Foal Watch 2010 Update

It hasn't been very long since I last wrote, but some funny things have happened during Foal Watch 2010 that I wanted to share. First thing is that I finally decided to double check Tokaj's due date. In truth, I had not paid a ton of attention to her due date because when I had her bred I believed that I would not be foaling her out myself and figured I would move her to her vet's barn to foal since he has a great set-up. I thought that I would be very busy with other things that ended up not materializing this year and since I find myself freed up... I decided that this experience is not one that I want to miss. In the last few days, Tokaj seems to be showing physical signs associated with imminent foaling and it seemed too early for them. So I double checked and found that she is actually due a week earlier than I thought, and according to her vet (the super patient and generous Dr. Jim Long) she could foal up to two weeks early and be normal for a maiden mare! That means she could foal any time and I need to be very vigilant next week! Yikes.

Tokaj has been removed from her hillside paddock due to her size and weight and how hard it has been for her to move about comfortably. Now she is spending her nights in her double sized stall, with matted floor, and comfy soft straw bed. She has her own fan for warm nights and two open dutch doors to catch a breeze and for scenery. In the daytime she walks 30 feet out to her own 60 foot round pen where she stands, lays, and rolls in soft comfy beach sand. Speaking of rolling, as of a few days ago I saw her almost get stuck on her back trying to roll from one side to the other with her big giant belly flopping all around. She made it from one side to the other though.

Yesterday, during my son's afternoon nap, I heard a commotion outside. My other horse Savannah, was whinnying for Tokaj. I knew immediately that if Tokaj was in her round pen that Savannah would have no reason to holler for her because she would be able to see her, so I peek out the window and there stands the open gate to the round pen. Tokaj is the Houdini of horses and can open latches and untie herself if she is not good and secured. She finally figured out the mechanism to the round pen gate and let herself out. She went into her barn and proceeded to burglarize the feed bin nearest to the door... luckily for me, that bin was almost empty and she did not get much more than a regular sized feeding if even that. She ripped the lid completely off it's hinges, threw the empty bin into the aisleway, and dumped over a wheelbarrow of poop that I had been too lazy to empty before it was full. After wreaking as much havoc as she could, she waddled out onto the sideyard lawn to eat more, and then Savannah the tattle-tale became frantic and alerted me to Tokaj's doings.

I went out to retrieve Tokaj from the sideyard. In her old form, Her Impishness would have run away from me and went directly to the lush green pastures of our neighbor and I would have had to take a second to outthink her in order to secure custody. This time, she looked at me with that old impish sparkle, and then found herself trapped in her 11 month pregnant body. She waddled about 10 steps, went to cross the driveway, stepped on the now painful gravel, and gave up. I had to laugh at her. So, I went up to her, patted her neck in sympathy... I've been there too.... and she followed me to her barn and her soft floored stall to rest from her exploits. She definitely knows when the jig is up.

I know more comedy will ensue when Houdini Jr. arrives. More later.