Back on Track...Updates Since June 2011

I apologize for neglecting this blog, but I promise to keep it updated at least monthly. A lot has happened since the last post, so it's time to get this back on track! Izzy is now 18 months old!

Here is Izzy from a week old, to July 2011 (approx 4 mos old). She had changed so much and was finally starting to look like a real horse! 

In September 2011 Izzy turned 6 months old. 

October 2011 was a busy month for Miss Izzy. She was starting to really change and go through major growth spurts (physically and mentally). She had decided that there was no way to eat enough grass in 24 hours, so she gorged to the point of colic, to the point of an almost ruptured stomach. From then on out she's had to live with a muzzle for 12 hours a day while on grass. 

Also during October, Izzy participated in a parade in the town of Vienna, Va with approx 30,000 people, marching bands, sirens, running/screaming kids, police escorts and...bag pipes! She handled everything without a second thought and behaved herself a lot better than the grown, adult horses.

She also experienced her first snow! 

And got to go trick or treating around our rural neighborhood! 

During November she had a bunch of firsts. She attended her first show (as a spectator and babysitter to competing horses). She handled all the new surroundings like a seasoned pro. She walked right into the indoor arena without a second thought and politely stood quiet while the show horses where in the ring. 

She got to go walk around the XC course and decided on her own free will...to give it a shot!

In December Izzy experienced her first Penton Christmas! 

She was quite impressed with the traditions! We also moved barns, the day after Christmas. Izzy was now finally able to be out with a full herd of horses. (The horses and animals at the other farm, were not accepting of Izzy and were dangerous for her to be around). 

The new farm has a great ring, with lots of fun things for a baby's mind! 

January was a quiet month, with a bit of wintery weather. Izzy was settling in to the new farm very nicely and was making new friends! 

February was quite uneventful, with abnormal highs of 65 degrees..being a fuzzy pony was very hard! 

In March, Izzy celebrated her first birthday with lots of family, friends and supporters.

In April, Luna was in the hospital for a few days and Izzy got to go pick her up. It's pretty sad when you have to use the yearling to get the adult horse anywhere near a trailer...

In May, I got kicked by a horse I am kept with. She lacerated my leg and was only a few millimeters away from causing major damage (arteries and tendons) as well as potentially fracturing my leg.

She received over 35 sutures and had to be in a full leg splint on stall rest for over four weeks.

Izzy made a full recovery and has a lovely scar to remind her to stay away from other horses around feeding time! After stall rest, Izzy sticked/measured at 13.3 hands.

In July, Izzy had her first dental appointment. 

In August, her Appaloosa blood came out..and spots appeared! 

In September, Izzy started working more on ground work and manners, to prepare for the October show.

In October, Izzy participated in her first show (FEH/Sporthorse In-Hand). She received a score of 69, and consistently receiving 7's on movement/gaits and her conformation. 

Izzy has had a pretty successful first year and a half of her life. She will continue her in hand training and ground work in preparation for the 2013 USEF season to compete as a Future Event Horse/Sporthorse In Hand. She will be registered with USEF and USEF's Performance Sport Horse Registry at the end of 2012. For the most part, she will continue to grow and flourish through the winter season.

I will try to update the blog with training updates as well as a monthly update on her well being and happenings! 

For regular updates subscribe to Tylir at https://www.facebook.com/lubbazzy, or follow Izzy on her own page at https://www.facebook.com/orphanisabel?fref=ts 

On the road again (almost)

Today, I took Izzy on the trailer. It was a bit difficult, but she's so willing to do what you ask she went on without much fight. I should have got her on a month ago, but things have been so crazy lately.

She enjoyed her dinner on the trailer and willingly backed off.

She was sticked at 10.3 hands yesterday, she is growing so fast and getting SO stocky.

She has also outgrown her foal halter (almost, it still kinda fits but is snug) and has moved on to the weanling halter that was so graciously donated to her. It should fit for a few more months (it's pretty adjustable), and then I have another bigger one that should be the next size up :)

I believe her next farrier appointment is this coming week, and then she should be getting seen by the vet in a few weeks to get some vaccines and a look over.

She is on full turnout to a grass field and her regular pasture, with access to the barn. She is still being turned out with Luna, and they're very much bonded.

Here is a video of her yesterday with Luna. There are lots of videos of her on my youtube, feel free to watch them and subscribe so you can get all the latest Izzy videos.

Thanks to everyone who still follows the blog!

Two months old...

Izzy is now two months old, as of yesterday. She is getting so tall and strong. She's in the process of getting weaned, and only receives 2-4 bottles a day, depending on how hungry she is. She is out with Luna, my grey thoroughbred mare, all day now. They're turned out on the big field, and our neighbor's grass field during the day. If the weather is bad they're turned out in the barn with access to the smaller paddock. Izzy now eats about 2-4 qts of a pelleted feed, with 4 cups of foal lac pellets mixed in. She receives a little bucket at every feeding (AM & PM) and then has a free choice foal feeder, so that she can eat when she's hungry and Luna can't steal it. She's already like a big horse, well at least she thinks she's all grown up ;).

For about the last month, we haven't done any work with her, we've just let her be a horse and let Luna teach her how to be a horse. She has forgotten some of her manners in that process, so we may have to have a refresher course ;)

You can see her latest video here

Life Lessons

Little Isabel has decided to eat like a big kid during feeding time :)

Until she discovers that Luna has the good food...

Then she has to get sent to "time out" for stealing food that's not hers..

Isabel, the Rainbow Pony

Izzy sure is turning into quite the rainbow pony! Her black roots in her main/tail are growing daily. And don't get me started on the hair on her face! She's growing in black, grey and all sorts of hair once that chestnut hair falls out! In this picture you can see how dark she's getting. Not a week ago, her hair on her face was grey!

Then you can see here the grey hairs coming in!

She's just going to be rainbow :)

Update

I haven't posted in awhile, the horses and school have been keeping me pretty busy. Izzy is growing so much! It's unbelievable.

She is now turned out with my horse, Luna, during the days. They're best of friends and Luna takes great care of her.

She and Luna are stuck in the private paddock attached to the barn, because Luna decided to gash her hip open. Izzy doesn't seem to mind the small paddock because she has a buddy. The weather hasn't been great, but hopefully if it stops raining Izzy can go out in the whole pasture and really stretch her legs. I will try to get a new videos and pictures soon.

Izzy's Fashion Statement

Anyone else think she's trying to make a fashion statement? I guarantee you'll see this look at fashion week...

Today I spent an hour or so AT THE BARN (sorry if that's unclear and I made it sound like I worked with her for an hour). It took forever to get everything blown up and put together. We worked on desensitizing, child proofing and bomb proofing Isabel. She could care less about any of it, and wouldn't let me take the gator off. It's perfect because it adds pressure to her sides, but doesn't put weight on her back! Then I tied balloons to it, after letting her play with them. She didn't even budge when almost all of them popped under her tummy. She just went walking around with a bunch of balloons flapping behind her, didn't even blink an eye. The only thing she didn't care for was the hoola-hoop (the ones with beads/beans inside of them). Later I will practice loading on the trailer with her and maybe I can think of some more "scary" things to do with her.

Here is the link to the video of her with the balloons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KgAacaIksE