A night in the life of…. A horse owner
It’s midnight, the day hasn’t really begun but, that is irrelevant because I have spent the whole night watching the camera fitted inside the foaling stable anyhow. Our lovely (but very private) Spanish mare Alba is due to give birth - to a foal I have been waiting for for the last 20 years.
I sit up quickly, open my eyes and eagerly scan my phone. It has only been 20 minutes since I last looked. But there, on the screen, I can see that Alba is laying down and a foal is emerging.
I watch, fascinated as always as this new life enters the world. My immediate response is to rush to the foaling box only 50 meters away but, as a creature of prey, I know that I must give Alba this time, this privacy to feel safe while she finishes foaling.
I sit up quickly, open my eyes and eagerly scan my phone. It has only been 20 minutes since I last looked. But there, on the screen, I can see that Alba is laying down and a foal is emerging.
I watch, fascinated as always as this new life enters the world. My immediate response is to rush to the foaling box only 50 meters away but, as a creature of prey, I know that I must give Alba this time, this privacy to feel safe while she finishes foaling.
The foal emerges and Alba almost immediately stands. I remember how, after I gave birth, I could barely walk for days and this resonates with me. In the wild she would be at risk in these moments, She is not in the wild but in a safe stable. However, her instincts tell her she HAS to stand, and has to be ready to move quickly, not just her but her foal as well.
Through the camera, my attention is drawn back to the bundle on the floor. His nose and his front legs are out but the rest of his body is still in the birthing sack. This is a problem, as it is heavy and slippery and he can’t get up. Alba looks agitated. Repeated failed attempts mean that he could damage himself and tire very quickly in his efforts. Foals need to suckle soon after birthing and I now know I must intervene.
Through the camera, my attention is drawn back to the bundle on the floor. His nose and his front legs are out but the rest of his body is still in the birthing sack. This is a problem, as it is heavy and slippery and he can’t get up. Alba looks agitated. Repeated failed attempts mean that he could damage himself and tire very quickly in his efforts. Foals need to suckle soon after birthing and I now know I must intervene.
I go to the stable and it’s almost like Alba knows that she needs my help. She is normally not that fussed about me at all, choosing my eldest daughter as her preferred human. All that aside, she stands quietly and lets me attend to her newborn foal and I feel honoured and humbled. I notice, happily, that the foal is a palomino, exactly what I had hoped for and have, so far, not managed to breed and I am over the moon. However, I also know time is of the essence so I get to work. I remove the sack and free the back legs, noticing at the same time that it is a boy – the boy I had dreamed of! Then, I get some dry straw and stimulate his body, rubbing gently in circular motions as he slowly comes to life. I am terrified and euphoric at the same time. Please let him be ok, please let him have the energy to stand and suckle, he has to survive.
Alba stands quietly while I carry out these motions and the foal starts to move again, his front legs come out and he tries to stand. But he is already weak and he falls to the floor. I feel panic rising but I know that will not help, I need to wait for the right moment. His instincts tell him he needs to get up but he is tired already. I wait. He tries again. This time I am ready and, as he tries to rise I gently hold under his back legs and help him to a standing position. He stands and I breathe.
Alba stands quietly while I carry out these motions and the foal starts to move again, his front legs come out and he tries to stand. But he is already weak and he falls to the floor. I feel panic rising but I know that will not help, I need to wait for the right moment. His instincts tell him he needs to get up but he is tired already. I wait. He tries again. This time I am ready and, as he tries to rise I gently hold under his back legs and help him to a standing position. He stands and I breathe.
Alba whickers to him, approaches him, and starts to lick his body, stimulate him, and know him. He is beautiful and I am so proud of her. Now, he needs to feed. I gently move him towards his mother’s underbelly, taking care that he doesn’t fall again. He is clever and hungry and she is patient and knows her job. She stands quietly while he finds his food supply and, as he latches on to his mother, the soft sucking noises fill me with peace and calm. My job is done. I feed Alba and then I leave them alone in the stable so they can connect. I go back to the house to watch from the camera as they spend their first night together.
It is now 5.30 am and, I need to get my head down for an hour. I know already that, with a dozen other horses on site, tomorrow will be a very busy day….Tarma Bayliss.
It is now 5.30 am and, I need to get my head down for an hour. I know already that, with a dozen other horses on site, tomorrow will be a very busy day….Tarma Bayliss.
