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Foaling Prep at Lane’s End

12Z playing with a paddock mate at Lane's End. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
12Z playing with a paddock mate at Lane’s End. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Happy Thursday!

We have an exciting post for you today. Dr. Ernie Martinez has written a piece detailing the steps taken at Lane’s End in preparation for foaling. It’s a great example of how Lane’s End leaves nothing to chance. You can follow Dr. Martinez on twitter at @emartinezdvm.

Alys also sent us some great photos of Zenyatta’s first colt playing in the snow.

Enjoy!
-Team Z

12Z playing with a paddock mate at Lane's End. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
12Z playing with a paddock mate at Lane’s End. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End


12Z playing in the snow. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
12Z playing in the snow. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Enjoying Late Pregnancy & Preparing for Foaling
By Ernie Martinez II. DVM from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

As Zenyatta approaches the end of her second pregnancy, we begin to prepare for the arrival of Little 13Z. Very little will change from her daily routine. She will continue to be fed and checked by farm staff twice a day. They will begin to closely monitor her for any signs of premature labor. These might include early udder development or an abnormal vaginal discharge. Thankfully, Queen Z has strided through this pregnancy like a champ and everything has been very routine.

In the last trimester we vaccinate her with a three shot series of vaccinations for Rotaviral diarrhea. This can be a very life threatening diarrhea when acquired in the neonatal stage, and we do all we can try to prevent this disease or at best minimize the severity of any clinical signs. All farm mares receive this series of vaccinations, and we have had very healthy newborn foal crops for some time.

When Queen Z has one month to go we will give her annual series of booster vaccinations. This serves two purposes. First, we provide Queen Z with her annual booster of vaccinations for protection against Equine Herpes Virus 4&1, Eastern-Western Encephalitides, West Nile, Influenza, Rabies & Botulism. Second, and most importantly, by vaccinating her one month before to foaling we will booster the volume and quality of antibodies in her colostrum. Newborn foals are born immunologically naive and must consume and absorb the antibodies from colostrum for their initial immune protection. When 13Z is born we will test her colostrum to insure it is of high quality. If it were to be low, we will give the new foal a pint of colostrum from our colostrum bank. When 13Z is between ten to twelve hours old we will test a blood sample to determine the IgG, or antibody, level. We want all our foals to be above 800 mg/dL. Greater than 1200 mg/dL would be off the charts and even better!

As the foaling date draws nearer, Zenyatta will be brought up to the foaling barn where she will stay until she foals. In the foaling barn she will be under 24 hour surveillance as we patiently wait for her to foal. As she gets closer to foaling, or parturition, her udder will start to develop and the teats will fill. The classic sign that foaling is near is the production of wax or “waxing up.” This is a sebaceous-like pre-colostral secretion that in most cases means foaling is imminent.

Two weeks before Queen Z’s due date we will sample and test her blood for neonatal isoerythrolysis, or NI. We call it an NI Screen. NI occurs when the foal ingests colostrum from the mare with antibodies that react with the foals red blood cells (RBCs). The antibodies are produced by the mare due to transplacental hemorrhage in late gestation. The mare’s immune system identifies the RBCs as foreign because they contain stallion DNA. If the foal were to consume NI antibodies in the colostrum the foal’s RBCs would be coated in the maternal antibodies and cleared by the foal’s immune system, causing a hemolytic anemia. The foal would crash in respiratory distress as it would have no RBCs to carry oxygen. Thankfully, the NI screen allows us to detect NI positive mares. In a positive case we would muzzle the foal and supplement it with tested negative colostrum until the antibodies were cleared from the mares milk. This normally takes 10–12 hours.

So when she draws close to foaling time we will have done all we can do to insure that her colostrum will be top quality, we will have screened her colostrum for NI and we’ve made an easier pathway for the birth of 13Z. Now all we can do is wait.

See you at the Foaling Barn!

12Z in the snow. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
12Z playing in the snow. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Reader Interactions

798 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Cheltenham to go ahead despite big freeze
    Posted by: AAP Filled in: Australian Horse Racing | 12/3/2013 at 7:00am
    Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse is satisfied the famous jumps Festival can go ahead without a hitch, despite a freezing cold Monday in the Cotswolds.
    The whole of the Old Course (used for the first two days of the meeting), the New Course (for the second half) and vulnerable areas of the Cross Country track are under 65 acres-worth of black frost covers.
    It snowed briefly on occasions during a bitterly cold morning and afternoon on Monday and the blankets will not be removed until as late as possible on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).
    Read more: http://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/australian-racing/cheltenham-to-go-ahead-despite-big-freeze/194408 #ixzz2NGXOTgNb

  2. / Reply

    Darley Stallions tweet
    Eclair de Lune, winner of the G1 Beverly D. @ArlingtonRacing, was covered earlier today by STREET CRY at Darley in America

  3. / Reply

    Daily Racing Form‏ tweet MY MISS AURELIA set for 2013 debut this Sat. i
    n either the Santa Margarita at Santa Anita or Azeri at Oaklawn

    Keta Note; Tracks aren’t exactly next door to each other. DECISION TIME!!

