This Vet Was Forced To Call The Police When A Horse Wouldn’t Give Birth

The arrival of a newborn is generally a moment of celebration. However, it's not something that always goes smoothly. There can be complications that make the process of giving birth more difficult and may even put the lives of mother and child at risk. This isn't just the case with human births, either.

Equine births can also have their share of problems, especially if something occurs during the breeding process that poses a danger down the line. One man discovered just how bad things can get after his beloved horse Felicia faced plenty of drama when she gave birth.

Ben had never had much trouble with Felicia's health

Owning a horse is a commitment. It's not like having a hamster or a goldfish, where you don't need to give it much care and attention to make it happy. Plus, looking after a horse can be incredibly expensive, especially if you require frequent trips to the vet. Luckily for Ben, his Felicia was usually a picture of perfect health.

There was the odd issue here and there, but for the most part, he managed to avoid any hefty payouts for his beloved horse. It was one of the many reasons why he loved her so much, along with the fact that she was caring, sociable, and just great company to be around. She was the perfect companion.

He wanted to find a stallion to breed with Felicia

With Felicia being such a devoted, attentive mare, he figured that she would make an excellent mother. Having a foal around would require extra money and effort on his part, but that wasn't really an issue. He had the space and the funds to cope, especially because Felicia had always been a dream to look after.

Of course, he couldn't just click his fingers and get the horse pregnant. As he didn't have a stallion of his own, he needed to find a mating partner for Felicia, and that wasn't easy. Every horse that he came across was lacking that special something he wanted in his horse's breeding partner. So, the search went on for months.

Ben eventually located a stallion to breed with his horse

Ben wasn't exactly looking for a soulmate for Felicia. Nevertheless, he wanted to find a stallion that felt like a perfect fit for his horse. At one point, he started to question whether he would ever manage that and actually considered giving up on the search altogether. However, that was when he found the stallion that he'd been looking for.

After making all the arrangements, things played out exactly as he'd hoped, and soon enough, he got the feeling that Felicia was pregnant. A vet later confirmed that this was the case, leaving Ben overjoyed. Although it would be a long while before she gave birth, he was eager to start preparing for the foal immediately.

Felicia's behavior seemed to change significantly during her pregnancy

Pregnancy affects the body in many different ways. Not only does it cause physical changes, but it can influence a person's behavior, too. That's seemingly not just a human thing, given that Felicia also started to showcase some differences in her mood as the pregnancy went on. Was the way that she was acting normal, though?

He couldn't help but question if something was off, given just how strangely she started behaving. The change seemed like quite a drastic one, more so than he'd expected from her pregnancy. Not only was she sleeping a lot more than usual, but she'd become more anti-social too. Sometimes, it was like she didn't even want to walk.

The vet seemingly wasn't that concerned about Felicia's change in behavior

As more time passed, Ben's concerns for Felicia only grew. Along with everything else, she apparently began to eat less and less, making him concerned about both her health and that of her foal. He couldn't help but feel like something was definitely wrong, but given he was no expert on equine pregnancies, he turned to a professional.

When he explained everything to a vet, though, they didn't seem that concerned about Felicia's behavior. They told him not to worry about what was happening, explaining that larger animals can experience some intense changes when they're pregnant. While Felicia's actions might seem to be a concern, there was supposedly no need for Ben to be worried.

Ben tried ignoring his concerns and prepared for the foal's arrival

Ben wasn't entirely convinced by the vet's words. After all, Felicia's changes were quite significant, and some of them put the health of her and her foal at risk. However, he trusted the professional's guidance on the matter, believing that they knew better than him on the topic. So, he tried to push his concerns to the side.

It wasn't easy to just forget about his fears, but he managed to ignore them for a little while. It helped that preparing for the arrival of the newborn offered a distraction from the mare's unexpected change in behavior. Of course, the closer they got to the birth, the harder it became to turn a blind eye.

There appeared to be a problem with delivering the foal

As the big day approached, Ben could tell that Felicia was getting close to giving birth. He made sure to make his horse as comfortable as possible in her stable for when the moment occurred. He also kept a close eye on everything and had his phone nearby at all times in case he needed to call the vet.

Unfortunately, despite Felicia appearing to be ready to give birth, nothing was happening. The horse seemed to be growing more distressed as though she were unable to deliver her foal. Ben was naturally concerned for his beloved horse, afraid of what might play out in the coming hours. So, once again, he leaned on a professional for assistance.

The vet apparently urged Ben to get Felicia to lie down

The vet appreciated Ben's concerns, well aware of how many things can go wrong during the birthing process. There wasn't a great deal that they could do over the phone, though, so they had to rely on a few basic pieces of advice. That apparently included urging Ben to get the horse to lie down.

