It has been quite a while since I have written a blog, but all the more fun now to look back on everything I have experienced lately. I posted the last blog in early February so more than half a year on.

Winter came to an end, the studbook recording was scheduled, my foal was born, I had an intern for the first time, sat on Impressive for the first time, the Tyrolean State Show was planned and I could go on and on. All super fun memories to look back on now. So let's start where I left off, which was February, in the middle of winter!

February.

The plentiful snow in the valley persisted, the horses enjoyed it to the fullest but because of this, training was on the back burner. In February the ski school is always very busy too, so no big deal to give the horses a little vacation.

Sevimli moved to Schlitters this month, his new owner preferred to stable him somewhere else, which of course was no problem. Already very nice to have had him with me for such a long time.

March.

The temperatures went up again, the snow disappeared and gave way to a lovely spring sunshine. The training of Impressive could be resumed and also Infinity had to go to work again.

Issy's due date came closer and closer, I kept a close eye on her and checked her udder every day. There was not much change yet and the foal seemed to be a while away.

But nothing seemed less true. On March 20, Sunday morning, I arrived at the stable. I opened the door and, as always, I was whinnied at. I clicked on the light and was face to face with a foal! GOOD MORNING! Dry and super awake the foal looked at me. Issy stood there relaxed and looked like nothing had happened. She had done it all by herself, no problem, an experienced mother, but still very special! Soon I walked into the box to go and see if it was a mare or a stallion. The foal had a small white spot on its head, which made me think it was a stallion. Issy's mares often had a little more white and I had a feeling all winter that it was going to be a stallion.

I lifted the tail and saw to my surprise that it was a mare! Overjoyed I was, the fourth filly in a row! The tears rolled down my cheeks, quickly I took some pictures and sent this to some people. What a surprise!

Then we still had to come up with a name. Normally I always have a few names on a chocolate list and then once the foal is born, I often know it. But this time I had no idea.... And so I looked all over the internet, searched all the databases and finally found a name. It became Ilaysha!

Just a little step back, on March 15 I had a little accident with Impressive. Every day I took Issy and Impressive to the paddock. I took them both at the same time on a halter and often my dog as well. What had been going well for weeks, now of course went wrong. This time I only had Impressive and Milo my dog in my hand. At the moment I was about to walk through the doorway, Impressive thought she must be scared of something and ran away. She pulled the rope through my hands and jumped over Milo. I was very startled and the first thing I thought was shit is everything okay with Milo and my horse is loose, catch him quickly. Press actually came running right back to me, but when I wanted to grab the rope I suddenly noticed something..... My ring finger wasn't standing as it should, it was hanging there a bit. Quickly I put Press in the stable and put Milo in the car. When most of the adrenaline had subsided, I felt a tremendous pain! This was not good and I had to go to the doctor quickly. The pain made me unable to think anymore and I didn't know where the doctor was, in pain I drove to the reception, walked in and asked where to go.

The nearest doctor was in Aschau itself and I drove straight there. Not very easy to shift gears with a hand one finger of which does not do what it should and is bent all wrong.... At the doctor's office x-rays were taken and the conclusion came that it was not broken but that my extensor tendon was torn. This doctor told me that I would have to go to the hospital and have surgery. Expressed lightly, this was a very big bummer.... I drove home and in the meantime called someone who could take me to the hospital, I did not want to drive that far myself and certainly not if I also had to have surgery.

At the hospital my finger was looked at again, long story short, this doctor didn't think it was necessary to operate, but I got a cast for 2 weeks and after that I would get a splint. So for the next two weeks I basically couldn't do anything.... You suddenly realize how much you actually use that finger!

April.

The studbook recording was scheduled for April 2. Impressive was totally ready. I was not quite ready. I had exchanged my cast for a splint, but I couldn't do much with it, so presenting Press was not possible. We had prepared so well, this was a pity. Fortunately a friend was there to present her. Of course, as we know Press, this did not go completely smoothly, but I was extremely satisfied. She received a rating of 7.7 points, which is totally fine!

Ilaysha was already becoming quite a lady and had quite a feisty character. So don't wait too long with a halter! Luckily this was a piece of cake, she let herself be touched everywhere and the halter was on in no time.

Because of the nice weather, the grass was also growing very fast and at the end of the month we could already start getting used to the pasture. Every day a little bit longer.

I also got a new splint at the end of the month. This time a removable one, it had to be on at night and was allowed to come off during the day. This didn't feel right yet, so I left it on a lot when I was working and took it off when I wasn't doing anything. This way my finger could slowly get used to the movements again.

May.

