While there were some really cold nights in the barn (and quite a few were the mares decided that foaling on any nights but Saturdays were the best), I absolutely loved it.
So without farther ado, here are the things you (well I) learn during foaling season:
1) If you really want to know something, ask: The first few weeks I foal watched, I was shy about asking questions even though I had a ton of them. But I quickly learned that if I had one, even when it didn't have to do with foaling out a mare, everyone I worked with was willing to answer it. I learned more about many different topics from chats during mare checks than I've learned in the last year.
2) You can't always be a control freak: I like to know exactly what is going to happen before it happens so I know what to expect. While things such as the nightly routine and basic behaviors stayed the same in nearly all the mares, each mare is a little different. Some of them will really make you think they are about to foal (looking at you Bromelia) then wait two days, whereas others will give no signs until you hear their water break (ahem, Daughter). So basically, expect the unexpected.
3) Getting up early isn't so hard: I have been a notorious late sleeper for years. My days off included sleeping past 10 and every morning I timed my routine down to the minute so I knew how late I could sleep without being late for work. But this winter that has gone out the window. Five a.m. alarms easily wake me up when I know that I'm about to head to the farm for vet work. I still love sunsets more than sunrises, but sunrises aren't too shabby either.
4) It is okay to have favorites: Throughout university, it was always pounded into our heads that you must remain unbiased. I've bent that rule a bit with the racehorses but with the foals, that rule is a goner. There are mares you will like a lot more than others and foals who just blow your socks off. I have my lists of both mares and foals I would gladly let live with me because I love them so much.
5) There will be disappointments but you have to move on: Everyone knows that horses aren't always sunshine and rainbows. Things can go bad and you can't always correct it. One such event shook me to the core but I did learn from the experience and figure out what helped me move on from it so there was at least a good side of it.
6) I am stronger than I think I am: The "bad" (there is really nothing about about foal watching, in my opinion) thing about my shift is that I worked the following day at my normal job so sleeping on Sundays was basically a three hour nap. It was an even more challenging event when I had to work my regular job on Saturdays as well as foal watch. While I told myself that I would be fine, it took these shifts to show myself that I am actually stronger than I think I am.
7) Find the good in every day: You may be locked in your stall for a few extra hours because of bad weather, but there's always something worth being happy about, even if it is just getting away with something you shouldn't have.
Our last foal was born earlier this week so there won't be anymore nights waiting for foals. I've been dreading the end of foaling season because it's literally my favorite part of what I do but I was told today that I can move over to working with the broodmares and foals during the day. So I'm really looking forward to starting that part of my adventure, and being able to continue working with my girls and kids, in the coming weeks!
