Izzy's Page

We are calling this Izzy's page even though we anticipate changing her name. It's just impossible to choose when we don't know her personality yet. So until we meet her, she will remain Izzy.

Izzy is a Belgian/Paint cross filly purchased thru Sunnydale PMU Foals. Her story begins before we ever met her. We almost didn't look for her. Thankfully, she found us.

When the 2003 season arrived, I knew I wanted a spotted draft and shopped several times a day at Sleipnir Horse Sanctuary's website. Finally I found a filly who appeared to be pinto marked. Well as fate would have it, the farmers computer was giving him problems. He never received word from Scott that I had purchased the filly. She was sold off of the farm during the summer and I lost my spotted draft.

I sadly resigned myself to not having a spotted draft. Sleipnir was closing their doors and I was opening Prism so I quickly became busy. Time ticked by and one evening my friend and fellow rescuer, Kathy Hesse was mentioning how her daughter Heather Fitz, who ran the Sunnydale site, had just two foals left to get adopted.

Knowing they had offered spots, I had to ask. I was shocked when I found out one of my favorites, Izzy was available. I considered her to be the creme' de la creme'. She had the most incredible markings. Her previous adopter had backed out so I had a golden opportunity. I looked at the pics to reassure myself I wasn't crazy and told Kathy right then, I wanted her.

Within 24 hours, I had her paid for and had found arrangements for her to leave Canada. I was blessed that my good friend, JoLynn Langaas in MN, had room in her Foal Kindergarten for Izzy. Izzy arrived at JoLynn's on Tuesday, November 11th.

Izzy was dirty and poopy from being in the trailer. She has a bumped and slightly swollen hock, a runny nose and a cut right behind her ear. But JoLynn says she is curious and beautiful.

Plans were for Izzy to spend a couple of weeks with JoLynn until transport to OK could be arranged. Again God intervened and put a transporter who lives just an hour from Prism on my computer. And he was heading north within 24 hours! So Izzy is expected to arrive in Oklahoma, possibly Monday the 17th or Tuesday the 18th! I will update you as soon as I know more.

11-15-03 Izzy has had 4+ days with JoLynn and she is very curious and accepting human touch. Due to the healing cut behind her ear there can't be any haltering yet. But JoLynn is making huge strides in Izzy accepting us as friends. And food carriers :)

11-17-03 Izzy arrived on a dark and frigid night.

November 2003 - Izzy struggles to breathe. Plus her breathing is very noisy, very wheezy. Her nose is snotty constantly. We will start her on a course of antibiotics to see if we can clear up her respiratory problems.

December 2003 - After two weeks of antibiotics, Izzy's breathing isn't improved but she has learned to pick any undissolved pill out of her food. She conveniently drops it next to the tub to show me I was in a rush :)

January 2004 - Farrier was here but we left Izzys feet since she has the strangles now. We must have a carrier in the herd. We have our suspects but there's nothing to be done. We just have to support her and hope for the best.

January 7th, 2004 - Izzy struggled but even though the strangles was receding, her ever present breathing difficulties caught up with her in the frigid weather. She laid down after I left to go to the doctors and died. It breaks my heart.

Final thoughts - It's strikes me as ironic that she has died so soon after my young friend Jessi. Jessi wanted to be an Olympic rider. She had a very nice horse but she admired my drafts. I told her we would find her a nice warmblood as she got older. When Izzy arrived, I wanted to call Jessi but I was busy with the holidays.
They didn't get to meet until today but somehow it seems fitting the rider I considered capable of taking Izzy to great heights, should be the one to welcome her to Heaven. I feel better knowing Jessi will care for my Izzy. I'm sure they will be shaking things up on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge :)