In this blog I will go through the year 2019. The year in which Issy gave birth to a mare foal, Infinity went to the studbook inspection, I started riding Infinity for the first time, I quit my job at Fohlenhof and unfortunately I had to say goodbye to Rainbow.

Impressive.

On March 5, at about 7:30 PM, Issy gave birth to her fourth foal. She was covered by Amerigo just like the year before, so this foal is a full sister to Avanti. After work I had quickly changed my clothes at home before I went to the stable, had I not done this I would have been able to see the birth. When I arrived at the stable she was just trying to get up. Although I have been able to experience it a number of times, the birth and the first steps of a foal are still great to see! I can enjoy it intensely and keep looking at it. This time a very special foal, the blaze turned out to be identical to Issys. A little wider at the top, slightly flared towards the right eye, slightly narrower under the eyes, continuing broadly up to the nose. Impressive!! And so came her name, Impressive!

What a wonderful mare, so good and so eager to learn and curious. Together we were able to walk through the village without any problems. At the foal inspection she showed herself very well and even though it wasn't really possible, I decided to keep her. Now I suddenly had 3 horses. She was temporarily moved to another stable because there was no place left. But I was very happy, now I had 3 beautiful mares!

Rainbow.

In the previous blog I mentioned that I had bought a foal, Rainbow. She grew well and was now standing herd with Daisy. One day, at the end of March, I got a call from the owner of the stable where Rainbow was standing. Rainbow had been stuck under the fence and could no longer get up by herself, they had helped her with several people and now it seemed to be going well again. I told her that I was working when I was still at Fohlenhof and was therefore away for an hour, if she thought that a vet should come, she should call. That turned out to be unnecessary and we left it that way. I went by that evening, she was eating, was not lame and nothing seemed to be wrong.

Two days later, I had a day off. In the morning I went to the stable. The barn owner said she had laid down again early in the morning and could not get up herself. They helped her up again, but a yearling that cannot get up by herself is of course not normal. I sat inside to wait and see. By noon I went out again and actually wanted to go home. But unfortunately she was lying again and could not get up. Now I thought it was enough. We tried several vets from the neighborhood, but no one came.

Eventually someone came from the veterinary clinic. He did several tests, including blood and urine. I asked him what he thought and wanted an honest answer, even if it would be bad. What I had thought of myself, he thought of something neurological. Whether that would be a fracture in the spine, a shift or something else, he couldn't say. But it was certainly not good. Rainbow received an IV of 40 liters. She lay flat on the ground, the needle in her neck and the IV hanging from the roof of the stable. I had to make sure she wouldn't try to get up now, that could pull the IV out. The vet told me that if she didn't get up after this IV, it would be over. He left and I had to wait. It was awful, after about 3/4 of the IV of course she started getting up. The stable owner and I tried to keep her on the ground, which was not easy. Eventually she pulled the IV off, luckily she already had most of it in and it wasn't that bad. She got up! I thought we made it! She went straight to the hay rack and began to eat as if nothing had happened.

The next day I had to work, before work I drove to the stable to check how she was doing. She was eating and looked fine. I hadn't been at work for an hour when I got a call saying it wasn't okay. I decided that there was no other way, today had to bring about change otherwise it would be finished. I drove to the stable and called the clinic vet. The vet came and after a heavy conversation with the vet, we decided to put her to sleep. A very difficult and sad decision, but she couldn't live like that. It was better this way.

Studbook Inspection.

The studbook inspection took place in Ebbs on April 7. I had prepared Finn well and we were ready. I knew she was a bit small, but she was good enough for me anyway! I also had to show two mares from the Fohlenhof, so I had plenty to do! At the studbook inspection, the 3-year-old mares must go for the jury and have to be presented in walk and trot. When you enter the ring you first present your horse sideways in front of the jury. Just like with the yearlings. Then comes the triangle, it must first be done in walk and then in trot. Finn has a good trot, so we had practiced well to be able to give it all on the long side. I thought she did very well and was satisfied, you will receive your points immediately, unless you belong to the highest. Which we were not, I had expected that, we got 74 points. I was satisfied and still happy with my horse! The other mares that I had to show to the jury got 76 and 74 points, so fine!

Fohlenhof Ebbs.

May 31, 2019 was my last working day at the Fohlenhof. I have been able to work there for two years with great pleasure. Learned a lot, allowed to ride and train many horses, work with many stallions and still grateful for the opportunity I got here. Yet it was also quite tiring, especially after I broke my back it was not that easy anymore, it became too much. Also the distance and the long days were not easy. After considering everything, thinking carefully, I made the choice to stop. On the one hand very unfortunate but on the other hand also a soothing feeling. Many horses have been given a special place in my heart. For example, the stallion Maigold was really my friend, I have ridden him with enormous pleasure for 2 years. He was sold to the Netherlands at the beginning of 2019, where I will definitely visit him again! In 2019 we also had young stallions to train again, this year I got 4 great horses, my baby ponies were Aron, Maserati, Nandino and Wendelin. Aron and Nandino were not inspected and then castrated, I ride both and Nandino was then sold. Wendelin was sold to Germany and Maserati stayed with Fohlenhof, so I could ride him a bit longer. I will always remember these four, just like many other horses!

Infinity.

After the studbook inspection in April, Finn got some time off. She was coverd for the first time, by Sevruga. This would be her last year on the pasture in the mountains, before 'real life' would begin. We had a photo shoot on the pasture, which turned out to be not so easy with several horses, but the results are great! One of the photos is now hanging in my living room, which I am very happy with!

After she came back from the pasture, it was time to pick up the riding again. I had already had a saddle on her, had already hung and even sat on her spontaneously in the stable. Everything without problems, she had never been annoying. I slowly started to build up again. First lunge, then bit of hanging and then it was time to ride her. Steering was not favorite yet, but a walk was doable. For the first time it was good enough. She picked up everything very quickly and after a while we were already able to walk and trot a bit and even steer a bit.

A few weeks later I took the gamble and we went on an ride outside for the first time, and it was in the dark as well. With all kinds of reflectors hanging around her, we went out with a stable mate. We did not gallop, but walk and trot were no problem. She pretended she had never done anything else!

Leonardiritt.

In November we had the 'Leonardiritt' here in Schwendau. This takes place every two years. Almost everyone in the area rides with his horse or pony. We rode along with the entire club. Issy and I rode for the first time this year. Now Issy is not always the easiest, but she behaved exemplary!

Then I would very much like to close this blog with a lovely video in which Issy and I enjoy the snow. I made this video in January 2019. Hopefully we will get so much snow again this year!

Love, Fabiënne