I Want A Baby

I want a baby. I want to hear the clippity-clop of tiny little hooves in the barn.


You do realize I'm talking about a foal, right? OK, good, because that would be one weird conversation otherwise.

Over the last few years I've been perfectly fine with not having any mares to foal out. No stressing over getting them bred, no increased expenses for pregnant mares, no getting up every single hour for two weeks and still missing the birth by minutes.

Actually, the only births I ever missed were Paula and her full brother. Their momma was sneaky like that. She apparently enjoyed her privacy.

Paula was an awfully cute baby. She had ears as long as her face, and because she was born with so much gray hair already, she looked roan.

See the bird on her neck?

Anyway, for some reason, this year it's hit me harder than it has in the past few--I do miss the excitement of not knowing what's going to be coming: a colt? A filly? Overo or solid? Gray or sorrel?

But then reality hits me and I remember that I don't even have enough time to spend on the horses that I do have, so why create another one? And the expense--well, between a stud fee, mare care, extra feed and vaccinations, vet bills, registrations, and the cost of feeding a foal (which is much more than feeding an adult horse)--it's outrageous. Right now all my money is going towards fixing up the farm and showing the horses I already have.

So I refrain. Could I do what I want? Sure. Should I do what I want? Absolutely not.

And honestly, I think my life is the better for it. Maybe one day, when I get one or two of the horses I have sold, and one of the girls has been promoted adequately, and I have my house done and my facilities all set up properly, I might decide to breed one, to carry on my program. But for the time being, the best thing I can do for my current horses, and for me, is to stay on course and try to make a better life for us all.

Steady as she goes,