🔹 Quick Status Overview 🔹

🐴 Elusive Surprise & Thirteen (Colt) – Day 11 – Healthy, affectionate, and full of energy. He continues to grow more curious by the day.
🐴 Lady Dyanaformer & Filly – Day 4 – A tough start, but early intervention and strong vet care may be turning the tide.
🐴 My Audubon – Day 326 – No changes. Calm and steady with foal watch prep beginning this week.

Dyana’s Filly: A Turn for the Better

After several difficult days, Dyana’s filly had her best day yet. When the Horse Husband Stables team did morning rounds, they were greeted by a very encouraging sight: a clean backside. Her diarrhea, which had been a major concern, had resolved overnight and remained gone all day. Even better, the filly’s energy levels surged—she was running, bouncing, and showing off in her stall!

📌 Fecal Test Results & Bacterial Causes
The PCR test results came back this morning and revealed a familiar lineup:

C. perfringens Types A, B2, and AG (same combination found in Thirteen as a newborn)
C. difficile (commonly called C. diff) — a new addition in this case

These bacteria are not uncommon in young foals. In fact, research suggests up to 30% of newborns may test positive for one or more of these pathogens—especially those born on farms where foals have lived recently. Most foals are exposed to them through their environment, and symptoms can vary depending on individual immune strength and timing of colostrum absorption.

Thanks to the HHS team’s experience and quick action—alongside their veterinarian—they were able to begin broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment before the PCR results came back, based on symptoms alone. That fast response is likely what led to today’s rapid improvement.

What Are These Bacteria, Anyway?

Clostridium perfringens (C. perf) – A bacterium that lives in the gut of many animals. While some strains are harmless, others can produce toxins that lead to diarrhea, colic, and intestinal inflammation.
C. difficile (C. diff) – Another bacteria known to produce toxins and cause severe diarrhea, particularly after antibiotic use or when immune function is low.

Both are treated with targeted antibiotics, supportive fluids, and probiotics to help the foal’s system regain balance.

To help prevent the spread of these bacteria to Audi, the HHS team is taking extra biosecurity precautions, including:
✔️ Disinfecting Audi’s stall with veterinary-grade cleaners
✔️ Running UV sterilization
✔️ Using dedicated tools and boots when moving between stalls

Filly's Physical Progress & Upcoming Podiatry Support

Today also marked another milestone: her front leg wraps and splint were removed. Her right front leg has shown major improvement, but the left is still knuckling over slightly. To give her a break overnight, the team is leaving the legs unwrapped until her vet and podiatrist check her tomorrow afternoon. The good news is—it’s not bothering her right now, but addressing it early is crucial to avoid long-term soundness issues.

Meanwhile, she’s now nursing much more frequently—a strong sign that she’s feeling better and gaining strength. Dyana, back to her usual deep-sleep routine, was hilariously unbothered as her daughter tried to nurse mid-nap last night.

Thirteen: Zoomies & Round Pen Mastery

Thirteen had his longest outing yet today and made the most of it! He ran full circles around the round pen, zipped past Surprise more times than we could count, and even showed off on the cameras with a few well-timed leaps and bucks. Surprise seems to be growing more relaxed with each day, standing calmly in the center while her colt explores and burns off energy.

📌 Did you catch them on the live cameras? He and Dyana’s filly were both in rare form showing off for their fans!

Audi: Countdown Begins

With just over two weeks until her due date, it’s almost time to focus fully on Audi. This week, she’ll have her pre-foaling veterinary exam, which includes:

📌 Caslicks Removal
A Caslicks is a minor surgical closure of a mare’s vulva performed earlier in pregnancy to reduce the risk of infection. It’s commonly used in mares with poor conformation or a history of reproductive issues. It must be opened before foaling to avoid tearing during delivery.

📌 NI Blood Test
The neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) test screens for antibodies in the mare’s blood that could attack her foal’s red blood cells after birth. If a mare tests positive, special care is needed—like withholding colostrum and using a substitute—to prevent life-threatening anemia in the foal.

📌 Transabdominal Ultrasound
This scan helps determine the position and activity level of the foal, assesses placental health, and provides peace of mind going into the final stretch of pregnancy.

To further protect Audi from possible exposure to any bacteria left behind by Thirteen or Dyana’s filly, the HHS team will also be doing an enhanced deep clean and sterilization of her stall before foaling.

Paycasso & Caesar: Growing Strong

Last year’s colts, Lord Paycasso and Emperor Caesarion, continue to thrive as big, bold, and athletic yearlings.

Today the team measured both boys:
📏 Paycasso (12 months): just over 14.3 hands
📏 Caesar (11 months): just under 14.3 hands

📌 What is a hand?
Horse height is measured in "hands," where one hand = 4 inches. So 14.3 hands means the horse is 59 inches tall at the withers (the top of the shoulders). These are tall measurements for yearlings and suggest both colts may grow to be 16.2–17 hands at maturity—ideal for future sport or racing careers.

As a reminder, The Foal Circle is about the full circle of a Thoroughbred’s life—from breeding and foaling to early training, racing, and life after. After foaling season winds down, we’ll be shifting more focus to the yearlings so members can follow their early training and learn what it takes to prepare a Thoroughbred for the track.

Help Name Thirteen! 🐴

Don’t forget to submit your official Jockey Club name suggestions for Thirteen!
🗓️ Submission deadline is Wednesday, March 26 – then voting will open for members.
👉 Submit name ideas here

We’d Love Your Feedback!

As The Foal Circle community grows, we want to hear from you:
💬 What do you love most about The Foal Circle?
💡 What features or content would you like to see next?

Drop a comment below or email us at info@horsehusbandstables.com — we’re listening!

Foaling Watch Update – March 24, 2025