When I decided to buy a pair of mustangs last fall, I knew I wanted mares—but not foals, especially not two of them. My dream was to start a new chapter in my life with these amazing, majestic creatures, but I was wary of the additional responsibility and cost of raising young ones. I compromised by looking for super-svelte mares and shifted my plan from two mares to one mare and one gelding.
- Table of Contents:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forest Service (USFS), and other entities round up mustangs from the wild, and mares over the age of 10-12 months often come with a hidden surprise: a baby onboard. In the wild, nature takes its course, and a mare in heat will invariably find a willing stallion. I chose Lagertha, a lithe mare, hoping she wouldn’t be pregnant, and Floki, a gelding, to join her.
Suspecting Pregnancy
It didn’t take long after her arrival in Pennsylvania to suspect that Lagertha might be carrying a foal. Despite her slender appearance, there were subtle signs that suggested she was pregnant. Since it’s rare to know when a mare was bred or by which stallion, I had to rely on my observations. There are specific signs to watch for, but maiden mares can be tricky, sometimes showing few signs of impending foaling. I prepared as best as I could, walking the fine line between confining Lagertha too soon and being caught off guard when the baby arrived.
Preparing for Foaling
In early April, I noticed Lagertha starting to “bag up” (an early sign of impending birth), so we moved her into a foaling stall with an attached run and video surveillance. She still didn’t look as big as other mares before foaling, and the farm’s owner, who breeds a few foals each year, estimated she had another month or six weeks to go. Even the resident vet agreed.
Two weeks later, I thought Lagertha looked ready, but the vet disagreed. Not being an expert—having only raised two foals many years ago—I decided to wait before adding straw to her stall.
The Surprise Arrival
On the morning of April 28, I knew something was up when Lagertha didn’t come out to greet me. Rushing through feeding Floki, I hurried to her stall and saw a flash of color that wasn’t her—Lagertha had given birth! The foal looked very bay, but his coloring hinted at something that dismayed me.
I’ve been following an Equine Color Genetics group on Facebook, and I realized the foal might turn gray, a color prone to sunburn and melanoma. Lagertha’s foal had foal goggles (gray hairs around his eyes) and hyperpigmentation (dark coloring, lacking the typical foal camouflage), signs pointing to him going gray. Despite this, everyone at the farm was impressed with his size and conformation. On his first day, I even received two offers to buy him once he was weaned, which I will very likely have to accept since keeping him would be a financial burden that I may be unable to meet.
Challenges and Care
Unfortunately, the cameras had gone down during the night, so we missed the actual birth. Since Lagertha wasn’t yet gentled, caring for the foal was tricky. If we had seen her go into labor, we could have been there to assist. By the time we found them, the foal was up and moving well.
Lagertha didn’t mind me being in the stall with her and her baby, but she was wary of the people gathering around. I managed to spray the foal’s umbilical stump with iodine, even though I couldn’t dip it properly. While doing this, I got too close to Lagertha’s back end. I half expected to be kicked, but she tolerated it, showing trust despite her wild nature. It’s fortunate she didn’t think I was trying to maul her baby!
My daughter chose the Viking name Kjetil in keeping with our Viking themed names.
Reflections and Future Plans
Reflecting on the experience, I felt a deep bond with Lagertha and her foal. The journey from suspicion to confirmation, from preparation to the unexpected joy of the new arrival, was emotionally charged. Though I might not be able to keep Kjetil due to financial constraints, the experience has been enriching and fulfilling.
As I look forward, I plan to continue working with Lagertha, helping her adjust to her new life while ensuring Kjetil grows strong and healthy. This unexpected journey into motherhood has been a beautiful, challenging, and ultimately rewarding chapter in my life with mustangs.
Join the Conversation: Leave a Comment!