Well today was a day we wont forget in a hurry! I will also say that God was looking kindly in the right direction too. Such a series of lucky 'moves' got us in the right place at the right time! This morning we put MC out in a different paddock with some friends (next to Chapella in her private paddock). I returned from the local shop to say that we had better move MC into a different paddock as she had had a couple of hours on some pretty long grass and I didn't want her to get 'overfull' or an upset tummy this close to foaling, so we moved her across one into a small paddock I sometimes use as an emergency outside space for my man Mootie, so she still had her friends next to her but not actually in with her.
Cathy and I went off to tidy up the stables and to make a cuppa. Approx half an hour later we decided to take our cuppas and have a discussion and take measurements of where we hope to site our new barn when it gets built - this was a sudden decision as Cathy had been going to do some clearance work with the JCB that we have borrowed from her partner and I was going to walk across the fields to check on the main herd - thank God we decided on the cuppas near the barn site.
We sat down on the grass chatting away and just happened to glance across to the small paddock housing MC. She was lying down "resting after her extra grass eating"??? Cathy, whose eyesight is that bit better than mine, said that she was not resting but having contractions!! Panic!! Tea mugs went flying as we shot to the field gate, the slowed our pace so as not to frighten her, talking to her so we could get close. Yes she was in labour but nothing was happening. She looked really perplexed as to what was happening to her - told you she is a bit of a dimlow and we always wondered if she even realised that she was pregnant! But we also had the feeling that she could turn a bit 'nasty' towards any interference by us, especially once the foal arrived, supposing of course that she even accepted the foal anyway. However she seemed pleased to see us and very soon the little white bubble appeared (first hurdle over - not a red bag!) Then we culd ee one foot - hopefully a front one? Then a second foot and yes both are fronts! All this was of course vey quick but she seemed to be getting a bit stressed and in a panic so we just kept talkig quietly to her while Cathy had a feel for a nose - yes nose is coming so we are all good to go. Nose half way out and up she got, luckily only moving a few paces before throwing herself down again. we crawled after her on our hands and knees and took our positions again. She was getting frantic again with her contractions and we had quite a job to ease the head through, praying that she wouldn't get up again and perhaps move off across the paddock away from us. But no, the head suddenly released and the rest of him followed very smoothly. (his ittle eyes are a bit red tonight as that was quite a squeeze but they will clear in a day or two) We moved him a little so she could reach his nose - she sniffed and squeaked and tossed her head, but had another sniff and gave him a lick. He snorted at her and made her jump! She stayed down so I left Cathy watching them and rushed back to the stables for scissors (should they be necessary) and hibbiscrub for the cord - of course we had nothing with us! But he got up and the cord broke, so I just got back in time to swab it before he was up on is feet followed by her. She started to sniff and lick him and we made the decision to take ourselves away and to leave her to it, hoping that nature would click in and she would be ok. She didn't need us to interfere if she was going to bond successfully with this little alien being and him with her. I made another cuppa and fetched some biscuits and we watched them from outside the field for the next two hours. The weather was perfect for the new little one, warm sun, gentle breeze and the odd cloud passing over to stop things getting too warm. He pooped (a massive amount!), she dropped the afterbirth, and he got the feeding lark going inspite of his momma squeaking and biting his bottom! In the end we left them out all the afternoon as MC has never been interested in actual grain food and as far as I was concerned she was therefore better grazing the grass to get her system moving properly again (mushy feeds would not have been eaten) so leaving her out to graze seemed like the safest thing.
By the time we went to get her, Chapella and old Heidi in for the night, MC seemed totally in love with her new baby thankfully, and apart from being a little upright on his hind feet he seems happy and healthy. What more could we ask, but I'm still giving thanks that we happened to change our plans and were right where we were needed at the right time!
Couple of quick pics - more tomorrow - sorry they are a bit dark!
