After reading the story of an orphaned horse so willingly adopted by a mare and her foal, Trot Insider was tipped off to a similar situation from years gone by...but with a twist.
Jason Schmiedge told Trot Insider that the 'Brother from Another Mother' story from last week reminded him of when a foal was orphaned on his parents' farm, Shyloh Acres (located just east of Davidson, Saskatchewan) back in 1983.
"One colt was orphaned after her mother died a day after foaling," noted Schmiedge. "The other colt was born from a first-time mother who actually wouldn't accept her foal (or the orphaned foal) no matter what was tried.
"Scrambling for options, my Dad (Gary Schmiedge) reached out to a neighbour's farm. Bud Prpick said one of his dairy cows previously allowed piglets to nurse from her when the piglets' mother died. Deciding it was worth a try, Dad brought the dairy cow over and she accepted the colts immediately. The colts followed their new mother all over the farm and grew up to be happy and healthy."
"The story was picked up by our local Davidson Leader newspaper and also the Western Producer because they found it so interesting," stated Schmiedge. "It's just another example of how mothers are so special."
