Still in the Belley

The waiting continues. I have my spy camera to keep an eye on Belle when I am not at the barnyard.

The view from the spy cam

I have a bed of straw for her outside of the shelter to encourage her to foal out there, then after foaling I bed the shelter for mama and baby. The shelter can be closed up with a panel and gate as needed. She sleeps on the straw at night, with much groaning as her belly is huge right now. I still think not as big as she was with Eli, though.

Gussie is in heat, and Drifter is beside himself trying to figure out why she smells so good but doesn't know what to do about it. Lots of butt sniffing and lip curling but that's about all. I will separate them soon and on her next heat will see if we can help him figure it out. I think separating them will help, because Gussie is getting impatient with him and chases him off when he gets too pestery. She's like, Just hurry up will you!

It's ok Drifter, you'll figure it out eventually.

Meanwhile, the shelter for the mare pen is making progress; the main structure was moved in yesterday, but that's another post. It will be a week or so before it is finished and ready, as the roof needs to be framed in as well as the side walls, but here is a sneak peak :

All that cross bracing will be taken off, it was just to stabilize the structure for moving as Ted had to build it up by the shop so he could use the welder. This is 20 ft. long and 13 ft. wide, lots of room for the horses! The front is 12 ft high and the back wall is 8 ft. high, and it's all made out of rough cut lumber from a local mill, with the skids being recycled 6 inch gas line pipe.

I moved Gussie and Drifter into the pen that adjoins the foaling pen until this shelter is safe for them to use.