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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

  2. / Reply

    dear judy you’ve certainly got 2 feisty girls angela is brilliant with them you never know when to expect the temper tantrums glad everything ended happily love and hugs sheena
    @max thanks for the video they even used hair extensions on his mane and hairspray he hasn’t let fame go to his head his hooves are planted firmly on the ground hugs sheena

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      Angela really is great with horses. She loves them and they know it. These two girls were confined to stalls for 22 hours every day and only allowed two hours of freedom in the paddock. So they are really enjoying their lives now. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        JudyB. When Angela looked after all of the horses on her own during the snow storm, it was pretty clear that she is devoted to her horses. The girls know what they can get away with, as does PC. Jumping in the pond and grabbing a hat are memories that make me laugh. Really thank you for telling us these stories.

        • Dear Max:

          You’re so welcome. I’m really glad you enjoy them as much as I do. Can’t get over the antics and the different personalities. Hugs, JB

        • Agree,Max.
          Judy B. your stories are delightful and that Papa Charlie seems to have a “Silly Bug”! Horses are great.
          Hope HT is OK after an early start to the swimming season?

  4. / Reply

    Paul Messara‏ tweets
    ORTENSIA has come through Newmarket without harm.
    She will return to Sydney to race. She still wants to be a racehorse

    The day Ortensia has had enough, she will be retired.
    But that day has not come.
    Excessive interference last sat was the only difference.

  5. / Reply

    Zenny how is you well, walk on air and warm in sun, 12z when run very very fast, be carefull, then have rest, walk in paddock with your mates, growing bones are not enough stable, Zenny and 12z kiss you love you

  7. / Reply

    Dear Keta,
    Thanks for the link! Baby Bird’s Tiz Wonderful colt is very cute and is a pretty color, too!
    Love to see the babies!
    Cheers

    • / Reply

      Marshall
      Ramsey Farm & Lane’s End have darling foal photos in their Facebook albums.
      Worth the look
      It’s that time of year!
      Hugs, Keta

  8. / Reply

    To Zenny, 12Z, LE and all Z’sters:

    Goodnight and sweet dreams! Have a wonderful Monday!

    I will try to turn in early tonight to offset the time change — it will be dark at “getting up” time in the AM. I miss Standard Time already.
    Nightie-night!!

    • / Reply

      I’ve seen many Zombies walking around this AM,Marshall.
      Hope you are adjusting! One more coffee,please.

      • / Reply

        Dear Ann, Max and Marshall: Understand how you feel with losing that hour – always feel jet-lagged during Daylight Saving Time – we go back to the “proper” time on April 1, but are getting up in the dark here to go for our morning dog walk. With the long dark winters you folk have can understand the adjustment thing with the clock, but here, where there is just so much sun it always seems a bit pointless to me. There, I’ve had my cranky old lady rant for the day! Take care people, and enjoy the coming summer (and hope it’s not too hot). Hugs, KathyR.

        • Thanks, Kathy R.!
          The days are getting much longer now so I really don’t understand why we change to Daylight Saving Time. With summer about to pounce, the days will be unmercifully hot, humid and long so why add the length? I think we should just stick to natural time — there, I have had my rant, also!
          Take care and lots of hugs :-)

  9. / Reply

    Thinking of you Zenny as you get close to foaling. My prayers and love for you, 13Z, and of course, the irrepressible 12Z!

  10. / Reply

    For those of you who want to get into the proper mood for Zenny’s next birth, go to youtube and watch the videos last year of her and Baby Z12 with The Mosses. Just have a kleenex handy…so sweet. Hope to see similar videos sgain this time.

  16. / Reply

    Thanks so much for the info on foaling time at Lane’s End. I wish I could remember Zenyatta’s due date, but alas, I’ve forgotten. Does anyone else know??

    Prince Z looks wonderful and feisty and big and full of himself. I’m curious how he will do in training and on the track, but we must wait patiently (or not :) In the meantime, we have Eblouissante to follow and of course we’re waiting for Zennie’s next baby. I wonder if she’ll throw a gray this time…. Thanks again for all the info from Lane’s End, it is much appreciated.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sue M:

      Someone posted (think it was Keta) that Z’s due date is end of March. Think they allow for two weeks either way, early or late. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Actually Judy B,
        No one knows Z’s actual due date,
        Someone got miss information and said
        She was Bred March 31 (Laura J), 2012.
        which according to the goal calculator, makes
        Her due date March 7, 2013 last week.

        Let’s just say it is going to be a surprise as LE
        And The Mosses know her real date of breeding.

        • Dear CS:

          I guess we’ll just have to wait and, as you say, be surprised. Can’t wait to see Z’s beautiful new baby. Hugs, JB

  17. / Reply

    I was thinking about Mr Besilu as he had not run yet and he is a 4 year old.
    Just found out he will be running in a maiden mid year another late bloomer from A P Indy, and mum Balance who we all know is Z’s sister

    Donna

    • / Reply

      Thank goodness Bill Mott has taken over his
      training, great patient trainer. If they are not talented
      Right away TP puts them on the shelve.

    • / Reply

      Max,
      FAO Swartz could make a keyboard for,Kauto. A huge keyboard that would be on the ground,like the piano keys they had in their NYC toy store.
      I think K would love it. No telling what he would tweet using that?

