Foals In The Garden...

Let the Foals out into the little paddock for a good run about. Also opened the gate into the garden, so they can wander at their leisure. Took these piccies today. Their all getting their thick winter coats. Aphrodite looks like she has a beard.

The Foals..

Heard a chomping noise coming from the Foals stable this evening, and went over to investigate. What did I spy?. Archie and Aphrodite giving each other a really good groom.

Sunshine Means Hay...

Tomos the Blacksmith came yesterday and did the Foals for me. Little Aphrodite was so good just stood there. I thought Archie was going to cry, bless him, his little bottom lip was wobbling and Apollo, well he laid on the floor of the Stable and played dead. They all eventually settled down and they now have beautifully trimmed hoofs.
Mark came yesterday and turned the Hay and has been back and turned again this morning, looks like we are going to get Hay after all.
Groomed all the foals this morning and they already have really thick coats. Also took some pictures of them in the Stable... Archie made me laugh peeking over their little Stable door..

Hericus Aphrodite

Hericus Aphrodite

Colour: Tri-Colour

Date Of Birth: 19th April 2008

SPSBS Stud Book No: AU0249

Registered In Volume: 109

Breeder: Mrs D Wright



Pedigree:

Sire: Blenheim Badger AE0514/S00-115
Grand Sire: Blenheim Tonto 004266S
Grand Dam: Blenheim Foxtrot 01595M
Great Grand Sire: Sonny Boy 003793S
Great Grand Dam: Blenheim Panda 014117M
Great Grand Sire: Bogs Recovery 003022S
Great Grand Dam: Blenheim Sapphire 012784M
----------------------------------------------------------
Dam: Artsplace Evelyn AM2339/M05-301
Grand Sire: Blenheim Super Trooper 00439S
Grand Dam: Greencroft Supreme AC2563/M97-437
Great Grand Sire Tawna Mr Kipling 003269S
Great Grand Dam: Tawna Panda 012104M
Great Grand Sire: Wedgwood Sun Silver 004008S
Great Grand Dam: Tawna Mimi 013920M

For more pedigree information please click on this link http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/hericus+aphrodite

Hericus Aphrodite...

Look How We've Grown...

Been busy outside today, picking up pooh in the paddocks and pulling more bloody Ragwort.
The Foals are really changing, Apollo's patches are turning from Black to Grey! Aphrodite has also got patches of Grey in her coat, which was Cream Dun & White, the only one who's stayed the same colour is Arcemedes. Took some pictures this afternoon, the Foals all crashed out together in the field. They don't stray very far from each other.

Foals...

Tried to get some decent pictures of the Foals today. They are changing every day. Little Archie wasn't having none of it, just stayed laying down having a snooze in the barn.

Bank Holiday Monday..

Harry and I have had, such a laugh today out in the paddock with the foals. Managed to get loads of pictures and video clips. Apollo has a new trick, if you sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you, he paws you until you open your legs and then comes in for cuddle and lays down between your legs. It's so funny to watch. All the foals are starting to play with each other as well. Will try and upload some video later.

Ben With The Foals..

Some more pictures taken today. Ben is 6ft 3ins so that my give you some idea of how small Archie and Aphrodite are.. Having some trouble loading pictures tonight...

Hericus Aphrodite..

Also took this video of little Aphrodite this afternoon. She's really straightened up now and is walking much better. It was such a joy to see, we even got a little skip and jump from her as well. I'm over the moon thats she's finally behaving like a foal. Still keeping a regular check on her, don't want to get complacent.

Foals In The Field...

Put all the Foals and their Mum's out in the little paddock today. Little Aphrodite has certainly perked up and is moving much better today and seems to be feeding well on her own. She seems to be finally waking up to her surroundings. Just hoping she improves every day. The colt foal that was born last night has now been named, we are going to call him Apollo or Polo for short, as the markings on his back reminded us of a Polo mint.
I've taken loads of video and pictures today, will try and get some more on here later this evening. How cute are these babies?...

Hericus Aphrodite This Afternoon..

This video was also taken of Aphrodite this afternoon, as you can see, she's still a little wobbley on her back legs. Considering yesterday she was completely bandy, front & back and wouldn't have been able to stop a pig in a passage, they've straightened up alot.

Hericus Aphrodite

After an exhausting day and night the little filly foal looks a bit stronger. She is still having some trouble latching on to the teat without assistance. The swelling on her tongue looks like its gone down a bit. She seems much stronger in herself. The Vet said I had made an excellent job of the umbilical cord, so that was a weight of my mind, and I'll know what to do , should it every happen again. Checking on her & Mum every hour and if the foal is awake, helping her feed. We are still not out of the woods yet, so keep your fingers crossed for her. She is perfect in every other way, but just this tongue causing the problems, and where she was overdue is a sleepy foal. Today we are going to try and get Mum & baby out in the yard and walk them both a bit, to wake this foal up. The boys have decided to call her Aphrodite.
Little Arcemedes is thriving, doing all the things a foal should be doing, looks like a lamb jumping about. We sectioned of the barn yesterday and brought Chrizzy in, shes completely fascinated by Archie and has been spending most of her day, leaning over watching him. She is enormous and bagging up nicely, may have another baby by the end of the week, lets hope this birth goes OK.

Visit From The Vet..

Was getting rather worried about the new foal, its still having a problem getting the milk from Mum by itself. I rang the vet and she came over to check the foal out. She checked the foal over and said that it was a solid little one with loads of bone, chest is clear, no temperature. I did point out that the foal's tongue looked swollen on one side. We have come to the conclusion that the foal bit its tongue as it was being born. The vet gave her a steroid injection to help with the swelling, apparently it also makes them hungry. The vet also removed the cartilage from the foals feet, it was like rubber, again this sometimes happens with an overdue foal, the vet had never seen them so thick. Its going to be a very long night, as we are having to latch the foal onto the teat while it drinks as its still very sleepy. The vet said there is absolutely nothing wrong with the foal, only its tongue. Hoping the steroids work and it will be able by tomorrow to suck on its own..

Another New Arrival....

This morning we had a lovely surprise to find we had a very new born Filly foal from Evie, she looks like a teddy bear. However, the umbilical cord had not separated from the placenta and the foal was dragging it round behind her. I immediately rung the vet for some advice, they told me what to do over the phone. I had to get some string and tie it very tightly around the cord, cut it off with a very sharp pair of scissors and then spray it with antiseptic. The foal seemed completely worn out and didn't seem to be sucking at the teat properly. So I milked some colostrum from the mare and gave it to the foal by syringe. After a little rest she seemed to perk up and now seems to be sucking herself, although we will be keeping a close eye on her today, and if necessary I will milk the mare again to get the goodness into the foal. She has passed her first poo, so just hoping that she continues to perk up. We are keeping our fingers crossed.. Thank you Bev, for all the info over the phone and Thank you Di for coming down to help, I really appreciate the assistance.