Today is Anette’s birthday, and so what better than to post some Isolde highlights from her first week in life? Here is a post for all horse-lovers!

DAY ZERO: Arwen hasn’t more than come back from her afternoon walk when she starts foaling. Ali heads out to inform Anette, who arrives 12 minutes later to a very calm mare and a newly delivered baby foal! When you look at all that comes out of a mare, you just can’t understand how it all fit in her belly!

Learning to stand wasn’t easy, but Isolde kept trying until she got it right (taking little naps in between).

3 hours after birth when all is well, Isolde had eaten and Arwen was free from her heavy placenta.

DAY ONE: The first day of real life and all is well. Isolde is eating well and Arwen is performing marvelously as a first-time mother! I couldn’t be prouder of Arwen, but you all know how fond I am of my darling horse!

Walking is no problem (for most part, at least)…

… and Isolde is discovering a love for humans!

Arwen of course is quick to supervise things, but Anette gets green light (not many others do…).

Dennis is amongst the few animals allowed to approach, but ever since Isolde’s birth, he’s been busy protecting the couple and not showing any hunting instincts at all.

Isolde then works on rolling around in the ground,

…but such hard work quickly calls for some serious resting!

And who can be expected to run around all day long on your first day in life?

DAY TWO: After a 24 hour long seclusion from the rest of “the flock”, Arwen remembers Sahara and goes to greet her, making sure however that Isolde keeps behind her. Sahara is very keen on getting to know Isolde but it will take a couple of days before Arwen relaxes enough for Isolde to get to meet the dominant mare on her own. Which results in some serious Sahara-grunting and Isolde running for cover behind her mother’s back!

Dennis Mugu however has great plans for the two: finally an animal his size! And a female too!

DAY THREE sees Isolde in full discovery mode and gives her mother a hard time trying to keep her out of harm’s way.

When galloping, Isolde discovers a new charm in life: SPEED! Talk about being her mother’s daughter!

Dennis works on his charms and Isolde accepts him!

Soon the two of them are best friends! (my favourite picture in this post, just because the two of them seem so happy)

Every activity requires its own pit-stop!

…before the little filly can decide what to do next!

Which was to go and scratch her head against Anette’s leg. A minute later, Arwen arrived on the other side and did the same. Like mother, like daughter!

DAY FOUR sees mother and filly having a lazy day in the sun (I don’t know what it is about our horses, but they all love to sunbathe!) and Anette is thrilled to have a quiet photo op with the lovely newcomer.

Mmmm, lovely sunshine… At least she’s got something from me too!

Isolde looking like a camel.

Watch out for Arwen when she rolls around! Her belly is still huge…

That’s it for the first week of Isolde’s life. In two weeks I get to see her, but in the mean time, I’m glad Anette gets to enjoy her!!!