A broodmare contracts a disease rarely seen in her locale, leaving critical treatment decisions to be made without a diagnosis. As a child, I had enjoyed the company of horses. With adulthood came other responsibilities, and horses took a backseat to marriage and raising a family. In 1992, I welcomed horses back into my life again, and before long, I was an owner for the first time since my youth. By 1996 my husband, Ron, and I had moved from western North Carolina to central Tennessee, where landwas cheaper, to embark on a new venture--breeding and raising horses. The two Arabian mares I'd bought earlier that year made the move with us. The 7-year-old, Lilli, was already in foal. In April 1997 Lilli delivered a beautiful bay filly, and all the memories of my childhood came floating back. Ron and I were novices at the business of imprinting and caring for a newborn foal, but we were very proud of our first baby and, of course, the dam, who was an excellent mother despite her tendency to act a bit peevish around us humans. For the remainder of spring and into summer the little filly, Diamahn 'Lil, flourished. Every day was a learning experience for us all.
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