Cannon Hall Farm foal emergency brings home the emotion ahead of Springtime on the Farm show
Farmers behind one of Yorkshire’s most successful educational agricultural enterprises have underlined how emotional working in the industry after seeing a new-born foal rushed for emergency treatment.
The foal to Sapphire, matriarch of the shire horse breeding programme at Cannon Hall Farm, near Cawthorne, was born last Saturday, overseen by the attraction’s director Robert Nicholson.
He said while the birth had come as the farm was preparing for a new series of Channel 5 show Springtime on the Farm “it was a huge moment for the farm and something all our fans and followers have been really looking forward to”.
He said: “When the foal was first born, everything appeared to go wonderfully well - she was born naturally, this grey filly was just what we dreamed of having, she suckled and everything went as well as it could have done. We were very content and went to bed happy farmers.”
However, the following morning, during a live broadcast on the farm’s Facebook page, the foal was suddenly taken ill with a significant colic. Within half an hour the animal was taken to Rainbow Equine hospital in Malton for emergency treatment.
Mr Nicholson added: “We thought everything was going seamlessly well, but quite often with farming, something is there to bring you straight back down to earth. This has been a bolt from the blue and all you can do is react to events to be in with a fighting chance of saving the foal. When you see an animal like that, so beautiful but in so much pain, its an awful thing to see - it’s a baby with tummy ache, it doesn’t understand what’s happening.”
The incident came just months ater their champion of the future Shire horse stallion, Herkules, suffered a sudden colic, resulting in a blockage and damage to his intestines and was also rushed to the hospital. He underwent emergency surgery, but sadly died.
Mr Nicholson said: “It’s really difficult to take in, heartbreaking is an easy word to say but we just can’t believe it. Losing him has floored us but the sympathy and good wishes that have flowed in our direction have helped ease the pain a little.”
Sapphire and the foal are still at Rainbow Equine being treated for Dummy Foal Syndrome - a rare occurrence which sometimes occurs where the foal doesn’t realise it has been born.
While healthy foals are active one to two hours after birth and stay close to the mare, nursing within three hours, ones suffering from the syndrome are often detached, disoriented, unresponsive, confused, and have trouble nursing. The unusual treatment offered includes the experts vets wrapping the foal tightly and then releasing the ropes, in a move meant to simulate the feeling of being born again. It is hoped the foal’s natural instrict might kick in - as it triggers the brain.
Mr Nicholson added: “The foal is stable but does have a number of health conditions, because it can’t suckle properly it has been inhaling the milk, which caused significant pneumonia and it has infection in umbilical cord too but she is in the best place.” The farm’s Shire Horse Breeding Programme featured on the ninth season of Springtime on the Farm this week.