Our quest began with the hunt for the perfect stud. We investigated our options using AI, but eventually decided upon live cover. Living in Maine, we are limited in our options for stallions in the area, so we were very lucky to find that "Quassett's First Son" or "Sonny" lived (relatively) close by in Connecticut. So off Curly went to meet her new boyfriend. Her first time being bred resulted in a pregnancy that did not make it to through the first four weeks, so she returned to Connecticut to see her boyfriend again (I think she planned this!). A fifteen day vet check showed that we were in the clear and had a healthy fetus developing.

4 Weeks

Curly still has a healthy pregnancy. Yeah!

8 Weeks

Here is an ultrasound picture of baby at 8 weeks (baby is the roundish white spot in the middle)

Now, we are settled in for the long wait- 11 months total! Curly has another vet check at 5 months, but until then we leave her and baby in peace. Our vet, Dr. Deme Erickson of Rochester Equine has advised that even though Curly should not be stressed during her pregnancy, if I work her steadily, I can ride her up until the last month of her pregnancy. I am not sure if that is what Curly wanted to hear, though! Until her eighth month, pregnant mares have regular feeding needs, so except for making absolute sure she has enough vitamine E and selenium, her feed formulation does not have to chenge. I decided to switch her over to "Tizwhiz 12" for now, and later to "Tizwhiz Broodmare" which will give her all the vitamins and nutrients she and baby will need in the last three months of pregnancy.

5 Months

We got hit with a good old Nor'Easter and a lot of ice. The power was out that day the vet came, so she couldn't plug the ultrasound in to get a picture. Dr. Erickson said that the baby was doing fine though- she felt the baby kicking around when she checked Curly!

7 Months

What a cute mug shot! Baby is getting very active. It took a while to get this picture as baby just wouldn't hold still. Finally Dr. Erickson shot this picture and we got a good head shot. You can see the two eyes (dark round spots) and the bridge of the nose going diagonally down the picture.

June 1st, 2001. A rainy day brings a wonderful surprise- a rambunctious big colt- three weeks early! We decided to name him "Dare to Dream" and call him Shakespeare around the barn.

March 14th, 2002. Shakespeare is on to a new adventure- in Ontario! His new owner at Yanagi stables will be teaching him how to be a gentleman, and start him with light driving work this fall. You can check out his new home at: Yanagi Stables

Update: Shakespeare is a coming 4 year old. He's a forward mover, loves to jump, and is on lease to a family in Ontario.

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