Now that the studbook recording was over and my finger was slowly improving, I could get started on training Press. She already knew a girth and bridle, so time for a saddle. This didn't matter to her, as if she never did anything else. Also jumping next to her and hanging didn't interest her at all.

May 18, Issy was scanned pregnant again. So in late March/early April, if all goes well, I expect another foal.

At the end of May an intern started at my place. Since the beginning of this year I was also officially self-employed and so this was possible. She would come to work with me for 7 weeks and take part in everything. Super nice to be able to share everything I have built up and learned here with someone else.

Since the end of March I am also on the board of sport and leisure as part of the Haflinger association. As a goal to inform and motivate more breeders to do more with their horses. At the end of May an evening free jumping was organized. I participated with Infinity. She had never jumped before but I was very curious what she could do. From the pedigree there is quite some 'jumping blood' in her and theoretically she should be able to do it. In the beginning she was a bit uncertain, but soon she understood the game and did well! Definitely worth repeating.

Little Jazz had still not lost her winter coat at the end of the month. Temperatures were already climbing to the 30 degree mark at times, so it was no fun. I ordered a shaver and decided to shave her completely. My little brave princess underwent it all. The body and head were all no problem, legs were a little less fun, but how nice it was when everything was off. A garbage bag full of hair, Jazz was a few pounds lighter and ready for summer!

June.

This month the Tyrolean State Show was on the schedule. I participated with Issy and Impressive. On June 10, early in the morning I put Issy and Ilaysha on the trailer. The intern finished the stable and I drove to Ebbs. I was the very first to arrive. Fortunately Issy doesn't care where she stands or if she is alone or not, so I went to my stable and put my two buds in their places. Quickly back home to get the next one. Once back at the stable, the intern was done with everything and we were able to put Press on the trailer and leave.

By now many more participants had arrived so we had to wait a while at the vet check. Press is completely different in character than Issy and always needs time to get used to it. She is not easily at ease and so in the beginning she was quite stressful in her stall.

In the afternoon Press was up and running and we were able to do something. Once she can get to work, her stress always subsides quickly. She is happy when she can do something. In our category, the 3-year-old mares group 1, there were 6 horses, of which 4 mares had above 7.9 points, so the competition was tough. Press showed her best side and did super well. Extremely proud that we could stand here together. We finished last in our category, but I had already anticipated that. Competing against such good horses is a tough job.

On Saturday it was Issy's turn. Issy also had a tough class. Mares from 10 to 12 years old, 7 of which 4 were Elite. Issy was not at her best, she was a bit on the thin side because of the foal, but we made the best of it. She showed super and in the final ring we got the second last place.

A great weekend, where I am very happy and proud to be here at all with my horses.

Sunday it was time to go home again. I got a little help bringing the horses home. Press could go with someone else on the trailer, so I didn't have to drive twice. A weekend to look back on with pride.

June 13 it was time again for an ultrasound at Press. Huge excitement, but a different feeling this time. Covering Press was not easy. The very first time in heat was shortly before the studbook registration. We kept driving back and forth to cover, but driving 3 times and not having her covered 3 times didn't really work out. She was under a lot of stress and was not in heat at the stallion.

The second time I decided to leave her in Ebbs, so maybe she would get a little more rest. She was enormously in heat at home, better than the first time and so I had high hopes. But unfortunately, also this time she only let herself be covered once and it turned out not to be a hit. She got in heat again and so again to Ebbs.... 3 times is the charm you would think, but no. Press thought differently, this time 2 jumps, but unfortunately still not successful. At the fourth time, when time was slowly running out, the breeding season doesn't last forever, we decided to try her every day and not every second day as usual. She actually let us cover her 3 times in a row! So you would say it should work then! And yes!

June 13, how happy I was, the ultrasound showed she was pregnant! The first step has been taken. If all goes well, next year we will have 2 foals!

At the end of June I went with my intern on an outdoor ride in Gerlos. We grabbed the trailer, took all the gear and loaded Ari and Finn onto the trailer. It's about a 45-minute drive, so easy to do. This time the ride went to the Schönachtal valley. We knew we had to go over the Erlebnisreichweg and then somewhere to the right. After and small mistake we ended up in the middle of the village, but eventually we found the road. What a wonderful ride, tremendous enjoyment! We rode to the end of the valley and then turned around again. After a short break for us and the horses, at a bench in the sun, we drove on. The way back we had the right road, it went more through the forest and was even more beautiful! After a good 5 hours we arrived back at the trailer. Tired but satisfied we drove back to the stable, a ride certainly worth repeating.

I end this blog with a beautiful picture of Ilaysha, who can move around super!

In the next blog I will discuss the summer months with many more fun things I did!

Love, Fabiënne