MITAKOLA TOKALAH

Christmas of 2007 ... with a kind eye and a big heart.	Congratulations to Courtney Payne... Bruce and I have given Courtney half ownership of Tokalah as a Christmas gift in 2007. She has earned it. Courtney has consistently put in hours at the farm helping me with the stalls, fencing, waterers, feeding, and grooming. Not only has she helped me with the horses, but she's been a tremendous help with the other critters as well. We're real proud of you, Courtney. Love, Aunt Terrie and Uncle Bruce
Tokalah and Courtney ~ Winter of 2008 Coming in from the pasture.	Tokalah with Courtney's dad, Greg. Spring of 2008
July, 2008	Kelly and Tokalah Aug. 2008
Tokalah, Kimmy and Cloud December, 2007

TOKALAH'S STORY
	Tokalah and Georgia.

It has never been the policy of Gypsy Haven to keep any of our foals for personal use, but on that night in late May something so miraculous occurred that I was inspired to change that policy… the birth of Mitakola Tokalah.

Usually I wait until after our foals are born to choose a name for them, but I had already decided that if Georgia produce a colt I would name him "Tokalah" in honor of the Oglala Kit Fox Warrior Society.

As it turned out I couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate name. Georgia delivered a chestnut colt the color of a red kit fox. Not only did he look like a Red Kit Fox, but he proved to be a little Warrior, as well.

Here is his story...

The delivery was normal and Tokalah was alert and responsive. Shortly after his birth, when Georgia, his Mama, was showing signs of discomfort, I left the stall to get some Banamine. When I returned Tokalah appeared to be sleeping. I administered the Banamine, tied up the placenta and prepared the enema.

As I approached Tokalah, I realized that something was terribly wrong. His chest was still, and there was no indication that he was breathing. He was limp as a dishrag, his legs felt cold to the touch, and I could not find a pulse.

With the help of my husband Bruce, and our friends Mary Lou and Kathy, we immediately began stimulating him, vigorously rubbing his entire body. To our surprise and relief, he responded, and it was not long before he was sucking my finger and looking for food. I milked a bottle from the mare, and when he drank heartily, my hopes were renewed… but it was not to last.

Again, he went limp and did not respond. Bruce and Kathy again repeated the process of stimulating him while I tried to contact my veterinarian. Dr. Sherin was not available and the veterinarian on call did not know how to get to the farm, nor did he know anything about my animals or my background in foaling.
I gave him directions, and returned to the stall, pleased to see that Tokalah had come around and was now trying to stand on wobbly legs.

But again this was not to last. For the problem would occur two more times.

By the time that the veterinarian arrived, Tokalah was on his feet and was nursing the mare while the veterinarian was looking at me as though this were the first foal that I had delivered and that I had panicked, calling him out at 2:00 a.m. when there was no evidence of an emergency. Before he left, I requested that he draw blood.

For the first three nights following a delivery my friend Kathy and I slept out at the barn as we always do, and though we were both exhausted, physically and emotionally, Tokalah appeared to be as healthy and happy as any normal foal, and I knew then that I had chosen his name appropriately.

In twenty years of experience with foaling, never had I witnessed anything that resembled what had occurred with Tokalah, and having spoken with several veterinarians since, neither had they. Four times we had lost him, and four times he had returned to us. Four is a Sacred number, as the four seasons, as the four directions of the Medicine Wheel. The Circle of birth, death and rebirth... Little did I know at the time, that Tokalah was to lead me on an incredible spiritual journey to my Vision Quest.

Six weeks later I was to learn that the experience that occurred on the night of Tokalah's birth would not be the last of his troubles. But as I said, Tokalah is a Warrior. Today he is healthy, strong and happy, and is the first of our foals to remain on the Farm indefinitely. He is now being trained under saddle. He is a wonderful companion... and our journey has just begun... Or should I say "Continuing, as we walk our sacred path."

Terrie McClay