I went for my acupuncture visit as usual today, and at the end went for my usual tour of inspection of the horses on the farm. My friend who gives the acupuncture guided me to a horse whom she knew was about to give birth. So off we went, expecting to find a mare in the early stages of labour. When we got to her enclosure, we saw her get up from laying down…..my friend said…….good grief! She’s had the foal……and there it was………this little wet bundle on the ground. She rushed over, as the mare bent over it to start licking it.
The poor little thing was shivering in the cool wind, so I went for towels, so my friend could help dry him. In the meantime his mum was licking him, and every so often, she would nip him…..trying to get him to stand up. She even pulled on his ear from time to time. After half an hour, and many attempts, he finally stood on his own four feet, even though he was partly supported by a human. He was assisted to the mare’s teats, and he tried to find how to get the milk. He obviously wanted it, he was trying to suckle anything he thought might be helpful. Eventually he latched on, and had a small drink and almost instantly he was stronger, stood on his own, and even tottered on his long spindly legs. He walked with his legs stuck out at funny angles, and several times walked underneath his mother in an attempt to find milk.
By the time an hour had passed he was a lot stronger, but he still was having trouble co-ordinate his legs….they’re much too long for his body. It amazed me it took such a little time for him to become mobile. I felt as though I had witnessed a miracle.
Mamaroo's Diary 