Kim's Foal Watch Diary 2008 Season

We had such a lot of nice feedback last season about Kim's Foal Watch Diary that we decided to carry on this season. So here you can read about some of the goings on at Aurum over the current season.

Wednesday 1st October 2008

So foaling season is about to start at Aurum. We have a collection of mares all due about now, none of whom look imminent.

Expenses (Penny) who was actually 340 days on September the 28th is up with an alarm on but we are hoping that she hangs on for a few more days. On Monday the 29th she injured herself in an unusual way. At about 8 in the morning she was lying flat out having a sleep. As I was watching her she got up a little awkwardly. I thought that she was dripping milk but on closer inspection it was fresh blood. On even closer inspection she appeared to have 3 teats! She had somehow torn the skin from the inside of one nipple back in a triangle.

This required veterinary attention for suturing. It was a very difficult position for poor Des who had to get right in underneath to make the repair. We are unsure if it will all take but it is looking good at the moment. I would not like to be her right now though if a foal were feeding there! Last year Penny went 346 days but the year before it was 335 and even a few more days will make a difference to her healing.

The photo at right shows Penny with her sensational last season's colt, Simply Brilliant. He was snapped up very quickly.

Because we were so pleased with her last year's foal, Aurum Simply Brilliant, we duplicated the mating and she was put back to Aurum Brilliant Cut. I know that we are not the only ones waiting to see this foal as there are a couple of people who were sorry that they only saw Simply Brilliant after he was sold!

Also on the waiting list is Aurum Belle who is in foal to Weltmeyer. We have two super colts by Regardez Moi (one of whom is for sale) from this mare and are keen to see the results of this breeding.

However perhaps the most anticipated is the foal from Money Miss Spent (aka Orange Penny) as it should be the first by Aurum Remarquable otherwise known as Hewey. Penny was actually due on the 30th but looks in no hurry to oblige. Better Pine, also in foal to Aurum Remarquable, is due on the 6th of October but she also does not look close. It looks like the first Hewey baby may be born elsewhere as Stylish Odds, although the 3rd mare to be covered by Hewey, looks as though she may go a few days early.

That's 'Orange' Penny on the right. A real sweetie!

Our mare who had stringhalt last year (she's almost 100% better this year), Lucy (Rosewood Duelluta) is also in foal to Hewey but she is not due until the 23rd of October. She bagged up early at 300 days and so is on treatment (which appears to be working) to keep her hanging on.

The other two who are close for us, BP Montana and Cheval de Pas, will also create excitement as they will deliver the first foals by our other young stallion Aurum Rivière d’Or. He is going beautifully under saddle and will hopefully have his first competition start in the next few weeks (foals permitting).

We have a break until mid December and expect foals by Aurum Remarquable, Aurum Rivière d’Or, Weltmeyer, Jazz and Chacco Blue to take us through to February yet again!

BP Montana at right. She told us she was pretty tired of carting the big belly around!

We’ll keep you posted!