Supposedly, the vet believed that lying in a more relaxed position like this would make it a lot easier for the mare to deliver her foal. Of course, getting a horse to lie down isn't necessarily an easy task, especially for an animal that's in distress and hasn't been acting herself recently. Ben was worried he couldn't pull this off.

Ben managed to convince Felicia to lie on the ground

As concerned as Ben was about his ability to get Felicia to lie down, he knew he had to try his best to follow the vet's orders. Who knew what dangers his beloved horse could be in if he wasn't able to get her into a more comfortable position. Thankfully, Felicia seemed willing to do as he wanted.

Despite her recent change of behavior, she didn't push him away or react harshly to his gentle touch. With a little coaxing, Ben was able to get her down on the floor and on her side, just as the vet had advised him to. With any luck, this would be enough to resolve whatever problems she was having.

He noticed something seemed to be sticking out of her bump

With Felicia now on her side on the ground, it was a lot easier for Ben to see her bump. Of course, it had been notable throughout her pregnancy, but he'd never really had a chance to look at it properly until now. Unfortunately, what he saw from this perspective didn't reassure him in any way.

It appeared to Ben as though something was sticking out of the side of Felicia's bump. It wasn't anything huge, so it was perhaps no wonder that he'd missed it until now. Nevertheless, it didn't seem like something that was supposed to be there. Worried this might be related to his mare's distress, he turned to the vet once again.

The vet appeared to express some concerns about Felicia's bump

Up until now, the vet had been very accommodating of Ben's concerns but assured him that he was simply being overly cautious. They hadn't appeared greatly worried that Felicia might be in trouble, but when Ben got in touch once again, something changed. As he explained the situation to them, they suddenly felt that things were much more serious.

As Ben answered the vet's questions, the voice on the other end of the phone became noticeably concerned. Eventually, they acknowledged that this lump could indeed be causing Felicia some problems and that an ultrasound was necessary to see what was wrong. There was no way that Ben could bring his horse to see the vet now, though.

The vet got stuck in traffic on the way to see Felicia

Ben couldn't drive Felicia away from the stable now, but that didn't mean the vet couldn't come to her. Given the great concern about the lump, they figured it was worth making an effort to drive out to see the mare. Plus, they had space in their schedule to go and check the situation out.

Unfortunately, after the vet began the journey to Ben's stable, they ran into some trouble. It seems that they'd picked the worst time of day to travel, with the roads fairly clogged with rush hour traffic. As the vet seemed to move along at a snail's pace, they grew increasingly concerned that they wouldn't arrive in time.

Ben had an idea to get the vet out of the traffic

When the vet had told Ben they would come and see Felicia for themselves, he felt relieved. Having a professional at the stable who had more knowledge and experience than him seemed like the perfect solution to whatever Felicia's problem was. However, his heart dropped when the vet called and said they were stuck in traffic.

Luckily, Ben managed to come up with a solution to the problem. He had a friend who could drive a motorcycle and potentially weave their way through all the traffic. If they were available and able to pick the vet up, it would really make a difference. He just had to hope that his buddy wasn't busy with anything.

Felicia was reluctant to let the vet anywhere near them

Thankfully, everything worked out in this regard for Ben. His friend picked up the phone and was more than happy to help out for the sake of Felicia. As he headed off, Ben informed the vet, who managed to find somewhere suitable to park and wait for the motorcycle. Soon enough, they were speeding along on their way to Felicia.

The vet wasted no time as soon as they arrived at the stable, immediately rushing to check on Felicia's condition. However, the horse was reluctant to let them near, meaning they now had another obstacle to overcome. How could they get close enough to the mare to check out her lump without her freaking out?

The vet suggested sedating Felicia to help her to calm down

Felicia had already been distressed before the vet showed up, and their arrival only seemed to make things worse. Although Ben tried to calm his beloved horse down, she didn't seem interested in listening to him. That's why the vet presented him with an idea on how they could get her to play along - sedate her.

With Felicia growing increasingly distressed, she potentially posed a danger to both herself and the others in the stable, so sedating her seemed like the best way to get her to relax. It wouldn't be easy, given that the vet would still need to get close enough to inject her. However, it didn't feel like there were many other options.

Ben and the vet managed to sedate Felicia

This was definitely a risky procedure, especially without more people on hand to help out. However, it felt as though time was of the essence. So, the pair worked together to try and pull things off. It was Ben's job to get Felicia's attention and distract her while the vet worked on applying the sedative.

