My Regal Swan mare was due on Saturday 11th. Had some wax starting on Saturday but really minor. Watched her on the monitor all night long and she was sort of somewhat restless but nothing to pinpoint that foaling was imminent. Sunday morning wolfed down breakfast, had more wax, but nothing dripping and she seemed anxious and happy to go out with her buddies
So ... I clean some stalls, look out at her a few times, she is alternating between eating, standing in the sunbeams and walking around sniffing the ground and then around 9:00 I decide I am going in for coffee and breakfast. She is snoozing in the sun at that time ...
I make breakfast, look out at her, nothing has changed so go on my computer and answer a few emails, look out at her again and she is wandering around again sniffing the ground
About 30-40 minutes later I figure I'll go and finish stalls and check on her again and as I am putting my boots on I look out to the mare's paddock and there are ***4*** mares in a circle huddled around this little bay thing that is trying to get up and crashing into each one of them
So I had an "Oh Sh!#" moment as I ran down the driveway and yelled at hubby and my daughter to come and help and we got Mom and newborn baby inside
On the plus side, I had no amniotic fluid to clean out of the stall and the afterbirth was already passed and outside in a hay pile
and VERY surprisingly, all of the mares including the 2 maidens were very protective and curious of this new arrival in their midst and didnt seem to mind him falling into them at all, thank God ...
But I felt SO damned bad that he was born outside in less than ideal conditions as it could have been disasterous if one of the mares ended up kicking him if he inadvertently went searching for the wrong udder and it was probably a good 30-40 minutes before I got iodine on his stump which again - probably isnt awful, but I would have felt better if it was done right away
But - REAL quick and smart, especially for a colt - he was up and nursing by the time I got out there and continued on at the milk bar when I got them both inside as well. This is my race bred colt by the AP Indy son - Alumni Hall and I hope the smartness, toughness and tenacity he is showing now translates into a super race horse as well!
These darned sneaky mares. Who in heaven's name would think they'd surprise you like that, on Easter Sunday morning no less
when I should be concentrating on getting the turkey into the oven on time instead and making stuffing and cranberry dressing?! 
Anyone else get surprised by their mares this year?
