In this blog the months of April and May. The end of the lockdown, working with the foals, practice, practice and more practice is very important. The moving of Finn and Sensation and the yearling inspection.

April.

We were in lockdown for a while. Luckily the stable was close by and I sometimes went for a walk and watched from the fence when they were outside. I could also keep an eye on everything from my balcony. I know that my horses will not be short of anything, even when I am not there, but it is still nice to be able to see them. April 4 the weather was nice and I decided to take some pictures from the fence. Intizara was very photogenic and looked good. Sensation in contrast wanted to show his fast side and started running with his mother!

Normally I start practicing with a halter quite early. Not because they have to, but because it is useful when they are already used to something. Fortunately, I was allowed to return to the stable in mid-April. Intizara was already 1,5 months old at the time and was therefore somewhat larger than Sensation, which is almost a month younger than Intizara. When the are a bit smaller it is easier to approach them.

Sensation was easy, he could be touched everywhere and so I could put a halter on him very easily. Far too big, but it was just for the idea, a few minutes and then off. Intizara was a bit more difficult, but persistence wins and I also managed to do it with her. Repeat over and over, at Sensation this often went well. With Intizara I noticed that I was a bit behind. But with a lot of practice I would still achieve my goal! Practice makes perfect and so it is. The more you repeat it, the easier it gets.

Press also grew very fast, she was already a year old! I took a picture from the side so that I could later compare it with other pictures to see how much she had grown. We already lunged a lot to prepare for the yearling inspection. We also practiced the presentation, she always paid attention and enjoyed working.

May.

Finn and Sensation's move was planned for this month. This summer I was going to start my new job at the campsite nearby, the same campsite where I used to go on holiday with my parents for years. Normally I would have already started there, but because of the corona the campsite stayed closed longer and there was no work for me yet. I did take Finn to her new home.

She got a big box next to the ponies from the campsite. From that moment on I would also feed the ponies there every day and clean out the stables. So I had something to do every day! Finn thought it was all exciting at that new stable. Besides the ponies, there are also goats, chickens and rabbits. As soon as the roosters started to crow, she was stiff in the box, she had never heard this before! Fortunately the tension was gone after a day and she was fine in her new home. Sensation, on the other hand, thought everything was very interesting!

After a few days of getting used to it, I started picking up Finn with her training again. After she had given birth to her foal, I had already been riding a few times, but now she had to slowly get back to work. This summer she might also take part with the kids in some lessons at the campsite.

The yearling inspection in Ebbs was scheduled for May 12. Normally this is always earlier in the year, but this was all different because of Corona. In the meantime, mouth masks were required here in Austria, so we also had to wear a mouth mask during the inspection. Per horse there were two persons allowed. So no visitors. The whole day was planned in such a way that not too many people would be present at the same time.

Impressive was washed and packed and together with a friend who would help me we drove to Ebbs. We were on time so we could walk a bit to relax. Unfortunately, we were the very last and Press only got more nervous. All other horses could go and she had to stay. Where she was so relaxed at first, she could not stand still so well afterwards. I asked the person in front of me if he could please stay until I was done so we wouldn't be left all alone. Finally it was our turn. What I was already a little afraid of, standing still for the jury was no longer really an option for Press. After a lot of attempts, the jury indicated that I was allowed to go in walk. I walked the triangle, she did this very well, she was finally allowed to move! Fortunately she has good movements and was able to show this too! We got an IIa + rating, I was satisfied and we could go home again. As soon we were in the car we could finally take off our masks and we could breathe properly again.

At home we tried to take a photo, but here too standing still was no an option. Although it didn't quite turn out as I hoped, I was very proud of my amazing mare!

Now that the yearling inspection was over, Press could be just a young horse again and enjoy her life. And where better than on the pasture! May 17 it was time to take the young horses to the pasture in Ginzling. A beautiful piece of land in the mountains, where the horses can enjoy themselves immensely.

Now that Press was on the pasture, I had one less horse to deal with. Of course I visited her, but I had more time for the foals again. The foals were now well used to their halter. Next step: let them get used to a rope on it. Over the years I have developed my own method for this. It is important that they learn that when the do good, I relax, that feels leek a reward to them. As soon as I attach a rope for the first time, I don't do much yet, but at least try to keep them with me. As soon as they try to jump, run, or turn around, I put some pressure on them, then when they move in the direction I want, I take the pressure off. Sometimes this is a small battle and sometimes not. And this year they were both very cooperative! Intizara and Sensation quickly realized what the intention was. After two times I was already able to walk around their mother in the box without too many problems. What I do with them never lasts longer than 10 minutes. Not long, but long enough to have contact with them, let them get used to me and everything around it.

Securing them on the site of the box, also came quite quickly afterwards. This way I could brush their mother in peace and then also brush over the foals. Intizara always kept looking at me and asked if I really wasn't going to hurt her, but let everything happen. Sensation, on the other hand, knew as soon as the halter arrived that it was time for attention! He loved everything. At the end of the month I was already able to walk around the riding area with him, while Finn remained in the box. He thought it was all fine!

I made many rides with Issy. Enjoy the beautiful weather and if the temperature permits, also get into the water. We always ride along the Ziller. There are several points where you can enter the water a bit. Issy now knows exactly where the entrance is and goes around the corner by herself. I have no choice, Issy wants to get in the water. Issy is not a horse who likes to stand still, she always wants to work and preferably a lot! But once her hooves are in the water, she can stand for hours if I let her! She really enjoys it and I with her!

In the meantime, Issy and Infinity were both already covered again. Issy again with Amerigo and Infinity with Sevruga. Around day 18 we tried with the stallion how Issy would react, she did not seem to be in heat. On May 16 the vet was in the stable and made an ultrasound, she turned out to be pregnant!

Unfortunately Finn became in heat again and so she was not pregnant. Then cover again. After the second time I had an ultrasound made. Not really Finn's favorite. As soon as she sees the vet, her eyes almost fall out from the stress. She was given an anesthetic so that the vet could see safely. Even with anesthesia there was some tension, but the ultrasound was successful and she turned out to be pregnant! 2 foals on the way for 2021! Couldn't be better!

Love, Fabiënne