An orphan colt whose mother died shortly after giving birth has a new mom – a mare that had tragically lost her foal – thanks to the generosity of strangers and Washington State University veterinarians playing matchmaker.
Pairing an orphan foal and a nursing mare is a challenging task and one that commonly ends with failure. In this case, the connection was instantaneous.
“The mare had only been without a foal for about 24 hours,” Dr. Lisbeth Matthews, an equine medicine and surgery intern, said. “We walked her into the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and past him. He made a noise, and she went, ‘oh, there’s my foal,’ and started making noises back at him.”
It was a surprise to everyone how quickly the mare, named Shelly but affectionally called Mama by her owners, Roy and Faye Lions, accepted the colt. Equine veterinarian Jenifer Gold, who was helping to care for the foal and to supervise its introduction to the mare, said nursing mares frequently reject orphan foals, and when they don’t, the pairing process often takes days.
“She walked in and started nickering at him like it was her own baby – it was unbelievable,” Gold said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I have never seen it happen that way.”
The foal, which has been named Laredo, was admitted to the teaching hospital by his owner, Spokane resident Rachel Williams, just days after he was born when he started showing troubling digestive issues. Shortly after the colt arrived in Pullman, Faye Lions placed a call to WSU to see if the equine team was aware of any orphan colts needing a nursing mare.
“Our foal was dead, and nothing was going to bring it back, so we were hoping we could help someone else,” Faye Lions said. “It just so happened there was a foal there.”
A day later, the colt and Shelly were introduced.
“For them to be so willing to basically hand over their animal to a complete stranger after experiencing their own tragedy was pretty phenomenal,” Williams said. “I feel like in this scenario it was the worst of the worst for everybody, but there was a little bit of silver lining to the story.”
Williams is also grateful for the care and treatment she and her foal received at WSU.
“I just can’t even find words to say how great the veterinarians at WSU were,” she said. “They went above and beyond. I am just happy I ended up at WSU. I am so glad we were able to match those two up – it is kind of a miracle.”
Shelly will live with Williams until the colt is ready to be weaned, likely in six months, before she will return to her home in Kamiah, Idaho.
“It will be tough to say goodbye because you just naturally start to bond with animals, and she has kind of been my lifesaver,” Williams said. “It will be bittersweet for sure, but I am sure her owners will be happy to have her back.”
During the spring, the equine team at WSU typically sees at least a handful of orphan foals. Equine medicine specialist Dr. Macarena Sanz said orphan foals can be fed a powdered milk formula designed for horses, but those raised by humans typically develop behavioral issues that can become problematic as the animal matures.
“They turn out to be socially weird, have no understanding of personal space, and they are more difficult to train,” WSU equine veterinarian Macarena Sanz said. “The fact that this orphan foal has a mare is really going to make a difference.”
Sanz strongly encourages owners to immediately call their veterinarian if a foal is orphaned, as early care is critical to the animal’s survival.
It Turns Out Princess Catherine Had a Second Wedding Dress, and Here’s the Reason
In 2011, Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore a second stunning wedding dress to celebrate her marriage to Prince William. But only 300 guests saw it.
Thirteen years ago, Kate Middleton captivated the world as she walked down the aisle with her father, wearing a breathtaking wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
While her first dress made global headlines, Kate also wore a second dress at a private evening reception. According to a royal expert, this dress reflected how she truly wanted to express herself. Kate chose the British McQueen brand for its craftsmanship and respect for traditional workmanship.
The Palace stated at the time that she wanted a gown that combined tradition and modernity with the artistic vision of Alexander McQueen. The first dress, made of elegant French Chantilly and English Cluny lace, cost a staggering £250,000 and became an iconic symbol of her wedding day. However, her second dress, though less publicized, was just as special.
Stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder explained that some royals change into a second wedding dress after the ceremony. This allows them to leave behind formalities and fully express themselves. Speaking to The Express, she said that having a second dress allows brides to show who they really are and how they want to feel after the formal ceremony and official photos.
Kate’s second look, while still formal, was simpler and more relaxed. Holder described it as “simple and sweet,” with a “very pretty” cardigan, but noted that Kate didn’t seem to have the chance to fully relax.
Which dress do you prefer? Here’s where you can find the secret message Princess Catherine hid in her look during her first public appearance after cancer treatment.
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