20 August 2025
WE HAVE A FOAL!!
After what has felt like the longest countdown in history, Winnie decided that Tuesday night was finally the time. At around 11pm on 12th August, just one day past her due date, she delivered a strong and healthy chrome filly.
True to form, Wenever Winifred kept us guessing right to the end. She’d been looking nearly there for what felt like forever… waxy for over a week and running milk for five days! We did have Sarah from Hook Norton Vets out on day 4 just to check all was well as things didn’t seem to be progressing. Thankfully the verdict was reassuring: foal alive, all looking good, and things seemed close. It was just a case of letting nature take its course.
In those final days, every visit felt like it could be the one. I’d give her a groom, hand over her Equiglo minty treats, and drive home wondering if, by the time I came back, there’d be an extra little nose trying to peek over the stable door.
I won’t lie, the waiting just about broke me. I wasn’t really sleeping, instead lying awake convinced I could hear phantom buzzes from my phone. Every ping, every vibration, my heart jumped. I kept imagining Sian’s name flashing up with the call. It’s amazing what a sleep-deprived brain can conjure when you’re living on tenterhooks. And yet, even my delirium couldn’t have come close to what Sian herself went through with her frequent checks throughout the night for such a long period of time.
I honestly can’t thank her enough. Handing over Winnie for foaling was always going to be nerve-wracking, she’s been with me for over nine years and this was her first foal, but the care and attention she’s had at Hill View has been incredible. Knowing she’s in expert hands has really allowed me to breathe a little. As well as making it possible for me to survive the wait without completely losing my mind (though I came close). And I’ll never forget the first time I saw Etty during that video call not long after she arrived. I may have been in shock and only managing extremely incoherent noises, but it truly was precious.
Now, a few days in, both Win and baby are thriving. Winnie has taken to motherhood like a pro (after a couple of minor teething, quite literally 👀, issues), and Etty is already showing off her wild side along with a VERY healthy appetite. Despite Winnie running milk for so long beforehand, her IgG levels came back over 1000 - a huge relief, and proof that she’d got everything she needed from that all-important first lotta milk.
That said, patience is not her strong suit. Once she’s buzzed Win dry, waiting for it to replenish is apparently the most offensive thing in the world. Cue much dramatic bucking around the stable and even kicking at Winnie’s knee mid-feed!
How dare mum not have milk on tap?! She really is a cheeky little monkey.
It still feels a bit surreal, but I honestly couldn’t be happier. She’s everything I wanted and more. Feeling very lucky right about now.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be busy playing paparazzi to one very cheeky little chestnut!
Leah x
Back to Brand Ambassadors