Aine - Day Five

It was an absolutely stunning spring day today and a busy day too. First up we had some visitors from Wellington who came out to meet the horses and assess Reilly as a prospective date for mares. Reilly was his usual affable self and gained a couple of new fans. So mare number three has been booked and there is just the one space left for him now. I am still hoping that someone will lease Maude off me and choose to breed her to Reilly. Aine is an absolute smasher and I can't imagine any sport horse breeder being disappointed with a foal of her quality. Finger's crossed.

The afternoon was spent shifting the main mob of horses into a new paddock, harrowing their eaten out paddock, shifting the ponies and donkey into a new paddock and harrowing their eaten out paddock and the races and shifting Reilly, Maude and Aine into new paddocks. Always a nice feeling to have the horses on fresh grass and I am sure that they are all very happy about it too.

Tomorrow we are going to fertilise and harrow in preparation for over sowing some of the more beaten up paddocks next week.

Today's photos are of Aine in her new paddock. I love the first one in particular - I think it shows her, er, athleticism, haha!

Red bull gives you wiiiiiiiiings!

Hoon
Irresistably kissable
Girl with a purpose
G'day!

Clompeties

Was out with the heavies today with my camera. Debi is due to foal in around three weeks and certainly has a good sized belly!

TF Bridie's baby girl - Stevie

Another email in my in box this morning from Dave, Bridie's 'dad'. Here's 'Stevie', Bridie's baby. Lovely baby - feeling a very proud grandmother! I can't wait to go and see her! Cluck, cluck!

And later the same morning ...

Irresistable

Lookin' at Dad
Lookin' at me
Posin'
Alert & upright!
Comin' 2 C me
Such a poser!
Mum 'n babe
Covergirl
Legs 11

Morning of Day 3

She's going from strength to strength :o)

Yehar!

Smile
Such a pretty girl
Blue sky girl
Bendy knees
Strike a pose

A video montage of Aine

Is it a spider? Is it a giraffe? No, it's Aine and her legs! She's still workin' them out, lol!

Gentle Giants

Robbie with his 'uman!

TF Aine's arrival into the world & more pix & a vid!

Final check on Monday night was at 11.30pm. I trundled up the paddock assuming that it would be the usual drill, give Maude a treat, a cuddle and a bit of a prod, check the foaling alarm battery and wander back down to the house to bed. But as I approached Maude I could tell that something had changed and indeed she was in labour. She whickered at me as she nibbled on her mare nuts and her tail was raised.

I shot back down to the house, woke Nick up, rang our neighbours (who had asked to be informed once things got started), grabbed the anti tet jab out of the fridge & threw it in the foaling bucket along with the scissors, string, plastic bag, iodine spray, leadrope, soft rope and towel and made my way back up to sit on the hay by the tractor and watch.

By the time things really started (11.55 waters broke) the audience was collecting. Not sure I have had any mare foal with so many in attendance! There were 5 humans, 1 cat, 1 dog and 11 horses who shared the experience.

After about 20 minutes, things were not progressing as fast as I would like so we went in and checked. There were two forelegs presented and, after a little investigation, a muzzle but the foal was big and was not too keen on coming out. Maude was not getting very far by herself so, eventually, we went in to help. For the first time ever Maude foaled standing. It seemed she was able to brace herself better on foot. Nick and I had a leg each and applied not inconsiderable downward pressure with every contraction and eventually, out she came. We were able to ease her to the ground (and not drop her on her head!) but of course the umbilical cord broke faster than is ideal however, this did not stop her from trying to stand up, almost immediately!

The rest of the birth was text book and uneventful. Aine was on her feet within about 25 minutes and the afterbirth was passed not long after. She proceeded to drink & poop and do everything she should so that I could finally drag my sorry exhausted carcass to bed, at 3am.

Welcome to the world TF Aine

Pix first, words to come! TF Aine (pronounced Ah-nyeh). We have our very own Irish Moon Goddess.