Born 3-10-15, this little colt, his mom and one other very pregnant mare are our newest residents. A few weeks ago I was contacted by people on the Navajo reservation that were referred to us by Dr. Ruby, a vet we have worked with for many years up on rez. The family was moving to Wyoming to take a new job and had pregnant mares they had been trying to sell. They found a buyer for $500, but he didn't want the foals so they asked if we could take the foals. Problem was they were hoping to leave for Wyoming on the 12th and the foals weren't born yet.
After talking with Dr. Ruby, getting a little more background and discussion of trying to bottle feed two foals we agreed that having the foals be able to nurse for at least three months would be best. Getting the foals as soon as born would require feeding every two hours and the cost of milk replacement powder is not cheap, especially for two foals. It was more cost effective for us and better for both the mares and future foals to buy them and bring them to us as soon as possible.
We offered the family $300 per mare and arranged to meet them halfway and pick them up on the 10th so they could still leave on the 12th for their job in Wyoming. Tuesday morning they went out to the pen and one of the mares had foaled already. We had to kick things in gear here to foal proof some pens and create a divider in the trailer to haul them without risk of the colt being stepped on. Volunteers Dee, Stan and Bobbi, rallied and helped us get everything done before we left to pick them up. Patty rode with me and we fashioned a divider in the trailer using a pipe panel we purchased at Tractor Supply along the way.
About 12 miles into the reservation we met the family at the intersection of an unmarked road, which is the way much of the reservation is. We followed them a few miles out to their home were they live off the grid in the middle of no where with spectacular views of open ranch and huge buttes. The mares were very thin because they had been out on the range free feeding all winter and had just come in last week. Thinner than we had hoped and confirming our decision to get the mares right away so we can feed them well before and after the births. The colt looked great!
Meet our new arrivals. These are intake photos of the three. This is Kiotai, we named her that because she has the white face of a coyote on her side. As you can see, she is very skinny now that the colt has been born.
This is Raylan, also nicknamed Stinker because that is how he acts getting into everything, running around and adorable as can be.
With a dog named Rooster Cogburn, after a Marshall in one of my favorite movies True Grit, it was fitting to chose the name Raylan after a Marshall in one of our favorite TV series, Justified.
And this sweet pony mare we named Caramel because of the pretty coloring around her muzzle and face. She is a pretty golden bay dun horse (she has a very clear dorsal strip which is a marking of a dun colored horse) and we suspect will have her foal in the next week or two.
We had a welcoming party that helped us unload and get them settled into their new stalls. We shared a bottle of wine in celebration of our new born foal too.
 |
| Dee, Christine, Ginny, Sandy & Bob |
As I write this, they have been here 10 days and we have been really busy grooming, cleaning stalls and monitoring everyone's health. Both mares are slowing showing a little weight gain, their coats and manes becoming shiny and they love the daily brushing and massage that makes them feel much better. I have scooped more wet straw since then ever before, they all like to pee in the barn, some-thing I just don't get since they came off the range and cleaning keeps me busy for several hours a day.
We have been in close contact with Dr. Christianson as we are on baby watch for Caramel's foal and we keep an eye open for colic or other signs of distress with the changes they have all gone through over the last week. I have to say they seem to like it here and meet us at their stall gates now when we go out to the barn.
 |
| Caramel, Raylan and Kiotai behind |
Two days ago we opened the stall gates and let them out in to what used to be the oldsters pasture which gives them a couple acres to roam and Raylan can burn off some of his energy. He runs like the wind, then flops down for a nap when he's worn him self out. I have been supplementing his nursing with bottle feeding to help Kiotai get some weight back on and he is already exploring hay and sweet feed. The times slips away watching them.
While these mares are nursing they will need extra feed to gain weight and provide for their foals, milk replacer powder to assist in the foals growth, hay and straw are all extra expenses we now have. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help us care for these sweet moms and soon two foals your donations would be so greatly appreciated.
Checks are welcome and can be mailed to PO Box 2722, Snowflake, AZ 85937 or click this button
