I have no doubt that, of the first three foals born here in 2004, we would have lost Miska had Brunka not decided to break her water right in front of us when we did the 11pm check-in. Brunka had some trouble passing her shoulders, and she became shocky. We were in attendance, and when we saw that the filly's tongue was blue and she wasn't moving, we knew we had trouble. Brunka was down too - conscious, but not alert. She was simply worn out, and as a first time mom, I don't think her instincts were kicking in fully. I got a quick call into the vet, she said to pull with the next contraction, and while I talked to her, Cary pulled. I immediately cut the sac over her face, and she instantly struggled to breathe. Within a few minutes she was up...but Brunka stayed down flat for about 45 minutes. I called the vet back and she told us to give Brunka Banamine. About 20 minutes later, Brunka got up, but she seemed rather disoriented for a while - not aggressive, but confused. Maybe she wasn't aware enough while the birth was happening. Anyway, that was a LONG night, while I hoped and prayed that Brunka would get it togethter enough to nurse the filly. Finally about 5am she nursed, and the next day, the immunity test was good, despite the 6-hour delay in nursing. Brunka was well enough to go with the filly to pasture the next day, and from then on, she was a good mom - eventually becoming one of the best. She'd let any of the three foals nurse - we called that year, the "first available" year, since the foals would nurse whichever mom was closest. (Well, except Bjola - she'd only nurse her own, Ima.)
Would I breed Brunka again? Maybe, but only if I could be DARNED sure I was with her during delivery - and notice that I haven't bred her again. The vets have told me that it's probably no riskier to breed her again than any other mare. That was her first baby, and subsequent deliveries are typically easier, and I KNOW her mama instincts are in place now, and they weren't then. But when there are so many other great broodmares available, and when Brunka is such a nicely gaited riding horse, I'm not really motivated to risk it, even if it's a pretty low risk. Now that I've gelded Melnir and the only stallion in my immediate area is Brunka's half-brother, I don't have to worry about it. Not now. Two years ago, I told this story on another list as an example of why it's important to be with the mares when they foal - when there's trouble, it often comes on VERY fast. The woman who said that owners shouldn't check on their mares more often that every 8 hours actually had the gall to mention "natural selection" - implying that I should have let Brunka and the filly die. Sorry, but while I'm very careful to breed responsibly, I don't plan to let one of my mares and foals die a painful death under the guise of natural selection. Besides, there are other ways to protect the future of the breed - I simply don't have to breed any questionable mares again. AND, many difficult deliveries are the result of complications of that particular pregnancy - and that's probably what Brunka's case was. Sometimes a foal presents in the wrong position, and that can happen in a mare's 5th pregnancy or during her first - should we let her die due to a mere circumstance of the individual preganany? Not in my universe. When I looked out the camper window about 1am the morning that Hroi was born, and I saw Maja staring into my window - something I'd never seen her do before - I KNEW she wanted us to come out and be with her. I got up asked Cary if he wanted to come out with me. We grabbed chairs, and sat quietly beside her paddock. Within a few minutes, her water broke and she went down to deliver, knowing we were there. Maybe every mare wouldn't do this, but Maja had no inhibitions about delivering with us there two years ago, when she delivered Kola. Four years ago, the day Ima was born, every time I'd go check on Bjola, she'd get between me and the gate, blocking my exit. She wanted me with her too, and I was present for Ima's birth too. What's so unique about these two is that they were from the bankruptcy sale, and they both had very litle handling before we got them, but they still trusted us enough to allow - no, ask for - our presence. I won't go so far as to tell people they SHOULD be with their mares when they deliver, but my goal is to dispel the myths that they won't allow you there. Maybe they'd rather you not be there if you can't be quiet, calm and relaxed. Maybe they'd rather you not be there if they haven't known you long, or if they've delivered many foals prior with no humans present. But, if you're calm, and if they trust you, there's at least a good chance they will appreciate your presence. Karen Thomas, NC
