I'd like to tell the story of when our foal was born a few years ago now. It was touch and go whether she would survive being born premature and under developed. She was so weak she could not stand up long enough to feed from her mother, and receive the very important Colostrom in those first vital hours after birth.
Paired with this, being so under developed, her carpal bones in her front knee joints had not formed correctly, making her legs bow severely.
We took her to the vet, who rather uncerimoniously advised us to have her euthanised.
Declining his advice we proceeded to treat her with the plasma badly needed as her immune system was inadequate due to her not receiving the Colostrom from her mothers milk.
She spent 3 days in the vet hospital and slowly showed signs of improvement.
We took her home where she remained stabled for the next three months receiving anti-biotic injections twice a day for the first 3 weeks. Her front legs were weak and she had to be kept quiet so her carpal bones had time to strengthen.
With lots of love and care she started getting stronger, her legs slowly started to straighten until it was time for her to be free of the stable she had spent so long in healing.
The following images are just some of her transition from a tiny, weak sorry foal to a stunning, strong, beautiful Arabian Mare.
One day old
Too weak to feed
Standing but weak
Her mother helping her stand and encouraging her to feed
The first meeting, my Weimaraner sensing the Foal was weak and ill.
Finally, strong enough to run around and be a horse
Showing her character
She is so funny at times
Best mates forever
Let me whisper in your ear
A few years on and has turned into a beautiful girl
Now a stunning Arabian Mare, so strong and loyal
Thank you for visiting and remember, never give up hope, everyone deserves a chance!
