Holme Grove Indesi
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Sex: Filly
Colour: Bay
Having lost Holme Grove Copelia yesterday 24th March we had decided to attempt to adopt her orphan foal Holme Grove Cedrus onto Ich Bin when she foaled and convince her that she had twins and would then hopefully look after both of them. We had not done this type of adoption before so were not sure how successful we would be but felt it was worth a try so that Cedrus could have a Mum rather than be on his own. Not only is rearing an orphan foal a lot of work the main disadvantage is the learning from his mother of social behaviour which is difficult for humans to replicate. Below is a pictorial record of our adoption. Click on the thumbnails to see the bigger pictures.
Sire:
(chestnut)
Dam:
(bay)
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As Ich Bin began to foal we waited with a bucket to catch the amniotic fluid as the waters broke. Once her own foal was safely delivered we took the amniotic fluid and smothered Cedrus in it and put the birth sack over his back. With the newborn foal still on the ground and Ich Bin (held on a rope in case we did not get the desired reaction) busy licking her we reversed Cedrus in to see if she would lick him too. Much to our delight she was more than happy to wash him as well - after all he smelt like hers ! We then just held him near her while she alternated licking him and her own foal. We fed Cedrus before we introduced him as we didn't want him too keen to drink. |
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Cedrus was still very keen to get to the milk bar (he remembered where that was) but we didn't want him to get there first and pinch all the colostrum which belonged to the new born foal. As it was such a struggle to keep Cedrus away and Ich Bin was very happy for him to drink we decided to milk her and feed this to her foal. As soon as we let Cedrus go he rushed in and started drinking and Ich Bin was happy to let him. Indesi was soon on her feet and within 2 hours Ich Bin was standing contentedly with a foal on each side !! Wow what a wonderful feeling when we could see she was accepting them both. |
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| The moment of truth came when we unclipped Ich Bin and stood back to see how she would react. We needn't have worried, she was the perfect mother and was whickering at both of them. | |||
| With a full tummy and a new Mummy and sister Cedrus decided it was time for a sleep! So Mum decided she should take advantage of the peace and laid down for a rest too. Indesi and Alan joined them - what a joyful sight and it is amazing that such a tragedy can turn out to have such a wonderful outcome. | |||
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We will continue to supplement both foals feed with mare milk replacer
in a bottle so that they don't pull Ich bin down. They are both
very big strong foals but she is a super Mum and hopefully she can do
the night Shift !!! |
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1st April 2003 update - Ich Bin is being a wonderful mother to her twins and she looks so well. We are feeding her 4 times a day to make sure the foals don't pull her down and also giving a bottle to the foals as often as they will take it(normally try and catch them just as they wake up before they drink from their Mum) but Ich Bin is like a cow with her udder producing a lot of milk and they do not seem very hungary. We are feeding her cocoa powder in her feed twice a day as we are advised by Johanna Vardon that this increases the milk production! (perhaps the foals will get chocolate milk!) It seems to be working |
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| Photos of their progress | |||
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<- photos taken 15th June 2003. The twins are best of friends and Ich Bin continues to do them well ! Come and meet them at the Open Day 6th July 2003 |
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| Photos taken 1st March 2004 - Both twins are growing into very beautiful horses. | |||