    Santa Anita: My Miss Aurelia primed for 2013 debut
    By Jay Privman Daily Racing Form 03/11/2013 2:50PM
    ARCADIA, Calif. – My Miss Aurelia is looking to celebrate her fourth birthday in style. The question is where the birthday party will be held.
    A champion at 2 and a near-champion at 3, My Miss Aurelia is scheduled to begin her 4-year-old campaign Saturday – exactly four years after she was born – though whether she stays at Santa Anita for the Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes or travels to Oaklawn for the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri Stakes had yet to be determined, trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday.
    http://www.drf.com/news/santa-anita-my-miss-aurelia-primed-2013-debut

    • / Reply

      Keta, What would we do without you? Especially the tech challenged like me. Thank you so much for the picture of Muchie. He looks great and what a shine to his coat.

      Thank you again.

      • / Reply

        Keta and shirleeinindy. That is a good photo of 3M. He’s a big boy, and that shiny coat looks super. Hope that he is back to racing soon. Fair Hill is a very nice place for horses. All of these photos are a treat. Thank you.

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta:

      Thanks for this wonderful photo of MMM. Hope he is feeling as well as he looks. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      sheena
      What awful weather!
      Frankfurt airport was closed because of it.
      That really scrambles the international schedules.
      Some races have been rescheduled to later times.
      Stay safe & warm
      Hugs, Keta

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      I couldn’t access the link, but I Googled it and was able to read the article and see Jilly’s photo. I had never heard of that breed before. Thank you. Love and Hugs,JB

    • / Reply

      sheena
      I was beyond thrilled that a King Charles won Best of Group.
      Great dog! From a great breeder who didn’t live to see this win.
      Emma, my black-and-tan King Charles sire was bred by Moorfields Cavaliers in Ireland
      Hugs, Keta

  9. / Reply

    Does anyone know who the momma and daddy is for the pretty red horse that is always in the photos with 12Z?

    • / Reply

      Tressia,
      We don’t know who any of 12Z’s playmates are. The owners have to be willing to share the info before it could be passed along to us. We’ve been trying to find out for months who a really pretty one with a crescent shaped mark on his forehead is – no luck!
      Sandy

  10. / Reply

    Hay List an entrant for the Challenge Stakes on Saturday!

    Sean Cosgrove (Skysportsradio) has just talked with John McNair, trainer of Hay List. John is very happy with the way the horse went in track work today – he has pulled up well wind wise, according to John, is currently 606 kilos, John is increasing his work load rather than cutting back on his food because, to quote John “this would make him very unhappy with me”. Hay List ran at 616 kilos in the Lightning Stakes. Following vets advice, John will keep up the poultice on his near hind hoof – the vet believes this won’t soften the foot, but will certainly do it no harm. All the connections are hoping for is a fine day Saturday.

    Just hope all goes really well for this brave warrior horse – he’s put up with a lot. Hugs, KathyR

  12. / Reply

    Hello Prince Z:
    Well I don’t know how I managed to forget your birthday,but sadly I did. All I can say is shame on me. I am sure you had a great time celebrating with all your friends.

    I remember this time last year when we were all glued to the computer waiting for you to arrive. How exciting it was.

    So Z even though this wish is arriving late it is no less sincere. l wish you a Very Happy Belated Birthday and much success in the coming years. We’ll be watching. Everything you will do will be terrific!

    Much love and good luck to you!

    Love
    Linda

  14. / Reply

    Rachel Alexandra Progressing Well After Abscess
    by Press Release | 03.11.2013 | 9:45pm The Paulick Report
    Rachel Alexandra is healing well following a surgical procedure performed Thursday, March 7th to drain an abscess that developed adjacent to her reproductive tract and rectum.
    Veterinarians at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital are pleased that her appetite is ‘even more voracious’ to start the week, and her attitude and vital signs remain normal.
    Rachel remains under close observation at Rood & Riddle.
    This Wednesday marks one month since the 2009 Horse of the Year underwent abdominal surgery to remove a damaged section of colon following the birth of her filly by Bernardini on February 12th.
    http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/rachel-alexandra-progressing-well-after-abscess/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

      • / Reply

        Dear Keta: Thanks for the Rachael update – am keeping St Francis on permanent watch with her (and an eye on the magical Zenyatta, of course) until this problem time is passed. Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta:

      Thanks for the photo of Unbidled’s Heart filly. Love the way mom is hugging her.

