Shepherd Farm

On the breeding farm, the February freeze, cold and snow melts and gives way to the hope of March.  March is the turning point in the season when horse blankets are put away for another year, tank heaters pulled in, and the clocks changed to give more light to our days.  March is also the month when we put the foal monitors back on the mares’ stalls and stack the sweet smelling straw in preparation for bedding down the eagerly anticipated newborn foals. 

There is hope in the air for the joy of new foals.  New sweet, soft muzzles and the natural beauty of broodmares nuzzling, deeply calling to and protecting their newborns.  There is a hint of caution mixed with the hope – some concern that the foals be born safely and thrive through that critical two week post-foaling time.

At no other time is the change in the seasons so poignant, so complete, and so hopeful as the transition from winter to spring on the breeding farm.  There is a clear shift from surviving the biting cold, dark nights of chores and endless freeze to the joy and warmth of spring with the budding flowers, warm breeze, foaling mares and new striving lives gracing our paddocks.  A welcome change indeed.