Owned by Lif & Paul Strand, Strand Enterprises, New Mexico

Fantastic new horse self-training method (grin)
Koko having a great time sacking himself out with a tarp
(yearling year)

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Owned by Marianna Aragon, New Mexico.

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SE Kokopelli Kid

Koko was born in the dark. His mother, Jeunique, was an old mare, in her mid-20s, and this would be her last foal. But Jeunique - Niki for short - was a good mother, and she knew that foaling in the dark hours before dawn was safest, because then the air was still and scents would not be easily picked up by predators. No matter that Niki was having her baby in a well protected paddock, watched over by people who loved her - instincts run deep. So, when it was time for Koko to be born, it was still dark outside.

It took a long time for Koko to finally make his appearance because Niki wasn’t as strong as she was when she was younger, but with one final push, the hot and steaming mare pushed her baby out into the world. Koko just laid there, still as could be, until his humans ran over with towels and began to rub him dry, getting his circulation going and massaging his muscles so they would be strong enough to get him up.

Even though Niki was such a dark bay that she was almost black and had no white on her, Koko was a beautiful chestnut colt with four white socks and a blaze, just like his father Ben Nasrif. His pink tongue stuck out from his little teacup nose and every once in a while he gave a tiny snort to clear his throat. He breathed hard - this business of being born was tough!

Niki, still laying down but now with a blanket over her to keep her sweaty body warm, watched her new baby take his first breaths. He was shaky and shivering, not from the cold but because his muscles didn’t yet know how to work. He raised his wobbly head and looked around, but he couldn’t really see anything because it was dark and because foals don’t see well for a few days after they are born. Just that much activity seemed to tire him out and his head fell back to the straw with a thump.

Niki rolled onto her belly so she could eat the hot bran mash her humans had brought her. She nickered to her baby, encouraging him to get up. Koko picked up his head and his little ears pointed in his mother’s direction. Some instinct in him made him want to go to that sound, and he struggled to get up. The problem was, he didn’t know how!

With much effort and thrashing of his head, neck and legs, Koko managed to get himself upright onto his belly. He stayed like that for a few moments to rest, then tried to push himself up on his long, spindly legs. Unfortunately, one leg was crossed over the other, so as soon as Koko shoved up, he fell over again with another thump. Niki whickered to him, but she wasn’t worried. All foals had to fall down a few times before they could stand and move around.

In a few minutes Koko was ready to try again. He pushed one leg out in front of him. He pushed the other leg out. He bunched his hind legs up beneath him and gave a mighty shove - and fell over again. But this time Koko didn’t need to rest - he really wanted to stand up now! He rolled onto his belly and tried again, and this time was able to get up with all four legs splayed out to the side, unsteady but standing at last. His ribs heaved in and out as he got his breath after all that hard work. He leaned forward to sniff at the large object before him.

Niki, having finished her mash, got up too. Koko was so surprised to see something that big suddenly get so much bigger right in front of him that he promptly fell down again! Niki sniffed him all over and licked his face, greeting her baby and telling him how much she loved him. Then she gently nudged him with her nose. It was time for Koko to get on his feet and walk!

This time Koko was able to get up with almost no problem. He took one careful step, and when he didn’t fall over, took another. Pretty soon he was trotting in the little foaling paddock, even kicking up his heels, and hardly ever falling over.

But now Koko was hungry. He was drawn to his mother and sniffed her all over with little grunts as he hunted for the nipples that would provide him with his first breakfast of warm milk. Even when he found what he was seeking, it took a while for him to figure out how to nurse, but in just a few minutes, he was greedily sucking so much milk that it dribbled out the sides of his mouth.

Full at last, Koko stepped away from Niki. He had a new problem. He was suddenly very, very tired - but he didn’t know how to lay down on purpose, he only knew how to fall down! First he tried bending his long front legs, but that made it seem too much like falling, so he stood up again. He walked around and thought about it a bit, then tried again, this time bending his front legs and back legs, too. Just when he was going to stand up again to try something else, his legs collapsed and he thumped to the ground, his legs going every which way. Niki whinnied at him and sniffed Koko all over to make sure he was fine, while the foal, who was just one hour old, slowly closed his eyes and sighed as he fell asleep for his very first nap.

The stars were fading as the sky grew rosy in the east. Dawn was on its way. Some birds in a nearby tree sleepily tweeted, and soon the air was filled with birdsongs all around the black mare who stood guard over her sleeping baby.