New babies are a joy — even if those babies happen to have four legs. A miniature horse named Waffle started calling the Humane Society of Missouri's Longmeadow Rescue Ranch home when she arrived in November 2020. But she came with a secret — she was pregnant.
The staff decided to celebrate the pregnancy in a fun way. They hired photographer Tammi Elbert to shoot some photos of Waffle looking radiant, enjoying life prior to becoming a mom.
"The veterinarian estimated that Waffle would give birth in May or early June," the HSMO wrote on Instagram.
They decided to make this somewhat of an event, featuring Waffle on their Longmeadow Baby Cam. But they still made sure to give her times of peace and quiet so that she had a nice delivery. Treating this miniature horse so lovingly before her birth is inspirational, and it's a reminder that animals deserve just as much comfort and support as humans do while giving birth.
Photographer Tammi Elbert has a wonderful display of equine portraits in her collection. But according to her Facebook account, shooting a pregnant horse wearing a crown of flowers was a new experience. "Baby on the way!" she wrote. "This is Waffles. My first pony maternity shoot. She was such a cutie! I can't wait to see the baby."
Waffle wasn't by herself when she came to the ranch. She was surrendered along with her colt Toast and other mini horses. So it'll be interesting to see if they keep going with the breakfast theme when it comes to naming her baby girl. Maybe Pancake or Crepe?
Hopefully it'll be announced soon, as her baby girl was born less than a week ago. In a shared photo, Waffle seems quite proud of her small brown filly. "Mama and baby are both doing well!" the rescue made clear.
While Waffle looked radiant and glowing in her maternity photos, she wasn't always in such pristine condition. "When Waffle and Toast arrived, their manes and tails were covered in burrs so thick that it weighed down their neck and head. Toast was particularly bad, having had burrs throughout his haircoat, which made it painful to pet him or for him to lay down," director Amanda Mullen told People.
Making Waffle and Toast feel better was the top priority for volunteers. "Longmeadow volunteers worked to carefully remove each burr until Waffle and Toast were both healthy and comfortable," Amanda continued. She credits the "kindness and the best care from Longmeadow's experienced staff and devoted volunteers" for all of their hard work.
Toast made such a big recovery that he was adopted by his forever family and is no longer living with his mom. Waffle hasn't had that same chance to be adopted out just yet, due to the pregnancy. "We weren't surprised she was pregnant as she came in with 3 stallions," Amanda noted.
And of course, she'll be hanging around a bit longer to help take care of her young filly. The unnamed baby was born on May 13, so Waffle might be hanging around Longmeadow for just a bit longer. But the good news? She's reportedly an excellent mom.
"Because Waffle came to Longmeadow with a young colt in tow, we knew it 'wasn't her first rodeo' when it came to being a mom, and she's doing a fantastic job her second time around," Amanda said. "They have bonded perfectly." Amanda knew that after all she's been though, Waffle deserved that nice maternity shoot to always remember the pregnancy.
But according to Amanda, Waffle really enjoyed that bit of extra attention. "We know she enjoyed herself," she told People. "She definitely doesn't mind being the center of attention, and Waffle will take any chance to relax in the sun surrounded by her people. It was a beautiful day, and her maternity photos turned out gorgeous."
Once her baby is weaned, both Waffle and the filly will be up for adoption, in case you're looking to add a miniature horse to your family. But for those who are unable, Amanda also has a secondary way for people to support the two of them. "We've created a special fund to help offset expenses related to Waffle's care and the care of her foal," Amanda said. Obviously, she knew that such a great maternity shoot would lead to added interest.
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch does a lot of good. They offer summer programs for those looking to learn more, and they also celebrate all of their animals in unique ways. They also keep those who are interested up to date. For example, even though the filly has been born, they've let fans know on May 18 that she had to be moved at one point to help her thrive. They noted that the University of Missouri "began treating the filly with nutritional supplements and antibiotics," and shared photos.
Waffle isn't the only star of the show. The rescue also helps its other horses celebrate big milestones. For one, a horse named Twister recently celebrated his 14th birthday. Without a doubt, this rescue cares about every animal who comes in. If not, they wouldn't have thought of celebrating them with professional photo shoots for memorable occasions. Waffle and her baby are in excellent hands.
