An orphan colt whose mother died shortly after giving birth has a new mom – a mare that had tragically lost her foal – thanks to the generosity of strangers and Washington State University veterinarians playing matchmaker.
Pairing an orphan foal and a nursing mare is a challenging task and one that commonly ends with failure. In this case, the connection was instantaneous.
“The mare had only been without a foal for about 24 hours,” Dr. Lisbeth Matthews, an equine medicine and surgery intern, said. “We walked her into the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and past him. He made a noise, and she went, ‘oh, there’s my foal,’ and started making noises back at him.”
It was a surprise to everyone how quickly the mare, named Shelly but affectionally called Mama by her owners, Roy and Faye Lions, accepted the colt. Equine veterinarian Jenifer Gold, who was helping to care for the foal and to supervise its introduction to the mare, said nursing mares frequently reject orphan foals, and when they don’t, the pairing process often takes days.
“She walked in and started nickering at him like it was her own baby – it was unbelievable,” Gold said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I have never seen it happen that way.”
The foal, which has been named Laredo, was admitted to the teaching hospital by his owner, Spokane resident Rachel Williams, just days after he was born when he started showing troubling digestive issues. Shortly after the colt arrived in Pullman, Faye Lions placed a call to WSU to see if the equine team was aware of any orphan colts needing a nursing mare.
“Our foal was dead, and nothing was going to bring it back, so we were hoping we could help someone else,” Faye Lions said. “It just so happened there was a foal there.”
A day later, the colt and Shelly were introduced.
“For them to be so willing to basically hand over their animal to a complete stranger after experiencing their own tragedy was pretty phenomenal,” Williams said. “I feel like in this scenario it was the worst of the worst for everybody, but there was a little bit of silver lining to the story.”
Williams is also grateful for the care and treatment she and her foal received at WSU.
“I just can’t even find words to say how great the veterinarians at WSU were,” she said. “They went above and beyond. I am just happy I ended up at WSU. I am so glad we were able to match those two up – it is kind of a miracle.”
Shelly will live with Williams until the colt is ready to be weaned, likely in six months, before she will return to her home in Kamiah, Idaho.
“It will be tough to say goodbye because you just naturally start to bond with animals, and she has kind of been my lifesaver,” Williams said. “It will be bittersweet for sure, but I am sure her owners will be happy to have her back.”
During the spring, the equine team at WSU typically sees at least a handful of orphan foals. Equine medicine specialist Dr. Macarena Sanz said orphan foals can be fed a powdered milk formula designed for horses, but those raised by humans typically develop behavioral issues that can become problematic as the animal matures.
“They turn out to be socially weird, have no understanding of personal space, and they are more difficult to train,” WSU equine veterinarian Macarena Sanz said. “The fact that this orphan foal has a mare is really going to make a difference.”
Sanz strongly encourages owners to immediately call their veterinarian if a foal is orphaned, as early care is critical to the animal’s survival.
Woman Proves That String Bikinis Are Suitable for All Ages, But Some People Are Furious
Elle Anthony, a 53-year-old woman, is on a mission to enhance women’s self-confidence and inspire them to embrace their bodies, regardless of age or shape. In a recent TikTok video, she conveyed a sincere message about body positivity. Nevertheless, some individuals online promptly voiced contrasting opinions.
She radiates confidence.
In her TikTok clip, Elle conveyed to her followers that societal norms dictating who can or cannot wear small swimsuits are irrelevant. She initiated her message by stating that summer is here, and there’s constant discussion about preparing for a summer beach body.
She emphasized the importance of living in the present, highlighting that one’s mindset truly matters, not worries about appearance. She addressed her audience, stating that if you’re prepared to hit the beach without reservations about your appearance in a bathing suit, surf shorts, or swim shorts, you’re all set for your summer beach body.
Choose outfits that bring you joy.
The content creator continued motivating her audience to choose their attire freely, declaring, “Wear that bikini, wear that G-string, wear those short shorts, whatever you’re into. This is your summer.”
Anthony further urged her female followers to embrace freedom and empowerment, advising them to dismiss external pressures associated with aging. She underscored that society imposes criticisms, labels, and standards on us, ones we never sought.
She divided the internet.
This fabulous lady remains steadfast in adhering to this principle, proudly displaying her body in bold clothing and bikinis without compromise. While many of her online followers applaud and support her stance, others hold differing opinions and engage in trolling.
For instance, one person remarked, “[…] no human ever needs to wear a ’G-string’ at the beach. Having confidence doesn’t require you to dress inappropriately. Dress modestly and have fun at the beach.” At the same time, another noted, “No thanks. I have seen enough.”
Someone else explained that what we wear should depend on our shape.
We celebrate the fabulousness of every woman who embraces her comfort in her own skin and confidently displays her beauty. At 74, this remarkable lady exemplifies that it’s never too late to captivate the world with one’s physique. Check this article if you want to find out her story!
Preview photo credit elleanthony52 / TikTok, elleanthony52 / TikTok
Leave a Reply