Sparking Thoughts & Spots

"Mark This Spot"

Hello Blog fans (all 2 of you). Here's what's happening. Charm is definitely pregnant, and Dr. Smith has picked up a heartbeat. The pregnancy is coming along as expected.

I understand our best window to try to determine the foal's sex is between 60 and 75 days into the pregnancy. This is because of the way the foal will be situated at that point. Opinions on whether we should find out the baby's sex? I'm thinking no, but I can be persuaded. Anyway, I've been studying up on the genetics of color in horses. Apparently there are only two main color genes in horses -- black (which includes bay) and red. Bo is hybrid (black is dominant), and Charm is probably also hybrid. So, the likelihood is that the foal's coloring will be bay or buckskin (which fall under the black gene as evidenced by the black points and socks). There is a small chance of a black or a red (chestnut).

Reading material
of choice!

The foal will definitely be a tobiano paint because Bo is homozygous for the tobiano gene. Tobianos typically have four white socks/legs and have white across the back with irregular patches, and colored head with perhaps a blaze, strip, snip or star. Bo has the "paw prints" typical of a homozygous tobiano -- Charm does not, which is understandable because her sire was a bay tobiano (gorgeous - Mark This Spot) but her dam (Blond Lynx) was a palomino. When we get closer, we'll have to start a pool on birth date, gender (if we don't find out in advance), and color. I have a textbook, if anyone wants to borrow it. (I'm serious.) (Mark This Spot an be seen at www.havertyranch.com) Charm has been recovering from a hoof abscess and she seems to be enjoying her little vacation. She certainly has not lost her appetite. This morning she nearly broke the gate off the stall trying to get an apple. I guess it will take time for her hoof to heal. I'm just as happy hanging out at the barn as I am riding, but maybe next weekend take out a loaner.

Sweet Pippin

I do have some sad news (which most of you know already). My horse Pippin passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was 29 years old (I bought him in 1987) but he was having a great retirement at the Hargrove/Grover farm (my cousins') in Bridgewater, Connecticut. Unfortunately he seems to have gotten something lodged in his esophagus, and the vet couldn't clear it. He was in severe distress, and we had to make that tough call. I will always think of Pippin as my equine soulmate -- he was always able to make me feel better when I was blue or things in life were difficult, and he knew when I was feeling good, he could act up a little and make me laugh. Auntie Claire (my long time half-boarder and close friend) and I loved you, Pip - rest in peace, buddy. And special thanks to my Women's Weekend girlfriends for getting me through a very sad time.

Dad & Mom :)

There was a concept my mother used to talk about which I thought was a Jewish thing but she could have made it up, because I can't find any hint of it on the internet. She used to say that one life is sacrificed for another, so that second life and soul could carry on. Well, perhaps there is some connection between Pippin and Charm's foal. I can only hope that the foal has a spark of Pippin's spirit. Baby Pippin perhaps? We'll see.

Not sure when the next vet check will be but I'll be back. Stay tuned.

- Amy