Surprise

Guess what I found when we got back from church. A new baby pony! I told C that it just goes to show I should spend my time here taking care of things rather than at church, but she said it shows God was watching out for things while we were doing what we were supposed to be doing. Don't know who is right, but everything seems to be fine despite the fact that we did everything wrong. We had the wrong bedding, hadn't given mom any of the special care she was supposed to have, weren't there to help with the delivery, missed out on the initial bonding, etc. It is amazing how able animals are to give birth and go on with life without our help. Guess a million years of evolution is worth something.

So give a big welcome to our new pony. Her name is Francine Chaos - daughter of Brigid Anarchy (called Anny by everyone but me, I call her Brigid), and she will be known as Franny.

Franny, still damp but doing well.

We did everything wrong because we were operating on the information given us. We weren't expecting a new baby until well into February or March. Early January was a bit of a surprise. We would never have planned to have a baby in January. In nature herbivores have their young close to the summer solstice. That's when survival is best. God or a million years of evolution has decreed that this works best. Having a baby in January, with no grass, 25 deg temps for a high, and snow and ice on the ground don't support survival. WE will make sure Franny has what she needs, but we will NEVER promote this kind of animal "management".