Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Sunday 23 June 2013

Shall we dance ?


First note, we have a  fairly  graphic picture  ahead, but a  good  one, not  often  are we witness to a miracle  in the afternoon.
Secondly Nieghgirl, email me please  you are  the  winner of the  3rd  foaling  contest, you  nailed it  all but the  base color!
 A  bit  of  excitement  here  today. A  bright  beautiful  day started early  with  me  needing to  go  check  my  mares ,  spent a  little time with  little Miss  Casey, who is  such a  friendly  girl ! then  checked  Jazz (Fern  Valleys  Jazz ) thinking  she  was  getting  very close, but  still nothing so I carried  on  with my  morning. We  sorted and  tagged some  cull cows and Martin  headed out  with them , leaving me  to  move out t the  bull. Well Bully  was  being a  little  reluctant (clearly  not  understanding  where I wanted him  to be), so  since I was on my own I went out and  brought t he  cows in  closer, sure  enough  as  soon as  he heard the  cows, he  was  headed out and on the run!
Was  just  closing a  gate and  wandering  though  the  young mares  pen when I looked  down and  saw  Jazz  flat out on  her  side, I called to her and she  lifted her  head looked  right at  me and  whinnied, LOUD ! Well I may  have  a limp, and I may  be  round  , but  this  gal  can  still run when I need to . whipped  back out of  the pen to the  quad, then  had  to force  myself  to go  slowly  up to her  pen. walked (as  badly as I wanted to run, when my  girls  call  for  help , I help!) As  soon  as I  got in  with  her I saw that she  had the front feet of some  pretty big  legs out, looked OK  but slightly  uneven, but  no  nose , on  closer inspection I saw  where  things  were  going  awry, those long legs and  big  shoulders  had worked  thing in such a  way that his  legs  crossed and his  nose  had  dropped  down,  poor  kid  was  trying to be  born  forehead  first . gently  rearranged  things and  popped his  chin  back up and  gave a  little  tug, and that  was all it  took, mom got  back to business and she had  his  head out in  no  time at all, after  that I stood by  to  watch  my  little (LARGE ) miracle  come to life.
and  took  pictures  of  course . in  25  years or  more of  raising  horses I have  been  blessed  enough  to witness only 2  foaling with  positive outcome. And  have  seriously  come to feel  that although  I check  and  check  often , I prefer to just  find  the  foal up  and  sucking  which is  as it  should  be . Most often  mares  need no  assistance , and when  they  do they  usually  require  veterinary  intervention, but this one? I could handle .



 those legs  go  on  forever! 
 and  they  tangled up  a few  times 
But  eventually he  got them  all working for him , and hasn't  stopped  moving since!  
Struggling a  little  so  far  with  the  name, in  part, following a  musical  theme (Jazz) I am  settling on Tango, a  play on  words  (sounds  like tangle ) and I met a  colt a few  years  ago whose name I suggested  who  had a   bit of  a  rough  start  who also  has  that  name , so Tango it is , but as  for the rest??? give me  some time .
I am a  bit  late and out there  in posting  but  with this wonderful  distraction, I also  have a less  wonderful  one, if  you are of a mind  to, please pray   with me for  my mom, she is  back in  hospital again, not  just sure  what is up this time, but she  has had such a  rough  time,I think  all prayers  will be  welcome, and  look at  what  wonderful things payer has  done in the past,  for  her  for  me  for all !
Safe safe 

19 comments:

Reddunappy said...

OMG You have hit the color jackpot this year!!! LOL

Kinda wish I was closer to cross Emma with him!

But alas I will probably never have a mare of my own foal.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

What a great birth room story. Congrats on the beautiful baby. I love the name Tango. And I am praying for your mom. Hugs.

Reddunappy said...

Um, maybe you named him already?? Just sayin. The title of this blog post! LOL LOL Maybe??

Janice Grinyer said...

Yay!!! DANG girl you are getting lots of "color" over there!

RoeH said...

LOVE this! What a miracle. And such a beauty.

Anonymous said...

Glad you were there to help out - he's a beauty!

Very sorry to hear about your mom's troubles - will be praying for her and your family.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I am so excited I have never seen a colt born lots of cows but never a colt. Amazing with those long long legs. I am happy it worked out. Tango I love that. B

phaedra96 said...

Praying for your mom. Those are the heart-stopping moments, that when the whole show is over, make you realize there is a God and He has His hand on your life. He is a beautiful little guy and I am so happy he and his mama are up and well.

GoLightly said...

Prayers for your mom, many, many prayers.

Bless that mare, yelling for help.
What a gorgeous colt!

Unknown said...

What a gorgeous little guy, and how cool that she was able to call for help like that.

kden said...

What great shots and happy you were there to help and witness the miracle. Sorry to hear about your Mom, sending prayers your way.

Ami said...

All those legs!! Are you sure there are only four? :)

I hope your mom recovers quickly with no lingering problems.

(((hugs)))

Cut-N-Jump said...

Hugs and prayser for your mother.

FV Tangled in Tunes? He is going to get a lot of attention, I can tell already. Someone was watching out for you and your herd, that's for sure.

Unknown said...

I forgot to ad prayers for your mom. many prayers for a speedy recovery.

I'm with Redunappy- FV Shall We Dance. Lovin it.

Leah said...

and a beauty he is! I had to skip ahead to see the graphic photo :) now I will go back and read :) Congrats again!

Nicole said...

Holy cow, you actually caught the baby being born. Crazy

Crystal said...

Such long legs! He should be tall if he ever grows into those legs, lol.

4RRanch said...

Glad you were able to save him, he's gorgeous.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Wow, how fortunate that you were nearby. He's big and beautiful!