Foaling Date: 24th February 2004
Sire: Samford Jack 8850 Dam: Marlie Golden
Albert was born at 15 minutes to midnight on his dam’s birthday. Although summer time, it was a cool drizzly night with a breeze, in contrast to that afternoon when the following photos were taken.
Golden was in peak condition for foaling, her coat gleaming with health.
She’d had plenty of exercise in a big paddock with shade trees to shelter away from the fierce afternoon summer sun.
And she had demonstrated her old Suffolk genes by proving such a ‘good doer’ that in the spring we’d had to lock her up away from all the spring grass and clover.
Face-on and rear-on, showing the bulge that will prove to be Albert in comparatively a short time.
Golden had been waxed up for a few days previously and was now beginning to drip milk as she walked.
We knew foaling was imminent and so on went the red webbing halter with foaling alarm attached.
Golden chose the most sheltered spot in the foaling paddock which is immediately behind the house. The alarm went off, we went out, and there on the ground was Albert, so fast was it.
The following photos of him were taken the next morning. He’s about eight hours old. From the very first moments he was an extraordinarily strong and active foal.
Four and a half years later, this little fellow has grown into this…
© Eleanor Yvonne Hatch, Australian Suffolk Punch Registry & Grading Up Registry 2004-2017