Photo: Supplied
In the last month I have spent most of my time in the Sun Chariot yard which is the foaling unit here at the INS. I spent three nights on foal watch alongside another student named Luis, Carol and Lauren who are the foaling supervisors here at the stud.
On my first night of foal watch we had two mares foal. One of which was a high risk foaling due to Neonatal Isoerythrolysis. (NI) is caused by an incompatibility of blood types between a mare and her foal, in which the foal’s red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies ingested from the mare’s colostrum. This foaling went really smoothly. As soon as the foal started to try to stand we fitted a muzzle on her and placed her in a small padded area inside the box which has been specifically designed for these high risk foalings. We did this to ensure the foal couldn’t drink from the mare until all of her colostrum was gone.
For the following 36 hours we milked the mare regularly to slowly bring down her colostrum levels. Once her colostrum levels had gone down to below eight on the refractometer, we let the foal back into the large box with the mare. Seeing them safe and back together was a really rewarding feeling. In total over the three nights we bottle fed five out of the seven foals born, so Luis and I got really good at bottle feeding and really close with the foals! Being able to spend so much time with them learning all of their different personalities was really special.
This week I have been working in Maddenstown which is the barren mare yard run by Eimear and Michelle. The yard has roughly 50 dry mares that all get teased every day. I found the teasing really interesting as we do it very differently back home in NZ. As we take the horses out each morning we walk them past the teasers window and stand them up next to his box. Each morning a teasing sheet is filled out for each mare, helping us keep track of their cycles and when they may be coming back into season. I really enjoyed this yard as it is really busy and Michelle and Eimhear are so knowledgeable and have taught me so much.
Last night we attended a racing quiz which was a fundraiser for Graham Lee/The Injured Jockeys Fund. The quiz was held in Carlow and overall was a very fun and interesting night. It is safe to say us international students have learnt a lot about Irish racing history!
Today we have been given a new assignment. We need to submit an essay about an innovative idea to attract and retain a younger demographic within the thoroughbred industry.
Next week I am working in Strawhall (pregnant mares before they go to the foaling unit) and Kildare yard (new born mares and foals) again. The last time I worked in this yard there was only one mare and foal so I am looking forward to being there when the yard is in full swing! I am really excited to work more closely with these foals as I helped bring them into the world just a few weeks earlier.
On Friday night I am going back onto night shift in the foaling unit. The foaling unit is really starting to ramp up so I can't wait to get stuck in and foal down lots of mares as it is one of my favourite jobs!