      • / Reply

        Dear Max and Z Fans:

        Wonderful video on KS. Makes me so happy to see him and his team promoting the fact that TB’s have the ability to rehab to other careers after racing. They reference in this video that about 1000 UK TBs are killed at slaughter every year. Believe the number is much higher for US TBs.

        KS is doing great work as an example of what retired Thoroughbreds can do. Thanks for sharing, Max.Hugs, JB

  19. / Reply

    THAT sounds like a wonderful day! Wish I could go.
    Max, Kauto is funny. I love him. Such a happy horse.

    • / Reply

      Ann. He does seem to be a happy horse. Kauto reminds me of Z. He adjusts to everything with ease, and gets on with it to the highest standard. She’s a pro and so is Kauto. Both are champions and icons.

      Yes, a giant keyboard would help with those supersized hooves.

    • / Reply

      Sheena. Yes, I saw that Kauto tweeted that news. Trying to find the Racing Post article on it. Kauto deserves this award. Heard also that it is snowing in London. Hope you have better weather in Wales.

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta:

      Thank you for this photo and all the wonderful photos you post of these adorable Moms and Babies. Hugs, JB

  22. / Reply

    VERRAZANO IN WOOD? Jay Privman‏ DRF tweet
    Pletcher said this morning it is “90-percent certain”
    Verrazano would use Wood Memorial as final Ky. Derby prep.
    #kyderby #derbywatch

  23. / Reply

    TrakusRacing tweet How fast did Fort Larned “run” in the Gulfstream Park Handicap?
    We have the data – and it’ll come soon in our @ABRLive blog. Stay tuned

    Keta Note: Here is the Blog. Has charts. Very interesting read. Below are excerpts.
    .
    So How Fast Did Fort Larned Run?
    Blog-Gambling Pat Cummings 3-10-2013 America’s Best Racing
    Excerpts from Blog
    Yes, Fort Larned led Discreet Dancer and the rest of the field by more than 25 lengths around the far turn. He ran a rider-less six furlongs in 1:08.04 – the course record at that specific distance is 1:08.12, set by Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Big Drama in 2011. As the far turn ended, Fort Larned clocked 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.27, 0.17 seconds faster than Forest Danger’s 2005 record at that distance. Slowing in the stretch after his monumental, and eventful, sprint, the son of E Dubai ran seven furlongs in 1:20.59 – just 0.14 seconds slower than the 2011 record set by Hilda’s Passion. His final “time” for the mile came in 0.18 seconds slower than Commentator’s 2008 mark.
    After countless hours reviewing data, we cannot recall a time where we saw a horse run a sub five-second sixteenth, as Fort Larned did just before hitting the far turn. Then again, no one had ever seen a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner run rider-less and care free, 25 lengths in front of an accomplished group. Take note of the comparison to Fort Larned’s times and those of the leader at each main point of call.
    Lest we forget, Discreet Dancer won the race
    http://www.followhorseracing.com/en/the-latest/blogs/2013/03/11/so-how-fast-did-fort-larned-run/

      • / Reply

        Keta. Should have typed like a bat out of hell. EDT to blame! Still happily amazed by Fort. He was running free and he knew it. Kind of makes you wonder who should be calling the shots on race tactics. These horses are super intelligent.

    • / Reply

      You know what I am going to say. Makes MMM look better and better with his close second in the Breeders Cup. When he retires, I will stop talking about him so much, maybe.

      Haven’t seen any news on Rachel yet. Worried!

  25. / Reply

    RIP KAZZIA
    Michelle Kinane‏ tweet Kazzia winner of Oaks and 1kG has died after post foaling complications at Dalham Hall Stud
    Racing Post‏ tweet Godolphin’s dual Classic heroine Kazzia has died post-foaling
    in Newmarket at the age of 14
    RP Bloodstock tweet Kazzia, winner of the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks, has died
    following the birth of a Dubawi filly at Dalham Hall Stud.

    • / Reply

      Max,Judy B. and Kathy R.
      Hettie Moo is wonderful. I love the Belted Bovines. If my crowd sees this,I know they will want to start driving a cart too!
      Thanks,Max.

  27. / Reply

    Such sad news about Kazzia. Foaling can be so dangerous. Just look at Rachel. I hope and pray that Z doesn’t have any complications. RIP Kazzia.

    I just read on the Paulick Report that Adalin Wichman passed away yesterday. I was lucky enough to be her letter carrier for several years. I’ll never forget the day that she invited me into her home and I looked around and she had dozens of Eclipse Awards in her living room! She preceded to tell me that she was the artist that made them and had been making them since their inception. She was such a dear, kind, classy lady. RIP Mrs. Wichman.

    • / Reply

      Dear Debbie G.:

      That’s great you got to visit with Ms. Wichman; very talented lady. RIP AW. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Ahhh! Another great “behind the scenes” and “up close and personal” treat from our videographer extraordinnaire!! Cool that you got a shot of Lava Man too! Thanks Karen! <3

      • / Reply

        Haha! It has been difficult lately with the big crowds out there to get good video at times – wish I had the ‘seat’ my sister had of Lava Man out by the tunnel – all to herself, but she had NO camera! I tried but could not get over there in time to video him. She said he was really rearing to go – guess he wanted to go to the post too.

    • / Reply

      Dear Karen:

      Love your videos. They make me feel like I’m there at the track. What an exciting finish to the San Felipe Stakes. Thank you. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thanks,Karen.
      I really enjoyed the horse on the fence and watching Ghost getting ready. Talk about a game face,wow! He was intimidating.

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