See the Mothers-To-Be
Looking to warm up your soul during these cold winter days? You’ve come to the right place. It’s foaling season, and that means expectant mares across Pennsylvania will be bringing the next generation of champions into the world. Tune into our foal cam below for a live look at the birth of these cute little creatures on Whysper Wynd Farm and Delaware Valley University.
You can also follow along on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for live foaling season updates.
About Whysper Wynd Farm
Whysper Wynd Farm is a private breeding operation in Chester County, PA. We are a small, boutique operation focused on breeding quality Thoroughbreds. While our primary focus is breeding, we are also heavily involved in retraining and aftercare / retirement.
Meet the Mares – Whysper Wynd Farm
My Audubon*
Breed: Thoroughbred
In foal to: UptownCharlybrown
PA bred
Due Date: March 24, 2024
About Delaware Valley University
Delaware Valley University’s bachelor’s degree in equine science offers a specialization in breeding that prepares students for careers in the breeding industry. Management of stallions, broodmares, yearlings, weanlings, and newborns are all essential to their equine science students’ curriculum. Students have the opportunity to handle, manage, and breed horses, as well as assist in foaling management, neonatal care, and young-stock handling and sales.
DelVal’s on-campus Sydney J. Markovitz Equine Breeding Center is home to stallions and a broodmare herd, including competitive Standardbred racehorses. The horses and foals are handled daily by students and staff. Working closely with their full-time faculty and stable manager, Equine Science and Management students have the opportunity to play an integral role in the daily management of the facility. In alignment with the DelVal commitment to experiential learning, students also actively assist with foaling and breeding procedures. The facility is equipped with the following amenities:
- 24 Stall barn, including a 4-stall stallion barn
- Reproductive lab with diagnostic equipment
- Foal monitor alert system (on and off-campus access)
- 2-4 stallions, 25 mares, 10-15 foals per season
- 3 large run-out pastures
- 6 turnout pastures
- Collection shed with phantom and tease stall
Thank you for your interest in Delaware Valley University’s mares and foals.
If you would like to help DelVal’s Equine Program with a tax-deductible gift-in-kind donation, please click here for the Equine Program’s “Foaling Wishlist.” The mares and foals of Delval greatly appreciate your generosity and support!
To make a monetary donation to DelVal’s Equine Program, please visit www.delval.edu/giving. Once there, please select “Other” from the designation drop-down and enter “Friends of Equine.”
If you have questions or for more information, please email equine@delval.edu.
Thank you again for your interest in and support of DelVal’s Equine Program.
Meet the Mares – Delaware Valley University
Mare: Brooke Blue Chip
Breed: Standardbred
Mare’s Age: 19
In Foal To: Father Patrick
Due Date: February 28, 2024
Number of past foals: 10
Mare: To The Good Life
Breed: Standardbred
Mare’s Age: 14
In Foal To: Alarm Detector
Due Date: March 12, 2024
Number of past foals: 5
Mare: Thistle Dhu
Breed: Standardbred
Mare’s Age: 13
In Foal To: Rebuff
Due Date: March 21, 2024
Number of past foals: 7
Learn the Breeding Basics
If you’re interested in horse racing’s breeding basics beyond the cute and furry outcome, we have a page for that too.
Foal Cam Disclosure
PHRA’s Foal Cams are run through the consent of our participating farms. It is a privilege for us to offer a behind-the-scenes look into the foaling season. Out of respect for the farms’ privacies, the cameras are on a 30-minute delay. We will not tolerate any negative behavior, rude comments, or discrimination. PHRA reserves the right to end the stream at any time. Do not contact anyone from the participating farms — including but not limited to any faculty, students, or employees — under any circumstances.
Discussion
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Yes, this is the same made Twisted from last year!
Who are we watching now?
This mare is Thistle Dhu!
Hello, we are starting to see some signs of progress with Thistle! She is registering on our milk testing kits at a 150ppm. While some mares continue to progress slowly up the calcium test scale until foaling, Thistle has jumped up quickly with other foals in the past. We will begin testing her on bed check to ensure her level is below foal watch threshold (<200ppm). You could see her make her move to the foaling stall in the next few days!
Well done ladies! Fast and easy. May they all be that way.
Welcome Rowan!
Thistle foaled a lovely bay COLT by Rebuff at a very respectable time of 10:55 pm!
Her signs leading up to foaling were stall walking, holding her tail up and to the side.
Her water broke while standing and then she laid down. Rowan was a normal presentation, normal foaling progression!
Rowan stood with some assistance by 1 hour (his long legs took some getting used to.)
He nursed within 2 hours.
Thistle passed her placenta well before 3hrs (<1hr).
All things we love to see in a foaling!
The placenta evaluation showed no signs of retained placenta and had no tears or abnormalities.
We are so happy to have another colt on the farm and we are so excited to see what he will do! Welcome Rowan!!