4-8-09

As you all know, Honey, the pregnant mare at the rescue, was just getting bigger and bigger. Every signed showed that she was getting near to giving birth. The last few days the signs were getting really obvious. Tawnee has been making countless treks to the stall day and night, but as usual, the mommy learns your schedule and times it just right to have her baby in privacy. Early this morning we were greeted by this cute little face. We found this cute little face concerning though...
This foal was the smallest horse foal we had ever seen from a standard horse. He is oh so tiny!

Tawnee wanted to give the baby a great first impression of people and a little imprinting time. We were all very concerned about the little guy.

He had a good appetite though, and he figured out rather quickly where the source of food is.

His poor little body is extremely thin. He managed to be tall enough to nurse and he seemed to really enjoy getting some warm nourishment.

There was a cold breeze so Tawnee got a foal blanket. The new baby was so little he was lost in the blanket.

Tawnee got some more blankets and soon he was snuggled up nice and warm for a nap.

A premature birth crossed all of our minds. Honey's outward signs were telling us everything was normal, but the little foal was telling us otherwise. Tawnee called the vet to tell them she was bringing a mare and foal who would need to stay awhile. Like most baby's he liked his blankey.

The little guy only weighs about 30 lbs. Tawnee gently carried him to the waiting truck.

Honey loaded right into the horse trailer, and then it was time for the little guy to have his special ride. There was no way he could ride in the trailer with Honey.

So he got to ride in the truck on a volunteers lap. It seems to be a reoccurring situation, a little horse sitting in the back of a rescue truck.

He was a great passenger and fell asleep on the way to the vet.

After Tawnee and the volunteer headed out to the vet with Honey and the baby, we had a horse show up early for the euthanasia clinic. We are told he is an 8-10 year old decently trained to ride QH gelding that has cushings. They couldn't afford the medication costs, so they brought him to us.

He is a very pretty boy. We are hoping to find a home that can provide the medication he needs. Our euthanasia clinics are directed towards senior horses who are suffering due to arthritis and other incurable ailments. This is why we have the option for adoption when people sign the release form for the euthanasia clinic.

We had a volunteer clean the mare motel and muck a couple stalls today. He was a very studious worker and got it shining very quickly. Jason would take the horses out of the stalls, the volunteer would get the stall looking prim and proper in no time, then the horse would be put back in their stall. Thank you, we really appreciate your help!

Meanwhile Tawnee was at the vet and was reuniting Honey with her baby after the ride. She sure was happy to have her baby at her side once again. This photo shows how little he really is.

The vet and tech went to work right away evaluating the situation and starting the baby on special meds.

The vet determined that he is 20-30 days premature. The cause of his premature birth is unknown. Tawnee was concerned that since we had some new horses come into the rescue that maybe Honey was stressed and gave birth early. But, since her outward signs of being ready for birth, dripping milk etc, were happening prior to birth the vet does not believe it was an external stimuli or cause, but rather somtimes things happen that are unpreventable. We just have to make best of the situation.

This little guy has a lot going for him. He is strong willed and has a good appetite. There are a lot of complications that can happen with premature foals, but the vet feels this little guy might just make it.

One thing the vet is going to check out is that it is plausible that Honey was pregnant with twins and there may still be another foal in there. If so, we are hoping that Honey will carry it to full term. Like all mares we suspect are pregnant when they come into our rescue, Honey had an ultrasound to determine that she was indeed pregnant. The baby was too big at time of ultrasound to determine how many foals where in there, but it certainly confirmed that Honey was indeed pregnant.

After the little guy had a nice long drink of milk, he settled down and the vet tech gave him another check over.

He is such a cute little guy. So little and so helpless and fragile.

When Tawnee had to leave he was sound asleep under a heat lamp to stay warm. He is such a tiny little adorable baby. He almost just blends into the shavings he is so small.

Honey's baby's vet care will cost about $1,000 is what we are quoted so far. There is an auction rescue coming up on Sunday, but we have decided to reduce April's auction fund to $2,500 so we can focus our fundraising efforts on Honey's baby. Please help us pay for his emergency care, we were all rooting for Honey to have a healthy, happy baby, but the cost never entered our minds as we loaded him up for the trip to the vet for the care he needs. Click here for more information.