A bit of a catch-up

So what's been occurring since that day in the summer when we decided that Ruby was no longer in foal?

Well, part of the deal with the stallion is that if your mare isn't in foal, you have to provide a veterinary certificate and then you don't have to pay the bill.  Unfortunately the day the scan was to take place at the stud I was on holiday and Annie was at work so I had to take her over to our vet.

Let's just say emotions were running pretty high.  I'd done a reccy the previous evening to make sure I knew where to park as the vets is right in the middle of a local market town.  

Now Ruby's a big girl.  Over 17 hands and up to weight.  I was expecting them to have a scanning crate like the stud does (a wooden crate with a door either end slightly bigger than the horse - the door at the back being low enough for the vet to carry out a scan without the likelihood of being shot into the middle of next week by a stroppy mare).  But no, there was just a small (and I mean small) loose box, slightly longer than the horse!

The vet did an internal first and, after a bit of a misunderstanding, confirmed that she was still in foal.  Then he did a scan.  Unfortunately it was too big to fit on the screen all in one go but we could identify the umbilical cord and I thought I saw a pair of knees but it could have been anything really!  And yes, there were tears.  I knew I would weep, whether it was good news or bad.  

We've still got a long way to go.  She's not due til April.  Let's just keep everything crossed til then.