>>>> Although several months ago one of the mares decided to deliver early and was still out in pasture. One of the cowhands who lives on the property called the barn manager as he was hearing allot of coyote activity - yipping and howling etc. Lennie (barn mgr.) went up to discover the early foal and quickly moved them down by Faxi. There was a comment made that perhaps the coyotes were drawn by the smell of the placenta.
Oh, that's a little unnerving! After thinking about it, I'm not THAT worried about the foals with coyotes...but I'd feel better if there were more than two mares in this pasture when it's time for the babies to be born, but I only have two pregnant this year. I've never worried much about stray dogs (probably a bigger risk) before, but I've had either three or four mares pregnant at a time before. I have just rearranged the pastures a couple of weeks ago, trying to get the most out of the grazing we have left this fall, so as not to have to start feeding hay any earlier than necessary. That's the only reason I have only two in this pasture - trying to give the mamas some prime grass. The foals aren't due until April, so I have some time to reassess this, and if I need to make another pasture more baby-proof, I guess I can. I have hesitated to put the little ones in electric fence, and most of the fence in the back is electric. Maybe I should just move Kola and Tifa in with the mamas. Kola is a lot like her mama, Maja, so maybe she could learn to be a guard-mare too. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.6/991 - Release Date: 9/5/2007 2:55 PM
