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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

    Thank you so much for the new foaling information for Zenyatta and so glad that she is doing so good. I also want to say thanks for the pictures of Z12 playing in the snowand to say he is really getting big and looks so like his MOM. Will be anxious to see what her next foal will be and expect that will be soon. Thinking of Zenny every day and love her as much as ever,it looks like she is on her way to raising a beautiful Family. Love and kisses to all. Irene in Lake Elsinore, Ca.

  2. / Reply

    Dr. Martinez, you provided us with some great information with today’s blog. Do you ever get excited just being around our Zenny? I swear, if I could have the opportunity to touch her I would probably shake from head to toe.
    Alys, thank you for the gorgeous pics. Have that camera ready when 13Z comes into the world. Everyone is getting sooooooooooooo excited.

  4. / Reply

    to lane’s end thank for the wonderful care you give zenyatta and all the information from dr Martinez our queen is in such good hands as for the birthday boy he looks more like his mum than ever thanks for the gorgeous pics am sure he’ll have a great day tomorrow hugs to all sheenaXX

  5. / Reply

    Place me among those who are pleased to see Zenyatta in wonderful health and breathlessly awaiting an announcement of Z12’s registered name.

  6. / Reply

    Thank.s so very much for all the care you take with ALL the babies. Love hearing all of the information………… made MY day. Totally to apprecate the time you take on these updates AND just love the pictures.

  7. / Reply

    Dear Keta,
    Thanks, for letting all of us see him, you are a great reporter.
    Big hug to all. Ingrid.

  8. / Reply

    Just received an email from Old Friends saying they are going to be featured on RFD TV tonight at 9:30 for anyone interested. Hugs

    • / Reply

      Dear Sue Fredrick:

      Thanks for sharing this info on Old Friends. Would love to have seen the show, but I don’t get that channel. Hugs, JB

  9. / Reply

    Look at that boy!! He sure looks like Mom and, he’s getting so big! Loved seeing these photos and reading about the process. Thank you! Prince, tomorrow is a big day for you, enjoy and eat lots of treats.

  10. / Reply

    Zenyatta was not named until she was in training. I suspect Jerry and Ann will do the same with 12Z.

    Lane’s End thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of our queen. I’m thinking that Jerry and Ann will be there wekk before 13Z’s birth. Can’t wait!!!

  11. / Reply

    Mama Z, can’t wait for the new princess. (I think it’s a girl too)

    Prince Z is getting so big! He’s going to be a biggin’!

  12. / Reply

    glad all is going well with Zenyatta Can hardly wait for 13Z Love the snowy pics with 12Z and buddy That buddy is a looker too They look like a fun pair to take care of

  13. / Reply

    Wonderful! Thank you for all the very detailed information and also for the delightful photos of 12Z.

  14. / Reply

    Thanks to all for the great information & BEAUTIFUL pictures. My daughter’s mare is due any time now so your vet info is very helpful. Thanks for the postings, now for the Queens next production !!!!!

  15. / Reply

    Lane’s End Team
    You do such a terrific job of keeping us informed.
    And, you communicate so a lay man can understand.
    Thank you once again for walking us through the process.
    Keta

  16. / Reply

    Jockey Calvin Borel claims career win No. 5,000
    The Associated Press – 9 minutes ago
    HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Jockey Calvin Borel has claimed career win No. 5,000 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
    Borel picked up the win Thursday aboard Hezunusal in the sixth race.
    The Oaklawn racing season began in January with Borel at 4,999 wins, but the rider broke his wrist days before the meet opened. He returned in February, but couldn’t come up with a winner until Thursday.
    A three-time Kentucky Derby winner, Borel becomes the 26th North American jockey with 5,000 wins.
    Keta Note; It about 20 mins by now : )

  17. / Reply

    Beautiful Zenny, being a true desert rat, all I could think of looking at your handsome son playing in the snow was “brrrrrrrr”! But it must be spring, yes? Why else would there be so many butterflies in my tummy right now?

