New horses, new gin
Kendrick had gone to bed still savouring the newfound sense of belonging – only to be woken a few hours later, around two o’clock in the morning, by the insistent ringing of his mobile phone.
The caller was Rupert Fraser, who had a mare experiencing major difficulties with giving birth.
The usually unruffled horseman sounded rather tense, and so Kendrick found himself wide awake and in his car on the way over just five minutes later.
“Is it Artemis?” he asked as he entered the brightly lit part of the otherwise dark mare’s stable.
On the way, he had gone over all the possibilities in his mind.
The Clydesdales Rupert bred had all had their foals between March and May and without complications.
Kendrick had only been called out to have a look at the healthy new arrivals.
Artemis, however, was a famous semi-retired show jumper who had been stabled at Rupert’s for over a year now to recover from her competition days and have her first foal.
Kendrick had handled her impregnation with the frozen semen of a popular Irish stallion almost a year ago and had regularly checked up on her since.
So far, the pregnancy had gone smoothly and according to plan.
“She’s been in labour for hours, but the birth isnae getting off to a good start,” Rupert reported.
His voice sounded calm enough, but the experienced breeder couldn’t quite hide his concern.
His nerves were understandable: until last spring, Artemis had been considered the best show jumper in the country, with a monetary value over a million pounds.
But for some unknown reason, she had refused to go over a course literally overnight.
Her change of heart also threw a wedge into the career of young equestrian star Cameron Sinclair and caused quite a bit of despair among the country’s bookies.
When nothing else worked, Cameron and his horse had come to Rupert, who was considered Scotland’s best and most sensitive horse whisperer.
But even their time in the Highlands had not changed Artemis’s behaviour.
The mare was easy to ride and willingly jumped over natural obstacles but continued to refuse any manmade course.
Having ruled out any other reasons, Rupert and Cameron arrived at the conclusion that Artemis had grown tired of the show circuit and wanted time off.
Fortunately, the horse’s owners had come on board, so the mare was allowed to stay at Rupert’s and have her first foal.
After that, they would see if she would be willing to return to the sport or if the career break would actually spell her retirement.
But first things first; right now, Artemis had to give birth.
Kendrick began to methodically examine the nervous and rather exhausted horse.
He spoke to her softly and reassuringly, knowing that first-time mothers often found the process more difficult.
Some mares even panicked because they didn’t understand what was causing their pain and tensed up to a point where the additional stress hormones slowed the process down even further.
The heartbeat of Artemis’s foal was strong, its position in the birth canal textbook, and things should have taken their swift and natural course. That they hadn’t was quite surprising.
“I’ve never had a birth play out like this,” said Rupert, echoing Kendrick’s thoughts. And Rupert Fraser had certainly experienced a lot more horse births in his life than he had as a vet! “Everything looks good, but for some bloody reason the foal isnae coming.”
Kendrick stroked the mare’s quivering nostrils and went over the options.
“I don’t think it’s the foal,” he mused quietly, as if talking to himself.
“Maybe Artemis isn’t comfortable in this box?
” He looked around. The boxes in the mares’ stable were even larger than the generously sized regular boxes in the riding stable, and Artemis was in the specially prepared foaling stall.
Located at the far end of the stable, it was separated from the other boxes, even bigger and lined with plenty of soft bedding.
Anything that would help the mares relax when they went into labour.
But Artemis was different from other horses in many ways, and maybe this was also the case now.
“My mares are always happy to birth in here,” grumbled Rupert.
“Your mares don’t even need you or me to have their foals.
They mostly do it by themselves in their regular boxes or out in the pasture,” Kendrick countered.
“But Artemis is different from your mares. She’s not a calm Clydesdale, but a high-strung show jumper.
Maybe she’d do well with a bit of exercise?
Let’s take her out to a paddock or the indoor arena.
Perhaps she’s feeling too confined in here.
” It was a shot in the dark, Kendrick knew, but worth a try.
