"I love watching the babies play and I like to watch the mares turn around and talk to their foals and knicker. A long time later, when they hit the racetrack it’s a lot of fun to say, 'Hey, I foaled that one out. I had a part in that.'"
The horse racing industry contains thousands of people like Winbak Farm's foaling manager Jerry Crump, people who dream that the next foal they have a hand in bringing into the world will turn out to be harness racing's next superstar. Crump was recently profiled by Cecil Daily, and described his typical day during foaling season tending to the Maryland farm's 300 broodmares.
"If I don’t get a phone call for an emergency at night, then I come in the morning and I go through and see how many foals I had that night. I go around and examine each foal and mare and make sure everyone is nursing and healthy. We exam gums, heart and eyes and few more tests, administer 12-hour shots and do paperwork. If everything is normal, we send them out in two or three days. "
The key to the job, according to Crump, is compassion but it also involves a certain amount of strength and skill obtained through on-the-job experience. "You have to get in there and learn as you go."
Crump derives the most satisfaction from seeing a successful racehorse come from his farm, knowing that he helped develop that once shaky-legged foal into a beautiful athletic performer.
"Muscle Hill is one of the greatest all-time trotters in history, and I can say I had a part in that."
Definitely the best job ever!
Definitely the best job ever! One that makes a warm heart. Mommas + Babies = Love for all involved.