FALL 2011 - Lake Erie College

Orphaned foal adopted by
new mother by Holly Menzie, MBA ’06
Sad stories that bring happy endings don’t
occur often enough, especially when they
involve horses. Such a story did take place this
spring and summer, however, at the George
M. Humphrey Equestrian Center and the farm
of Pamela A. Hess, D.V.M., associate professor
of equine studies.
A new foal was due to be born at the
equestrian center on Feb. 21, with the motherto-be,
T-Kal, determined to set a record for
the most sleep deprivation for the student foal
watchers. On March 20, T-Kal went into labor
during a horse show, which was highly unusual
because daytime foaling rarely takes place
during busy times. The foal was unresponsive
when born and, despite efforts to resuscitate,
did not survive.
Prissy, a mare belonging to Hess, had died of
colic 12 days earlier and had left a five-week
old foal without a mother. Hess brought the
young filly, “Prissy’s Kauai Penny,” to the
equestrian center, where she was immediately
adopted by T-Kal. Hess described the scenario
as follows:
“It was an event of tremendous sadness to
me and my husband when Prissy died while
we were away from our home and barn. It
is always so sad to lose a horse, but to have
this beautiful and sweet-tempered foal so
saddened by the loss of her mother was one
of the most depressing and emotional events
in my horse-owning career.
Six-week old Penny had a 24-year old gelding
to babysit her, but everyone could see that the
simple joy of life was gone from her. We breed
foals because we love to watch them run and
buck and play with their mothers. After Prissy
died, Penny did not play, did not run and
buck, and often walked her stall in circles.
She was existing, eating and drinking but
nothing much more than that.
When Penny met T-Kal and they called for
each other, I was so hopeful that they would
accept each other. Then when Penny began to
nurse, tears welled in my eyes. As she nursed
and nursed and bonded with her new mom, it
was a very emotional moment for me.”
T-Kal and her adopted daughter, Penny, spent
the summer together on Hess’s farm. Here
they ran and played in the sunshine, enjoying
each other’s company. Penny was weaned
from T-Kal shortly after the fourth of July, and
T-Kal was returned home to Lake Erie College
prior to her departure to a retirement home
out of state.
Hess describes the weanling Penny as follows:
“Penny is growing up to be probably the best
quality Haflinger we have ever raised. We are
very happy with her superior size and great
conformation as she grows up. Best of all, she
has retained that wonderful temperament,
exhibiting a wonderful ability to cope with new
challenges, and learn her lessons well.”
Penny was a star in Hess’s barn at the Great
Geauga County Fair from Sept. 1-5, 2011,
where everyone could come up and pet her,
fuss over her and read about her story on the
front of her stall.
The story of the loss of her mother Prissy at
five weeks of age, her wonderful adoption
by T-Kal, and the successful raising of this
purebred Haflinger filly Penny by her Swedish
Warmblood dam – this is the kind of happy
ending we all enjoy. We know Penny will
continue to be a star, and we look forward to
hearing about her future successes.
L A K E E R I E | FALL ‘11 19