“Aye, I hear what you’re saying. But if you knew all the stipulations her owners’ lawyers made me sign to let the wee lass stay here … I hate to think what they’d have to say about all this. Maybe we’re better off staying put?”
“I don’t see a greater risk outdoors than in here.
And if she doesn’t do better outside, we’ll bring her back in and come up with a new plan.
Besides, doctor’s orders overrule lawyers’ stipulations.
” Kendrick was a little surprised by Rupert’s hesitation.
Normally the horse expert was more easy-going, but tonight, his concern for the precious animal and the fear of potential legal repercussions seemed to impact his usually sound judgement.
“Aye, you’re right. Anything’s worth a try for Artemis.” Rupert stroked the mare’s sweaty neck and attached a lead rope to her halter. “Come on, lassie, let’s get you some air.”
They led the horse to one of the sturdily fenced paddocks next to the riding arenas.
If necessary, they would be able to turn on the floodlights, but for now, the almost full moon in the clear night sky provided enough illumination.
Artemis’s movements, tense and restrained indoors, became more fluid.
“She really did need more space,” Rupert realised as the mare pulled firmly on the lead rope. He undid the snap hook and slowly returned to the fence with Kendrick.
For a while, the men observed the mare in silence as she slowly paced the paddock between contractions. She stopped every time one hit, but even then, her body language spoke to her more relaxed state. “That’s amazing. It’s really working,” Rupert said softly after a while.
“Aye, looks like it,” replied Kendrick. Even after so many years, he was still fascinated by the wonders of nature.
It had been the main reason why he had become a vet in the first place.
The fact that it was his family’s primary occupation was strong motivation too, but he was sure his parents would have supported him if he had chosen another path.
But he had never wanted to be anything else but a vet.
Not since he and Kyleen had been five years old and their da had taken the twins out to a Highland farm to vaccinate the sheep and check their hoofs.
But while they were there, a Shetland mare had gone into labour.
Kendrick remembered vividly how he had felt as a young boy, and he still felt the same way all these years later when he witnessed the birth of a foal: a mix of awe, curiosity and respect.
It never wore off; just like the joy when the new earthling had safely arrived.
Artemis still had some time to go, but his gut feeling and experience told him they would be just fine from here.
“Coffee? Tea?” asked Rupert. He must have reached the same conclusion that this would take a while still.
Kendrick checked his watch. It was approaching half past three, and an energising hot drink couldn’t hurt. “That would be great, thanks. Either is fine with me.”
Rupert went back to the house and Kendrick grabbed his warm jacket from the van.
It was quite chilly in the Highlands at this hour, even in such a mild midsummer.
He turned the collar up and buried his hands deep in his pockets.
Artemis looked more and more relaxed. She had even started to nibble on a few tufts of grass from the neighbouring paddock at the edge of the sandy field.
This was nothing to worry about either. Sometimes the contractions slowed down shortly before the actual birth so that the mother could gather her strength once more.
A few minutes later and Rupert was back, two steaming thermos mugs of tea in hand, and announced that his wife Alice would be right out with a snack.
“You didn’t have to wake her up,” muttered Kendrick and gratefully accepted the tea.
“Oh, she was up already. She has a hard time sleeping when I’m no’ in bed with her. Then she saw your car and realised there might be complications.”
“I’m not expecting any at this point,” Kendrick replied and took a sip. “Look how relaxed she is now.”
“The calm before the storm. It winnae be long now.”
They drank their tea in amicable silence, before Rupert resumed the conversation.
“I’ll admit I’m glad you’ve moved up here now, and I can assure you it’s no’ just me.
All us farmers and animal folk in the region appreciate that we dinnae have to call you or one of your sisters out anymore to drive up from Inverness. ”
“I’m glad too. Even though in this case, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“I wouldnae be so sure about that. Artemis worked herself into quite the frenzy and I dinnae know if I would have brought her out here without you around.”
“I would have arrived only 30 or 40 minutes later. It would have been fine. But it’s better this way, and it’s nice for me too not to have the longer drive. Look, I think it’s happening.”