAN OF STEEL is suppose to come out June 14, 2013 ( LOVE Henry Cavill ) 

Rainy Days

Over the last few days it's been raining so we brought Ella & Atticus inside the barn.

She had a nice size stall with two hay nets, water and her mash. Bedding was laid out (mixture of shavings and straw) it was warm and dry. We brought them into the arena to stretch and run, Ella had a good roll. 

What to expect (warning, graphic pics)

Through my own personal experiences, if your horse is pregnant and expected to foal soon, somethings to prepare for on the day of delivery.

In my case our Mare did the hard part and what was left for me to deal with was calling the vet to arrange for an exam, cleanup and gather things needed for inspection, and monitor Mum and foal until vet arrives. 

I was at work the morning I received the call, so I immediately made arrangements with my husband to get the vehicle and drive out to the stable. 

I should have changed my boots to rubber ones, however I did remember to bring a garbage can and plastic container. After getting there and looking over Mum and foal, I proceeded to find and collect the placenta and foals first poop (called meconium) for the vet to examine. 

Once the vet arrived I was asked to put Ella's halter on and hold her back with the lead line as they examined the foal. They did so and treated his umbilical cord with diluted iodine. After taking a look at the foal they examine Ella to assure she was producing milk etc. 

The next step they examined Ella's placenta, looking for missing pieces or tears which may result in her requiring a flush. In her case all looked. Fine. We discussed de-worming and vaccines. 

After the vet left it was my responsibility to make sure the foal peed, I'd seen him defficate and drink milk, peeing was the only thing left.

ATTICUS born 05|31|2013

Ella gave birth to a COLT on Friday. We named him Atticus, he's a bay standardbred and seems to be in good health and good spirits!!! YAY Ella, WELCOME ATTICUS. Visit the Facebook page to see video's of him learning to walk, trot, canter, rear and buck.. what a sweetheart!

Two days of rain

Yesterday was the second day in a row it's rained consistently and steadily. I stood in the wind shelter out of the rain and fed Ella her mash/Broodmare feed. 

Then I filled a hay net with dry hay and hung it inside so she could snack and remain dry. When I approached with her mash she nickered and it was the saddest sounding nicker, weak and raspy - I hope she's not getting sick. 

After she finished eating the mash she dropped her head as if she was going to sniff the ground, then turned in a few small circles ( I thought she would lay down ) but then she just stood and dropped her head again and let out a long raspy sigh. 

It's easy to tell she's uncomfortable, but hard to determine if it's due to being pregnant or illness. I hope she foals soon so she can get back to being comfortable, but then again a new born foal in this cold rain wouldn't be good timing either. Maybe she's waiting due to the weather and tired. 

We are going to bring her into the arena today and I've heard that it should stop raining soon. 

Unfortunately I can't put a rain sheet on her in case she foals ( straps can get caught up) and to leave her in the stall over night may only stress her out.