Have all of you seen this baby yet?

[diomed]

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhorse/gallery/19422/photo/7912965/
WOW!
Talk about 'natural' cloning!

[Bunty Lawless]

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhorse/gallery/19422/photo/7912965/
WOW!
Talk about 'natural' cloning!

Pretty head and body. Looks a tad knock-kneed for 8 days old though. Might need periosteal stripping.

[diomed]

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhorse/gallery/19422/photo/7912965/
WOW!
Talk about 'natural' cloning!

Pretty head and body. Looks a tad knock-kneed for 8 days old though. Might need periosteal stripping.

For real?
I have found that foals usually straighten out within a couple months.
Or, at least by then you know there is a problem.
My mare foaled the most knock-kneed newborn. I freaked out when he was born, but by the time he was 2 months he was perfectly straight.
(needless to say, I was relieved)

Let's see how she looks in a couple months.

I was more in awe of how Rags passed on that blaze.
Very rare for that to happen.
They look identical(the blaze).

[Mac]

How unbelievably cute. "Natural cloning" would be the right term for how much her face looks like Rags.

[mlwinter]

Oh please, give the poor little girl a break! With legs that long, where was she suppose to have put them? Especially in a maiden mare, Rags was not showing hardly at all in the photo right before she foaled. Those legs look pretty straight for as long as they are and as young as she is.

She is a doll, got the same presence as mom...congrats to all involved.

[Bondama]

Mlwinter, that's what I think too. And I love her chrome!! Cute, cute.

[pfrsue]

Did anyone notice that Rags' pasture-buddy, La Traviata, had a clone foal too?

Actually it's funny, but I noticed in the Bloodhorse photos, there were no pictures of Rags with her foal, but for La Traviata, her baby was practically glued to her side.

[Toccet02]

I noticed that too. Guess she's pretty independent.

[Pacific Classic]

A leading ortho surgeon where I live told me once that if they are not knock kneed as a young foal, they will probably toe in as they mature. The chest widens and expands and voila! It is perfectly normal. I think she is a specimen.

[Tucumcari]

Nooo to the surgery!
99.9% of babies are crooked when they are young. Another dis service done to our breed to sell horses!
They usually straighten out, unless their genetics are screaming I will be crooked even then, I am sure a fan of natural over invasive! Most of them come out crazy legged as they have long legs folded up in a small little space while in utero. I agree give the "kid" a break.

[Tiz]

What a cutie pie. Mama's girl, for sure.

[Bunty Lawless]

http://gallery.pictopia.com/bloodhorse/gallery/19422/photo/7912965/
WOW!
Talk about 'natural' cloning!

Pretty head and body. Looks a tad knock-kneed for 8 days old though. Might need periosteal stripping.

For real?
I have found that foals usually straighten out within a couple months.
Or, at least by then you know there is a problem.
My mare foaled the most knock-kneed newborn. I freaked out when he was born, but by the time he was 2 months he was perfectly straight.
(needless to say, I was relieved)

Let's see how she looks in a couple months.

I was more in awe of how Rags passed on that blaze.
Very rare for that to happen.
They look identical(the blaze).

Not sure about identical, but I know of several mares that passed on identical blazes and head markings except for one small but notable difference. For instance, maybe a quarter-sized area will be dark instead of white.

I'm sure the lucky breeders are very hopeful she passes on the talent as well.

As for knees, Vets are divided 50/50 on this, from my experience. Some recommend a wait 'n' see and others say the more time that goes by the less you can fix. I think they've discovered that controlled but not totally restricted exercise is the best approach with good attention to the balance of the feet. Too many farms restrict the foal to a small pen, which makes little sense to me because the ground is uneven (straw) and the poor foal has no way to build and strengthen itself.

[foxtale]

Thanks for the pics! Rags To Riches is an awesome mare... hope her foal is the same!

[Bunty Lawless]

Nooo to the surgery!
99.9% of babies are crooked when they are young. Another dis service done to our breed to sell horses!
They usually straighten out, unless their genetics are screaming I will be crooked even then, I am sure a fan of natural over invasive! Most of them come out crazy legged as they have long legs folded up in a small little space while in utero. I agree give the "kid" a break.

I also prefer natural over invasive. Very much a believer that time solves more than surgery, except in extreme cases. Unfortunately many farms pressure the owners into surgery and keep the foals like hot house plants in small pens if they are crooked. Just watched that all play out, with a good friend. I would have let the poor thing be a baby, pay attention to his feet and keep him in a medium pen, where he could move, but still get daily exercise and growth stimulation.

Sticking rapidly growing young foals in small pen, for long periods of time, also runs high risk of foal overeating and creating additional problems. Too many things are done for convenience of farm that negatively impact the foals, IMO.

[bcassidy]

Did anyone else notice how loose that halter is on this filly? Very dangerous in my opinion. I like the figure 8 halters and would never put a halter like this one on even my worst foal. I am surprised they use a halter like this on this precious little girl----it frightens me to even look at the picture. I can imagine her getting hung up on something or even getting a hind leg caught in the halter while trying to scratch her head. I hope nothing happens to her as she looks stunning......