If you read the first blog, you know that I bought a horse and she gave birth to a foal in a winter where I initially would only teach ski lessons. That was the beginning of my own breeding and life in Austria. Still, I went to the Netherlands for a while. After the winter of 2015 - 2016, it was time to go home in early April. That summer I was going to work with my mother in home care, a vacation to Rio de Janeiro was planned and after that there was no concrete plan yet.

The Journey to the Netherlands.

The journey was now a bit more complicated than planned. I was not the only one going home, Issy and Finn of course also had to come along. We did not have a trailer ourselves at that time and it was actually the best option to arrange transport. On April 7, early in the morning, a large truck came to pick up the horses and then left for Germany. There was a break, after which they drove on to the Netherlands. Their new home would be at 'Manege de Dragonder', where I used to have my grooming ponies. That same day I drove with my father, who went back and forth, also to the Netherlands.

The next day, April 8, Issy and Finn would arrive at the riding school around noon. Both came off the truck very fit. The driver indicated that everything had gone great, that the foal had also survived the journey well and had not tried to lie down once. We took them to the meadow for a while, where they could stretch their legs after the long journey. Very proud of my 4 year old mare and 2 month old foal who had survived this trip so well!

The summer.

Issy and Finn had a lovely time outside every day. I went to see them every day and I was very happy with my horses. I didn't want to think about the fact that I actually had to sell Finn.

I didn't have a saddle for the first few weeks. I lunged her a lot so that if I had a saddle I could get back to work with her right away. By lunging I got to know her even better and the real work could now start. I made an appointment with a saddler. I really wanted a jumping and dressage saddle. He came by with a trailer full of saddles. Plenty to choose from and try. I tried two jumping saddles and two dressage saddles. Despite the fact that I hadn't ridden for a few weeks, she did great. For the dressage saddle I chose a black saddle from the JC brand and the jumping saddle in brown from an unknown brand. Now we could finally get started!

Issy picked up on everything very quickly, she really wanted to learn and always work. We trained hard all summer. In the meantime, Finn also grew rapidly and soon turned out to have the same character as her mother's. When she was about 4 months old, we could walk around the barn on our own. She loved brushing and I really bonded with her.

Inspection in Houten.

When I came back to the Netherlands, I immediately registered with the NHPS, the studbook for the Haflingers in the Netherlands. The foal check day was in June. Here the foals would be viewed, chipped and photos taken for the horse passport.

In August there was an inspection in Houten. Unfortunately I was unable to attend because this was at the same time as my vacation in Rio de Janeiro where I watched the Olympic Games.

Before I went on vacation, I ordered a special halter for Issy and Finn. I practiced with Issy and hoped for the best. My father and a good friend drove to Houten with Issy and Finn. She made sure that my horses were neatly presented. Issy eventually went home with an Ia and was commented that if she got more foals she could get even better. Nice to get such a comment, even if I couldn't be there myself.

Competitions.

A small dream was to be able to compete with my own horse one day. I used to ride competitions with my grooming ponies with great pleasure. In June there were mutual competitions at the riding school. Even though I had only really been riding with Issy for 2 months, it seemed like a good time to test how far we were.

The dressage competition went great, we finished second and I was very happy with this first success. I decided to request a starting pass and sign up for more competitions. In the fall there were a number of real Haflinger matches planned in the Netherlands. In the meantime I also had my own trailer and my BE driving license, so the competitions could come. Issy was very good on strange terrain, but riding the tests turned out not to be that easy. She was also only four, of course. Despite that the competitions did not always go the way I wanted, we both learned a lot from it and we have become stronger as a team.

Many first times.

The whole summer was full of first times. The first time a foal check day, first inspection, first competition. But also a first time jumping, for the first time alone on a ride outside, on a ride to the forest and through the dunes.

Jumping turned out to be something Issy really likes. After a few free jumps in the inner arena and a cavaletti while lunging, I thought it was time to try a jump under the saddle. She also picked up on this very well! In this video you can see how we jump a course for the first time, of course not flawless, but it was so much fun!

We had already made an ride outside in Austria, but not alone. Opposite the riding school was a small nature reserve, but big enough to be able to take a ride every now and then. I decided to go out on my own and this was no problem.

I went to the forest together with a stable mate. This was the first time with the trailer, while Infinity stayed home for a while. Issy was happy to get away from the little monster. We could canter over the wide paths. We also tried the dunes once. With the trailer to Castricum where we would go on a ride, organized by the riding school where a good friend rides. At that moment Infinity was already away from her mother and so we could go out longer. However, the many trotting and galloping through the loose sand turned out to be a bit difficult. But she didn't care if there was a bit of a distence between her and the group, Issy would never give up! We both really enjoyed the wonderful rides, nothing better to enjoy nature with your horse!

Infinity.

Selling Infinity was very difficult. I had developed an enormous bond with her. I couldn't, she was my first foal. She couldn't be sold. Fortunately, I have very sweet parents who have supported me enormously and still do. So Finn could stay! After separating her from Issy at the end of the summer, she went to another stable, where she could continue to grow.

Back to Austria.

In the summer I had already been busy with the fact that I wanted to return to Austria. Winter was clear, I was going to be a skiteacher again. The summer, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult, what was I going to do, preferably something with horses of course. By coincidence I came across an advertisement on the internet for a stable worker in the Zillertal. I applied and I was allowed to come by. I then went to Austria for a few days to see if it was something. I was allowed to participate for a few days. It was an outdated stable, with an older owner, from whom I would take over some tasks. I would take care of the horses and ponies, give lessons and go on rides with guests. It seemed like a nice challenge and so I decided to go for it. I was going to start there after the 2016-2017 ski season.

At the beginning of December it was finally time to go to Austria again. Of course Issy had to come along, Infinity stayed in the Netherlands. This time I drove together with my father and the trailer with Issy to Austria. At midnight we were at the riding school. The car was packed with stuff for me and Issy, horse in the trailer and we were ready to go. Every 3 hours we stopped to see if everything was going well, refill hay and we could continue. Around noon we arrived at the Kiendlerhof, where she also was last winter.

The adventure could begin!

Love Fabiënne