Here’s what I know for sure: one of these “remembering” blog posts is too many… but two? Losing two horses unexpectedly in less than 6 months is difficult to process. It’s devastating. It’s heartbreaking.
And losing a foal we waited nearly a year to meet? Losing a foal before we got to welcome it into the world?
I’m struggling.
But I’ve used my Instagram and my blog as a kind of “diary”, a way to look back and remember. And I think it’s important that we remember these friends we have lost. These family members we cared for, and continue to hold in our hearts.
In July 2018, Kelly and I drove round trip to Montana and back to pick up Sandra, Mama June, and Baby June to round out our broodmare band.
We were told Mama June (or MJ, as we came to know her) had been exposed to a stud but she preg checked negative. A few months later, she lost the foal we didn’t know she was carrying.
We were also told that MJ hadn’t been coddled, she was respectful but not very personable. As is usual, Kelly turned her around and quickly became “her person”. Upon weaning, we sold Baby June to a couple who periodically continues to send us updates. No surprise here – they love her!
We spent the rest of 2018 and into 2019 working on building MJ’s body back up from the loss of her foal. And in early 2019, we introduced her to Steele, our stud.
After a successful breeding, MJ got to enjoy her alfalfa, her freedom, and her scratches from Kelly.
Ever since we picked them up, at two separate ranches, MJ and Sandra were buddies.
When Ronnie was born, MJ was preparing to foal herself… her and Sandra were going to co-parent their babies together.
But late in the night/early in the morning of March 25/26, while attempting to foal, MJ passed away. She rectally prolapse before being able to bring her baby into the world. While we should have been adding a beloved member to our herd, we devastatingly lost our sweet MJ and her baby, too.
