Thanks, DIANE!
Here are pics from yesterday with "CharKoal" about 1.5 days old...
One of our feral farm kitties has become friendly (to an extent) and sometimes wants to be picked up, loved on, scritched etc. This night, she let us both know that she wanted some of the attention the babies had been getting,
"GG" checking out Sierra while she's working with "KoKo"s colt. "GG" was shooed away by both Sierra and I, right as her ears went flat back and before she stomped on either Sierra or the colt. "KoKo" is tied up just outside of the frame of these pics and she was one MAD pony. She stood stomping, whinnying, going down on her knees and standing up and pawing like crazy. When "GG" came over and I snapped this pic, she went just about berserk. No worries, she wasn't quite mad enough to totally sit back on her tie (she does know better), but she definitely let us know she was not happy. The grandchildren are NOT allowed in the round pen by themselves right now... and we make sure NO ONE gets between "KoKo" and "CharKoal". I have no doubt that that person would be flattened or at least feel some pain from mamma "KoKo". While she is being tied safely, she is not being heavily corrected as I don't feel her being protective is a bad thing. I do want her to learn it is OK for us to handle her colt and that it is not acceptable to try to bite, kick or run us over - but we aren't forgetful of her either.
BIT CHECK! We try to handle our baby's heads and mouths (gums, teeth, tongue) a lot when they are small. That way they are ok with worming, dental work and being bitted for driving and riding in the future. Of the three babies so far, "CharKoal" is the least concerned and 'chewey'...
While we've never shod our ponies since we got back into equine, we do handle, touch, rub, lift and here Sierra is tapping "CharKoal"s hoof sole.
Already unfolding well but he still hasn't shed the foal slipper completely from his hind hooves. We'll help him with that tomorrow after I get a new pair of nippers.
