Foaling season and we lose our mare Oeke

Our 5 year old ster mare Oeke was due with her first foal on April 24. On April 9 I got a call from my sister and brother in law (my sister owns Oeke) to say that she had the baby early, during the day and Oeke was not getting up. The emergency vet was called and we managed to get Oeke and her foal, a colt, to Virginia Tech Equine Hospital. Unfortunately, Oeke had suffered a prolapsed rectum and bowel and the vets could not save her. So, at about 11pm Oeke was euthanized.

We are still working with the foal, who is not only an orphan needing a surrogate mom now to nurse him, but is also suffering from some ill effects of not initially nursing.

It has been a tough ime for our family. Losing a horse is always difficult, but losing a mare in foalbirth just seems to be the epitome of tragic.

Cori is due with her baby May 13. Wish us luck.

I published some photos recently of Oeke. One set was Oeke in training at age 3. The other is Oeke when she was at her keuring.