Last week our foal turned a month old! Peppy is a perfect little sorrel colt.
On the morning of Sunday, March 20, I walked down to feed and saw four light colored legs behind the big black mare Lucky. He was up and nursing and was already very active. I guessed he must have been born shortly after midnight as he was stronger than just a couple of hours old.
How amazing I thought. Last night when I fed he was inside his mom and this morning here he was trotting around already.
I called my friend Barbara, my partner on the mare and now new baby. She was on her way over to meet him. I fed the other horses who all stood staring at the new little one from their pens. My dog Holly sniffed out the afterbirth that was almost completely buried under the straw. I moved it to a safe spot so she couldn’t eat it and to keep it safe for the vet to inspect. They must have stomped on it a few times as it was in two pieces, another sign the foal had been here a few hours. The vet would be able to tell if the two pieces made a complete sack and nothing was retained in the mare.
Watching the little foal I couldn’t get over perfect he was – I know every “mom” or in this case “grand mom” thinks their baby is the cutest – but he is! His long legs are so straight, he wasn’t down in the pasterns a bit, has two white hind socks and a little star on his cute head. His momma, Lucky looked great too. Hard to believe that she’d had that big boy a few hours before.
Peppy was nursing and working on his grip. He was reaching all over the place trying to find the source. He even tried between the mare’s front legs a few times. Amazing watching him figure it out.
I knew what the activity for the day was going to be! Over the next several hours we sat and watched Peppy acclimate to his new environment. Later in the day a boarder family came to visit their horse. It was quite a treat for the horse crazy 11 year old twin girls to see a brand new baby horse.
Since his birthday Peppy has gotten stronger and more inquisitive. He is definitely a stud colt, all boy and tough. His first pasture turn out was a week after he was born. He likes butt scratches and is starting to tolerate a rope over his neck, nose and around his ears in preparation for putting on a halter.
Peppy is eating hay and grain. He had two front top and bottom teeth come through two days after he was born and now has four on the top and bottom. He is jumping all over his mom. She has so much patience and is so kind with him even when he’s a playful bugger. She does correct him when necessary.
Over the next 4 – 5 months we’ll spend more time handling him and preparing him to be a well behaved little horse before he is sold and goes to his new home.
