I wonder if Squirmy is afraid to lay down, because getting up was so hard? He must be getting tired.
ETA: Yeah, he doesn’t have that usual head-butting motion that most foals have when they nurse.
StG
WHY is she chasing him around the stall pawing at him??? I am liking this less and less!
Maybe she doesn’t like him?
I’m guessing it’s going to be a long night for the people there.
My sister says he’s ADHD. Can’t keep on track and settle. It’s odd that he’s been up for over two hours and hasn’t liad down yet.
StG
They’ve posted “It’s a colt” on the cam page, so we’re right about Squirmy’s gender. Now he’s positively frisking up and down the stall.
Wait, it looks like he wants to lie down and doesn’t know how.
Nope, still up.
He’s a gorgeous little thing, though, isn’t he?
Okay. I’m back from the barn and checking in Squirmy appears to have the hang of it now. He also looks a lot steadier on those long legs of his. Virona looks calmer.
Maybe mom and baby were winding each other up?
ETA: Ho ho! he can run!
Things seems to be settling down. It sure looked like he was just nursing. Now he needs to take a nap. And with that, I’m off to bed, too.
ETA: In other news, China is still pregnant and pooping.
StG
Night check report:
Mandy’s chillin’.
China’s pushed her feed tub partway down the long wall and has three poop piles.
Squirmy looks kinda over at the knees but he seems to be walking square on his hooves, not on his toes, so I’m going to assume/hope he’s not got a contracture problem. If he’s still over that much in the morning, though, I’ll start to worry.
ETA: Yeh, he’s nursing now.
My gut is still telling me that something is off.
New page, old links:
Neither of whom is doing anything interesting right now.
Oh, wait. Mandy’s got her tail arched and her hind legs spread but isn’t pooping. Could it… Now she’s walking around, but she does that a lot.
Hmph. Tail’s down, legs normal – false alarm. Maybe gas?
3:30 am report: Virona is lying down, Squirmy is running in circles around her. Mandy is perhaps looking a little fidgety.
ETA: China is still eating, still pooping.
Mandy is rubbing her butt on the wall and pawing (hooving?) at the ground. I hope she has it while I’m asleep, same with China. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with watching China go through a delivery.
Squirmy’s having a bit of breakfast… did the little fart EVER lay down?? He was still up when I went to bed, and on his feet when I got up. He’s aa lively little guy!
I can’t see Squirmy at work. Anyone have an update?
What does this mean? Should I be worried? (I feel like a foster mom to him!)
How is Squirmy? I looked this morning while I was getting ready for work, and he was still buzzing around. He’s going to be a handful.
StG
So, StG, what do you think about Squirmy’s legs? I definitely think he’s got flexural tendon contracture – hopefully nothing that can’t be fixed with immediate attention, if the breeder thinks a few days of normal buzzing about won’t make it self-correct.
You get the feeling his mom is a high-energy horse and he’s taking after her? He’s certainly a bright, perky little guy, and other than the funky legs he’s gorgeous.
Surly Chick, notice how Squirmy’s front legs seem to be buckling over at the knees? That’s what I’m referring to – also, his hind legs seem more bent than they should be. It’s not as severe as examples I’ve seen online in Googling this. Being over at the knees is a conformation flaw, but it’s not crippling when it’s mild – my 18-year-old Thoroughbred is over at the knees (see here for example - or here) and he had a long, sound career as a field hunter before I bought him. It’s more likely to lead to unsoundness if the horse is what’s called back at the knee – the front leg seems to bow backwards rather than forwards – because that puts more stress on the tendons.
Check our the stallion who is Squirmy’s daddy. He’s gorgeous! Watch the little video they have near the bottom of that page and see how amazingly he moves.
If Squirmy turns out anything like his papa, he’ll be a real head-turner.
Now, that’s what I call suspension!
Mandy’s getting groomed. China’s eating. Squirmy just had a meal.
Ha! The woman grooming Mandy just braided her tail, then took the scrunchy out of her own hair to bind the bottom of the tail braid.
I wonder if that means Mandy’s waxed?
Now the woman’s giving Mandy a butt-skritching.
ETA: Oops – time for a gloved hand up Mandy’s hooha.
Now checking her teats.