Re: OT foaling (was OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer)
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: OT foaling (was OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer)
  • From: g*@aol.com
  • Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:36:49 -0500
As the mother of a "horse obsessed child" (now a Cornell and U of F trained
AVM Board Certified equine vet in Florida) and as teary spectator of our first
foaling event when Sue was 13 years, I also found the narrative thrilling.

Lots of correlation among ways of "growing/nurturing" all kinds of
things-plants, animals and friendships!

Rita Gormley






-----Original Message-----
From: J. Griffin Crump <jgcrump@cox.net>
To: iris@hort.net
Sent: Tue, Jan 26, 2010 4:16 pm
Subject: Re: [iris] OT foaling (was OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer)


Christian -- My g-g-g-grandfather, Alexander Breckenridge, was one of
Kentucky's early throughbred breeders. His land was where Claiborne Farms and
other farms farther west along the Lexington-Paris road now stand. I have some
of his early racing results and a long court case regarding water rights, but
your narrative depicts an experience that he must have gone through many times
and gives me a fuller appreciation of the risks and rewards of his life.
Thanks for posting it -- and Loic, thanks for asking. -- Griff

----- Original Message ----- From: "christian foster" <flatnflashy@yahoo.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 9:28 AM
Subject: Re: [iris] OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer

> Loic,
>
> Foaling out a mare is like meeting a new person at a crowded party. There >
is a lot going on all at once. You watch all night or all week as the wax > on
the udder turns watery and then milky. There is "romantic" tension as > the
mare begins to stir in her stall. You feel like an intruder when she > cocks
her ear toward every sound you make while you are just trying to get > a
better view. You hold your breath and listen with every toss of her > tail to
see if that will be the one that finally breaks her water.
>
> When the foal's hoof emerges you check to make sure the other is nearby, >
and that that softer than latex little nose is laying just behind the > knee,
and on top. When the foal finally spills out there is infatuation > with the
shape of his blaze or the fine blackness of his coat. Then there > are myriad
differences between how each foal deals with their new life. > Some jump and
squirm and whinny almost immediately and demand the milk > they know is
there...somewhere. Others must be gently coaxed by their dam > into every
wobbly attempt to find their legs.
>
> And through all of this the waiting human must remain just far enough >
outside the picture to keep track of the time, each stage must be >
accomplished within a certain window. And then, when all the t's are > crossed
and all the i's dotted, there is calm, there is nothing left to do > but go on
to bed. Tomorrow and tomorrow you can stand at the fence and > watch him as he
sleeps, or plays, or wonder at how quickly he has grown > and how big he will
grow. But it will be many years before you will know > if he is all that you
hoped for, or worthy of breeding.
>
>
> In breeding horses there is a thoughtfulness about the process of raising >
that foal. Everything you do, or don't do, in preparing to breed and in >
raising that foal will have an effect on how he fills out his genetic >
potential. Ultimately, the horse breeder uses genetics as a tape measure > to
determine the "usefulness" of a horse, but the horse is nothing if he > is
never used. He has the same needs as an iris; water, food, space, but >
ignoring them is at least cruelty.
>
> I breed irises because I love the consideration of two parents and what >
they may bring forth. I love the "what you see is what you get" quality > of
evaluating the offspring. I love that I'm the only one who gets to > decide
what has merit in my breeding program. I love the idea that if I > get bored,
or don't feel like weeding the irises this year, they will > probably make it
through anyway. I love that I can decide that I don't > like a particular
seedling and just wrench it out of the bed and toss it, > no fuss, no muss.
>
> I like the process of weeding overgrown beds and I like the process of >
planning the crosses and I like the process of watching as the seedlings >
bloom. As a matter of fact, my husband once complained, "You only like > those
irises because you like to watch things grow." I simply could not > argue the
point. But, just as simply, I cannot watch thousands of horses > grow every
year.
>
> Christian
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: loic tasquier <tasquierloic@cs.com>
> To: iris@hort.net
> Sent: Sun, January 24, 2010 5:17:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [iris] OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer
>
> Bill, can you tell us about the night you sometimes spend helping a mare >
give
> birth to her foal, and the emotion that overwhelms you on top of the >
tiredness
> ?
>
> I would imagine that compared to the adrenaline that has been pumping >
through
> your system then, the sweet shiver that gets down your spine when a new
> seedling opens must seem a bit understated to call it fun?
> So, it would be interesting to know what is it in hybridizing that still >
gets
> you so excited?
>
> Can you share this secret with us ?
>
> Loic
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bill Chaney
> To: iris@hort.net
> Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 3:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [iris] OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer
>
>
> Hi Kathy,
>
> WELCOME, I think you'll find this group friendly and helpful. I > encourage
> you to try your hand at hybridizing, nothing could be more fun (well,
> almost).
>
> Bill
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Kathy Palmer <irismilkduds@yahoo.com>
> To: Iris Digest <iris@hort.net>
> Sent: Sat, January 23, 2010 5:25:32 PM
> Subject: [iris] OT-BIO: Kathy Palmer
>
> Hello,
>
> This is my introduction to iris-digest. I grew irises in Amarillo, TX > for
> about 10 years and worked with the North Plains Iris Society; a fun and
> friendly group. I moved to Santa Fe, NM about 4 years ago and had > nowhere
> to
> grow irises until last season. So, I have about 50 new plants and am
> eagerly
> awaiting May this year. So far, it has been very difficult to get > anything
> to
> grow here. (High altitude, poor, high pH soil, cold dry winters and hot >
dry
> summers.) I've been with the Santa Fe Iris Society here and just got
> elected
> (coerced) to be VP this year. (In small groups everyone has to take a
> turn.)
> I'm hoping to retire in the next couple of years and would very much like
> to
> try some hybridizing. I have been reading 'The World of Iris' and will
> have
> many questions I'm sure.
>
> Well, I guess that's me.
> Kathy
> (Iris Milkduds)
>
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