Although the mare appeared suspicious of the two and wasn't easily swayed by Ben's calls at first, she eventually gave the man her full attention. He had it long enough for the vet to do what they needed to, and the sedate began to take effect within minutes. Soon enough, Felicia was relaxed enough for the ultrasound.

Ben's nerves went into overdrive as the vet performed the ultrasound

For all Ben knew, Felicia's unusual bump would prove to be nothing of note. All of the drama up to this point might have been both him and the vet jumping to unnecessary conclusions. However, even if that were the case, he wouldn't feel guilty about taking so many precautions for the sake of his beloved horse.

As the vet readied the ultrasound, Ben took a moment to get some fresh air. He'd been a bundle of nerves for hours now, and he needed to calm down. Whatever happened next, at least he had a professional on hand to help him out. He just hoped that they wouldn't find anything too worrisome on the ultrasound.

He feared what the vet had found from their ultrasound

Ben had only intended to step outside for a moment, but by the time he'd gotten his heart rate down and his breathing under control, the vet had already completed the ultrasound. They joined him outside the stable, and their expression was not one that instantly eased the man's nerves. In fact, it just made them so much worse.

As the vet approached and said they needed to talk, Ben was overwhelmed with thoughts of what he was going to say next. Were they about to tell him that Felicia's foal had passed away or that there was nothing they could do for the mother and her child? Thankfully, their message wasn't quite as bad as that.

The police apparently showed up at the stable

According to the vet, the bump wasn't something that should be there, and it was essential that they remove it. However, before Ben could really comprehend the situation, something else caught his attention. The flash of approaching lights made him look up and realize that the cops were pulling up outside of the stable. What were they doing here?

As it turned out, the vet had apparently contacted them after performing the ultrasound due to concerns about what they'd found inside Felicia. As the local police station was only minutes away from the stable, it took no time at all for a couple of officers to reach the scene. Naturally, Ben was unnerved by their arrival - what was happening?

Ben was incredibly unnerved by the arrival of the police

A few hours ago, Ben had a distressed horse with an unusual lump seemingly struggling to give birth. Now, he had a sedated horse that apparently required surgery and a couple of police officers walking toward him. This was not how he'd anticipated his day playing out in the slightest, and he naturally grew very concerned.

Had he done something wrong? Was he to blame for whatever was causing Felicia so much trouble? He didn't think so, but surely he must have done something if these cops wanted to speak with him. Ben tried to remain calm as the vet talked to the officers, but he couldn't shake the feeling something terrible was going to happen.

The police had a bunch of questions for Ben

The police didn't speak in an accusatory manner when they told Ben they needed to ask him some questions. However, their expressions were hard to read, so he was still anticipating things going south very quickly once they began talking. Luckily, their opening questions were very simple, like asking him to confirm his name and whether he owned Felicia.

They also asked if he'd been the one to instigate his mare's pregnancy and how he'd gone about this. Ben was worried they were going to tell him that he'd done something illegal during this process. However, as he explained everything, they assured him that he hadn't done anything against the law. So, what was the issue?

Ben looked through a series of mugshots provided by the cops

Although Ben apparently hadn't done anything illegal during the breeding process, that didn't mean that something untoward hadn't happened. Rather than explain what was going on, though, the cops handed him some mugshots and asked him to take a look at them. They wanted to know if he recognized any of the people in the photos.

Ben flicked through the images, and for the most part, he didn't know who anyone was. However, there was one photo that jumped out. It took a second for him to realize why, and then it clicked. The person in the picture was the same one who'd handled the stallion that had impregnated Felicia. What had he done?

The man who'd helped impregnate Felicia was actually a criminal

Once Ben realized why he recognized the man in the photo, he immediately explained the connection to the police. Suddenly, the fears he'd had for himself moments earlier vanished, replaced by concern for Felicia and what this guy had done. He asked the cops exactly what was going on, and they finally enlightened him with the truth.

They revealed that the man whose stallion had provided Felicia with a foal was apparently a wanted criminal. What's more, he was reportedly known to the police for performing botched procedures during impregnations. It seems it was no coincidence that Ben's mare was in distress. This was seemingly the result of what the criminal had done months ago.

Felicia's bump was created by a microchip that the breeder had planted

All the drama that had unfolded at the stable centered around that unusual lump Ben had noticed in Felicia's belly. When the vet had performed the ultrasound on the mare, he'd apparently discovered that the lump in question was caused by a microchip. It was one that the breeder had supposedly planted all those months earlier.

Getting it out was apparently essential, but it wouldn't be easy. Combined with the fact that Felicia also had a foal that needed delivering, the medical professional had a lot of responsibility resting on their shoulders. However, there wasn't the time to let nerves get the better of them. Acting fast was becoming more of a necessity.

