Pony born.

[bunn]

I went for an edge of Dartmoor walk yesterday, and saw a Shetland pony giving birth. It was right in the middle of a busy dog-walking area, golf course on one side, people walking their dogs all round the edges, big herd of ponies all round the mother, protecting her. I'd always assumed they would choose a more sheltered, less busy spot! A few people let their dogs run right through the herd, very naughty, though I think they perhaps didn't realise what was going on at first. The other ponies were keeping a sharp eye out for dogs getting too close.

I was just in time to see the baby floppeting onto the grass. It seemed to take an age for him to stand up - his mother lay down for a bit, for a rest, then stood up again to give him a lick. He kept trying to stand on his long wobbly legs, then toppling over, legs waving wildly. Finally he managed to get all of his legs underneath him, nudged by his mother and what looked like an older sibling.

There were two crows that whipped straight in within a few minutes and started going at the afterbirth. Forgot my camera! Drat.

Comments

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Wow, I bet that was a sight to see. I'm surprised she'd do it in such a busy spot too, maybe she got caught short.