      Also, thanks for the update on RA. Power Up Girl. Hugs, JB

  18. / Reply

    Royal Delta (5-Year-Old Mare) Workout
    Date: March 10, 2013
    Track: PAYSON PARK TRAINING CENTER
    Distance: Five Furlongs
    Time: 1.00:40 Breezing
    Track Condition: Fast
    Surface: Dirt
    Rank: 1/5

  22. / Reply

    Getting to be time for foal watch in earnest. If she delivers two weeks early, it could be any day now. Sweet Zenny and baby have a peaceful calm day.

    • / Reply

      Sheena. -12C is very cold. I hope that it is warmer during the day. Kauto tweeted that Denman is parading at Cheltenham today. He refers to The Tank as another living legend and ex next door neighbor. Neigh!

      • / Reply

        Sheena, Max & those interested: Here are the replays from Cheltenham, Day One. (Horses fell but you don’t see that & none were seriously injured.) Just scroll down to see the GREAT Quevega (Mill Reef’s great granddaughter) who has now won 5 consecutive jump races and has thus equalled the 1931 record of Golden Miller, albeit he (Golden M.) ran in different races. Quevega has been crowned the “Queen of Cheltenham.” She won in Zenyatta-like fashion. Also watch the great Hurricane Fly (now a 2-time winner of this event) and the younger, brilliant Simonsig:
        http://www.youtube.com/feed/subscriptions?feature=mhee

    • / Reply

      Dear Max and Z Fans:

      What a great article on Tapit and what a pedigree. Can you imagine the potential 13Z will have with Z’s genes added to the mix. Wow. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        JudyB. Don’t you just love that photo of Flash? Those gray horses are special.

        Yes, Tasty, I’m talking about you too. Hope everything is going well for you.

    • / Reply

      Max,
      Not that I know much about pedigrees but do think the Zenyatta genes will add stamina
      to the Pulpits. We know our girl could get the mile and a quarter and alot of the Pulpits seem to be better suited to the shorter distances.

  25. / Reply

    March Madness this and that:
    Given that we like to “celebrate” here when possible, I thought I would pass along a couple of congratulations in the college basketball world because we’ve got some serious fans here.
    First of all, congrats to Debbie G’s KY Wildcats for their big win over Florida last Saturday! Maybe they will wind up tournament bound after all.
    Then, mega congratulations to the Lady Bears of Baylor for their Big 12 Tournament win last night. Super fans Barbara Wood and her hubby were there to cheer them on!
    A few conference tournaments this weekend, and then on to the NCAA!

    • / Reply

      Dear Sandy,

      I join you in congratulations for Baylor and Barbara and Alan Wood. My beloved Ky Wildcats are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. This is an exciting time of year: Basketball tournaments, awaiting foal births and anticipation of the Triple Crown. Cant hardly keep up with it all, but it sure is fun.

    • / Reply

      Thank you., Sandy, Trina, and Darlene. Congrats to Debbie too on the KY victory.

      Not only that, but our own Sandy from NE Ohio is also a huge fan of the Duke boys’ team. Way to go, all! Zenny would approve of excellence in any sport, we think.

    • / Reply

      March Madness!! Yeah!!
      With new fuzzy foals,b-ball and to top it off the Easter Bunny!
      Good luck to all teams, horse racing and b-ball.
      Sandy is thinkin #1!!!!!!! One Shining Moment…my favorite part.

  27. / Reply

    dear max and Abigail it was a great day for ruby walsh and trainer willie mullins a treblethe covers went down the moment racing ended frost again tonight quevega is a brilliant mare only runs once or twice a season did,nt know she was the mighty mill reef,s great granddaughter was also wonderful to see hurricane fly regain his hurdle crown maybe his sire montjeu was looking down at him.
    yes denman was there parading today he looks wonderful am sure kauto was watching on his flat screen tv in the warmth of his stable!! neigh sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena & Max: This was my FIRST Cheltenham Festival! I found a free live streaming channel and, apart from weird ads that kept popping up, I saw it all in real time. So exciting! Just couldn’t believe it! And although I’m delighted for Simonsig and the fabulous Hurricane Fly, my heart went to Quevega. Didn’t know she only races a couple of times a year but fair enough — she’s no youngster. But what a GREAT GREAT mare. It was just thrilling to watch her.

      And tomorrow….the fantastic Sprinter Sacre.

      I can hardly wait !!!!

      • / Reply

        Sheena and Abigail. Kauto was watching his flat screen. He tweeted that the secret is out: he loves Quevega. He has excellent taste.

        I’m hoping that all of the horses, at what Kauto calls the Cheltfest, come safely home. I am always nervous during those jump races.

    • / Reply

      Kathy R. Nelly needs a personal assistant to keep track of her schedule. She’s as busy as Kauto Star with off track/training dates.

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