The chances of survival weren't in Felicia's favor

Ben had complete faith in the vet's abilities to do what needed to be done. However, the professional didn't beat around the bush when it came to the risks involved. They told Ben that there was no way they could guarantee the horse's survival. In fact, the odds were potentially stacked against the mother and her foal.

This wasn't easy for Ben to hear, and he was a little nervous to give the vet the go-ahead. However, he knew the risks were worth it. If they did nothing at all, the outcome would apparently likely be the same. At least this way, there was a possibility that everything would work out for Felicia and her baby.

Felicia and her foal made it through the procedure alive

Ben was understandably a wreck as the vet carried out the necessary procedure. He couldn't handle watching it happen, but if Felicia didn't survive the operation, then he didn't want to be far away, either. She had been his companion for so long now, and he owed it to her to be there through this terrifying ordeal.

Thankfully, despite the vet's worries about what might happen, it seems that their concerns weren't necessary. Although things were touch-and-go for a while, they managed to remove the microchip. What's more, Felicia was ultimately able to deliver her foal, which arrived safe and sound after so much drama. Finally, both mother and child were out of the woods.

The police managed to track down and arrest the man responsible

Once all the fears about Felicia and her foal were settled, Ben began to think about the man responsible for all this drama. He was furious about the danger he'd put his animal companion through and wanted to see him pay for his crimes. Thankfully, he didn't have to wait too much longer for a satisfactory conclusion.

With these developments, the police had a much easier time tracking the man down. Soon enough, they had him behind bars and set to pay for his crimes, which was a massive weight off of Ben's mind. As much as he hated what Felicia had been through, at least this ordeal had resulted in the man's capture.

The story of Ben and Felicia is a fictional tale

What Ben went through with Felicia is a fictional account that reflects the struggles and heartache many owners experience when something is wrong with their animal companions. Thankfully, instances of horses or other pets being implanted with things they shouldn't is incredibly rare. So, situations like this aren't something you typically have to worry about with your own animals.

Having a pet implanted with a microchip isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for something like a cat or dog. If the animal ever goes missing, this can actually make tracking them down again a lot easier. However, it should always be done by a professional and with the consent of the person whose pet it involves.

Allison Calderon bought a horse with "raw talent" on social media

While Ben and Felicia's story might not be an authentic account, there have been several dramatic equine births over the years. That includes the tale of Allison Calderon and her horse Ivy, which is both a tragic and uplifting tale. It all started a few years ago when Calderon noticed the young mare in a social media video.

As this was back in 2020, during the peak of the global health crisis, the experience of buying a horse was a little different from normal. Nevertheless, Allison went through the necessary vetting to ensure everything was above board before she went ahead and purchased the mare. Apparently, she felt Ivy had "raw talent" that made her special.

Calderon discovered months later that Ivy was pregnant

Calderon's purpose for buying Ivy was reportedly to work with trainer Mandi Powers to develop the mare for jumping. Apparently, the horse's "movement and athletic ability" was what made the animal really stand out. With some training, she could become an exceptional jumper, something that Allison found she was increasingly passionate about after years of riding horses.

However, by spring 2021, around eight months after she first saw Ivy on social media, she noticed that her horse appeared to be displaying pregnancy symptoms. At first, Calderon didn't think it possible that the mare could have a foal growing inside of her. However, Powers sent her a video of a hoof inside Ivy's stomach just days later.

Ivy gave birth, but her foal was sadly stillborn

A pregnancy definitely wasn't what Allison initially had on the cards for Ivy. However, there was nothing she could do about it now, so she set about preparing for the foal's arrival. As Calderon had no idea how long her horse had been pregnant, she set up a camera in Ivy's stable to keep an eye on things.

It's a good thing she did because when she woke up one morning, she saw that her mare was in labor and trying to give birth. Unfortunately, as happy a moment as this should have been, it was not a time for celebration. After Ivy gave birth, Allison discovered that the foal was tragically stillborn.

The vet identified a tear and feared a potential infection

Allison hadn't planned for this foal, but the fact that it had gone already still hit hard. Apparently, the vet thinks that the baby sadly passed away before Ivy gave birth and that this was what sent the horse into labor. Calderon confirmed that it had definitely been alive the night before, as she'd seen it kicking.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the end of Ivy's hardship. When the vet checked her out, they discovered a tear that they feared could become infected. They also believed she had been exposed to fescue, which can apparently cause various problems for pregnant mares. Apparently, Ivy should have steered clear of this stuff at least 90 days before her due date.

