Spring, 2007 Birchwood, WI
The new stables opened just in time.
Since the beginning of the year, five foals have taken up residence at Longtheway, with three more on the way.
First up, on January 17, 2007, was Felix’s firstborn, Xilef (a free bale of hay to whoever figures out how he got his name). A big, white-coated colt who we predict will turn out to be a deep brown, Xelif displays his father’s confidence, his mother Udine’s regal bearing, and both of his parents’ Nordic good looks. He has an inquisitive, gregarious personality that’s all his own, however. Walk anywhere near his pen, and he’ll bound over to say hello.
Among the first horses he greeted was another Longtheway baby: the gorgeous LTW Zinnia, born March 25th, 2007 to Erland and Bragda, via a calm and patient surrogate mare who labored long and hard to deliver this long-legged beauty. In fact, the first thing you notice are Zinnia’s legs – usually in motion, as she races around the paddock – but it doesn’t take long to be seduced by her affectionate demeanor and very sweet brown dun. Named after the long-stemmed flower, Zinnia embodies the bloom of spring.
LTW Christian, on the other hand, evokes the season’s swirling winds. A spirited colt who began exploring his domain as soon as he could stand, this brown, almost golden dun loves to jump – usually straight up in the air. No matter how frenetic the movement, though, his mane never flops about. (If it weren’t so soft and fuzzy, you’d swear he puts styling gel in it). It’s a good thing Tarrisa is willing to correct Christian with the occasional nip because in the days after his birth, everyone else just stood around entranced by him.
The spell of wonder was broken on April 13th, however, when our latest colt – the as-yet unnamed offspring of Erland and Bragda – entered the world amid unwelcome drama. His surrogate mom let him nurse, but she hadn’t passed the afterbirth and was clearly in distress. I got on a plane and came home, arriving shortly before the vet. Sometimes all it takes is a woman’s hand and voice to make a mare settle; she passed the afterbirth just 20 minutes later. When the vet arrived, it was the colt’s size that really grabbed his attention. Apparently our new baby was as large as most draft horse foals! As big as he is, though, TBD couldn’t be sweeter.
Well, maybe LTW Katherine is sweeter; her parents Smedsmo Graen and Mykleblakka certainly think so. Everyone agrees that she’s just about everything you could want in a filly: petite, graceful and well-proportioned. Bets have been placed as to whether she’ll be a white dun, brown dun or possibly yellow, but one thing’s for sure: she’s already a looker. Maybe that’s why her surrogate mom is so protective of her.
We’re wondering if the surrogate mom carrying Felix and Silviann’s offspring will be as attached to her foal. She’s huge, she’s overdue (April 17th was the expected birthday), and she’s not having a whole lot of fun! We half expect her to deliver the foal and say, “I am DONE!” Knowing our surrogates, though, she’ll be just as attached as any other mother.
Meanwhile, a few stalls down, another surrogate – due May 5, 2007 – has surpassed even Silviann in size. Say a prayer that she’s not having twins! Keep an eye out, also, for one more foal to enter the fold. We’re not sure of the due date, or even the father, but the mother will be the stately MVF Kariella, a beautiful horse with well-proportioned features.
Stay tuned. We’ll have updates, footage, and breathless accounts of all the miracles in our midst. It’s going to be a busy year indeed at Longtheway!
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