    New moon on the 11th, Spring equinox on the 20th, full moon on the 27th. Pace, pace, pace – – – is it a filly yet?

    Fabulous photos – again – Alys! And thank you Dr. Martinez for the great foaling refresher course!

    Auntie diastu in tempe – pacing pacing pacing

    • / Reply

      Diana
      That’s right – a Full Moon on the 27th – here we go again LOL Are we going to be on the phone again until all hours :-)

      ♥ Grearing up to Pace Auntie Judy

      • / Reply

        Auntie JAG, Hopefully I won’t be trying to text with you, look at the full moon, and drive on the freeway at the same time this time! Yikes! But that WAS a very special evening, that is for sure.

        diastu in tempe

  18. / Reply

    Thank you for the lessons on foal prep as well as the pictures of Z12 and his chestnut buddy. I know our Queen will be well taken care of when her time comes.

    I know you won’t tell, but would love to know the id of Z junior’s playmate. I zoomed and enlarged and tried everything I could think of to read his tag. You can sure tell by the ears, if nothing else, which one is Z12.

  19. / Reply

    Thank you for the information, and for the lovely pictures. Z12 looks like his mama, definitely got her ears, I sure hope (fingers crossed) he has her racing ability and heart and sense of humor and showmanship. When will he get a name??? I am so excited to know the Queen is getting closer to her due date and has such awesome care. Thank you for all you do for the horses in your care and thank you for sharing Lane’s End with us. Hugs to the Queen and 12Z from Nashville, Tennessee.

  20. / Reply

    Thank You LEF for this informative post! It is Great that you take the time along with others to teach/inform us of how things work on a breeding farm. I am so looking forward to our Z foaling. I am hoping for a Princess this time around. HUGS TO ALL

  21. / Reply

    Stonestreet just posted that Rachel had an abcess drained today. Sounds as if she did not have as good a week as we hoped.

    Thank God our Queen is so healthy.

    • / Reply

      Rachel Alexandra Develops Abscess, Procedure To Drain Successful
      March 7, 2013: Lexington, KY:
      Rachel Alexandra underwent a surgical procedure at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital this afternoon to drain an abscess discovered this morning. Though her road toward recovery remains remarkable following abdominal surgery performed on February 13th, this is an important reminder that challenges remain.
      http://www.stonestreetfarms.com/info/?page_id=144

    • / Reply

      Hooves crossed and candles being lit that this is just a minor set back, kinda like some that Paynter had. We love you girl!

      diastu in tempe

  24. / Reply

    Zenny, there’s no doubt about it…you are getting the outstanding care at LE that you reserve. Even the doctor calls you “Queen”. And, that kid of yours looks like he’s following in your hoofprints. The “ears” are a giveaway that he belongs to you.
    Hoping 13Z comes on time and with little effort on your part. Now, the waiting begins.

  25. / Reply

    Thanks to all for the great information and pictures. If anyone had any doubt about the care Lanes End provides to our Zenny and all the expectant mares in their care, they must be put aside. I’m in awe of the care given.

  26. / Reply

    Will the Mosses be present for this birth like they were for 12Z’s? It was really special, to see them with Zenny after the foaling – Ann lying in the hay next to 12Z, Zenny not worried at all about Ann being there…just shows the wonderful bond between Zen and her family.

  28. / Reply

    What a wonderful, informative update. Thanks to all involved with this blog. Don’t know what I’d do without it. Cyber kiss to QueenZ. Love you!

  29. / Reply

    Dear Zenny and Team Z – hard to believe that time is already so near. We are so excited and cannot wait to see 13Z in all her/his glory. And photos of you being Mom again – we can only imagine will be precious!

    Happy Birthday, tomorro/Friday, to 12Z. That seems like yesterday when we say the short video of you, 12Z, and your owners – such a beautiful time.

    We send our love and good wishes (and treats when you are ready). George and Linda

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