Ivy reportedly picked up an infection and required stronger antibiotics

Although the vet was concerned about Ivy's tear, they didn't repair it. Instead, they felt it was best to allow it to heal on its own while Allison administered antibiotics to the mare. Unfortunately, despite the vet's efforts to avoid infection, Ivy did indeed contract an infection, which required a stronger treatment of antibiotics to fight.

After the trauma of losing her foal, this was the last thing that the horse needed. For Allison and Mandi, who both cared greatly for the horse, it was also a difficult situation to process. Nevertheless, they had to keep their heads up and hope that things would finally start to improve after so much hardship.

The infection returned, leading Ivy to have a Caslick's procedure

Unfortunately, it seems that the universe wasn't done putting Allison and Ivy through the wringer. Just two weeks after her infection was identified by an ultrasound, the vet discovered that she'd picked up another one. Ivy had to go through the same aggressive treatment all over again before Calderon decided her mare should have a Caslick's procedure.

Part of the reason the vet was so worried about infection in the first place was because of how it might affect the medial muscles of her hind leg. It's easy to see why, given the trouble that Ivy had with walking during her recovery. Calderon said it was “like her right leg wasn't even attached to her body.”

Allison had no idea what the future held for Ivy

When a chiropractor inspected Ivy's walking, they apparently suspected that the horse had acquired nerve damage from the tear. This wasn't necessarily the end of the world, as there was a chance that she could recover with the right supplements and assistance. However, there was no guarantee of this, leaving Allison facing a lot of questions about the future.

Calderon had purchased Ivy in the first place because of her movement and athletic ability, which seemed almost unparalleled. However, now there was a chance she'd never recover the movement or range of motion she'd had before giving birth. Allison said it "broke" her to see this happen to a horse who'd had such a bright future ahead of her.

Calderon ended up winning a ribbon with Ivy a year later

At the start of Ivy's recovery, things probably seemed pretty hopeless for the horse's chances of living up to her early potential. However, Allison and Mandi were committed to the mare and giving her the best chance of returning to form. They stayed optimistic but realistic, being sure to take things slow and put Ivy's needs first.

Evidently, this was something that paid off because, in May of the following year, she entered the show ring at her first local horse show. Calderon ended up walking away with a ribbon from that event after she and Ivy "were champion in our 2' division." She called it a "full-circle" moment that was truly a dream come true.

Ivy's traumatic experience taught Allison to loosen up

Achieving a ribbon is always a big deal, but to do it after everything that Ivy went through was a true accomplishment. Allison couldn't have been prouder of her horse, but she was also incredibly grateful to Mandi. If it weren't for the trainer keeping her spirits up and being there for Ivy, she's not sure she'd have managed it.

Although the experience with the mare's health woes is not one that she particularly enjoyed, Calderon is grateful for it in a way. It's apparently taught her to loosen up on her expectations and accept that things won't always go to plan. As a result, she no longer has a timeline for Ivy to achieve this, that, and the other.

A live stream of a horse giving birth attracted thousands of viewers

Ivy's tale is ultimately an inspirational one, although it evidently comes with a lot of pain and trauma. Thankfully, there are some stories of equine births out there which are a lot less heartbreaking. For instance, back in 2014, one horse received a lot of attention when its labor was streamed online to thousands of fascinated viewers.

Jodie Otte and her teenage daughter didn't want to risk missing their horse, Stormy, give birth. So, they installed a webcam in the stable so they could watch the mare when they weren't around. Little did they expect, though, that many others would tune in to watch the live feed, too, in anticipation of the moment of birth.

The webcam feed was hosted on a dedicated website

The reason that so many people were able to watch Stormy give birth was because her webcam feed was hosted on the website Mare Stare. Apparently, the site is dedicated to showing horses in labor, as well as foals learning to do things like standing and eating for the first time. Evidently, it's one that attracts a lot of people.

Within a day of being on the website, Stormy apparently had more than 10,000 hits. At one point, it reportedly had 18,000 views, meaning many people were eager to see the mare bring new life into the world. Jodie thought that all the attention was "nuts" and wasn't entirely sure why people were so invested in the feed.

The live stream proved to be an educational moment for some people

Supposedly, people were so eager to see Stormy give birth that they would call Jodie at work when the feed went down. The attention was a little overwhelming, and it seemed people had different reasons for wanting to watch. For instance, one mom who home-schooled her children said she wanted them "to experience a horse be born."

She said that kids don't tend to "understand the environment and animals and what animals go through" without stuff like this. It proved to be a very educational moment for the kids, with them asking questions that they wouldn't have even thought about otherwise. Unfortunately, despite all the excitement around Stormy, some people still ended up missing the big moment.