13 Sep 2009
Losing a mare is a huge blow for any breeder, but through the hard work of the Waikato Branch of the Foster Foal service and kindness of those involved in the breeding industry, be it thoroughbreds or otherwise, a happy ending has been achieved for one orphan foal at Cambridge Stud.
A few months ago
This month he's ruing the loss of Altered Image's dam, Dented Ambition.
Having foaled normally and produced a healthy bay colt by Any Suggestion at Cambridge Stud, Dented Ambition unfortunately died from unforeseen complications.
Enter Fairlight Dawn, an 11 year old Clydesdale mare, who sadly had lost her own foal a few days earlier.
Owner of Fairlight Dawn, Michael Bent of Te Awamutu says although he had never used the foster foal service himself, "I knew people that had. We all love our horses and you seize the opportunity to help out if you can".
Fairlight Dawn ended up at Cambridge Stud and a successful union between mare and foal developed.
Cambridge Stud staff report Fairlight Dawn is a great mum and very protective of her newly acquired foal.
Dean Hawthorne is grateful for the service. "There is nothing worse than an orphan foal, they are much better off being raised naturally," he says.
For Michael Bent he is "very happy" to be part of the successful result. He described Fairlight Dawn as a very good "furrow horse and honest worker", words not normally words associated with thoroughbreds.
For one little colt and one big mare, breeding and looks don't matter. But a happy ending does!