TWINS 

                                                               WOW  They Survived!!!!

On April 22, 2008 Elite Susie (Lea) gave birth to two happy healthy foals at 4:20 and 4:25 am.  Twins are very rare in the equine world, one set out of every 10,000 survive. We are very happy and excited to share with you that mom and both babies are doing wonderfully.

Lea can not produce enough milk to feed both babies so we are helping out with a bottle about every hour for each of them. If you've ever thought two is twice the money for income think again. Foal milk replacer is expensive!!!! Melissa has become mommy number two to them. What a bond this creates.

Elite Susie RHRR   x   Messenger CVH

barn names: Bonnie and Clyde

Registered names (pending): Extra Message BRS and Multiple Message BRS

We have to share that early morning. We had done our usual 9:00pm check on her, it was her 337th day of pregnancy  (horses carry about 11 months). There was nothing new, she could go at any point, every thing pointed to it but nothing new to tell us that it was going to be that night. She had carried 330       days and 334 days with previous foals. My back was killing me so rather then stay at my mom and dads as usual and sleep in mom's recliner chair, I decided to go home to my own bed. We have cameras in the stall with the monitor at my folks, plus the mare was wearing a foaling alarm on her halter. If she lays down right out flat for more then seven seconds it sets of a pager. I knew my dad would keep a close watch and call me if any thing started to happen. At 4:05 am he called telling me it could be a false alarm but Lea was very uneasy. I flew in to my clothes as my dad called Melissa, who lives right by the barn. I think I drove about 65 all the way to the barn. I ran in to the barn to have Melissa tell me I was to late, it was a boy. She alone had delivered her first foal. There she sat in the back of the stall towel drying this beautiful little guy. My dad headed for the treat bag, Lea was already looking for the treats. When she turned her back end to me there it was two more little feet headed out. Oh my god!!!! Excitement, fear we felt it all as I rushed in to her side as she lied back down to deliver the second foal.  I'm thinking  and saying, probably about a thousand times please let it be alive. Then the please let it already be gone if it's not meant to be. I was really expecting to be helping deliver a dead foal. I tore the sack off her nose and thank god she took her first breath. One hurdle down, she is breathing. Each first was so exciting, they both stood and nursed then everything else started working. I don't think we've ever been so excited to see babies poop. I kept saying pinch me, I must be dreaming. Every day has been wonderful, they are growing stronger and more precious every day. What an experience it has been, one most of us will never have and one I'm sure we will never have again.

5/17/08   boy have they grown!!!                                   Bonnie                                                     Clyde

We  are so happy, both babies are doing  so awesome, they are just the sweetest little guys. They continue eating more and more every day. Both of them have been so easy to handle, they are doing great at leading and we have started teaching them about being tied. They have been learning about the electric fence too. This is the hardest lesson, at least for us.  Bonnie excepts everything with out complaint at all and Clyde well he protests a little but less all the time.