Sealy is my beautiful, sweet 3 year old thoroughbred filly. I owned her mother and had her bred to a friend's stallion on a barter. I had done some sales for the lady in the past and she owned me for my commissions. So I ended up with baby Sealy. It was a long wait (11 months for horses!) but was well worth it. I spent only 3 cold nights in the barn on foal watch and then Addie (Sealy's mom) so kindly foaled in the middle of the afternoon on April 28th 2004 at 2pm. She was born outside on the lawn for all of us to see (and help). Sealy didn't really want to come out so the Lou's had to pull her out. 
Welcome to the world little baby!
I stood there stunned as I watch my beloved mare have this *ugly* little chestnut filly. And yes, I thought she was a bit ugly for the first day or so. When foals are born their heads are shaped a little odd for birthing purposes and they don't get that "awwwwww....." factor right away.
I snapped tons of pictures that day and just sat with her in the stall. She was very curious and friendly. I was determined to make her nicer and more people oriented than her mother so I had my hands all over her from day one.
Sealy learned quickly that humans were pretty cool and she really, really loved to be rubbed and scratched. As she got bigger she became even more independant. I would take her for walks in the pasture and pick her feet up, lead her everywhere. As long as Momma was in the same area, Sealy was cool with it.
She did accidently slide into the fence when she was a few months old and got herself some pretty stitches in her neck. I should have known that this was going to be the first of many vet visits in her future. She is her mother's daughter. Addie was pretty well known by our vet as well.
Eventually Sealy was weaned from her mother and had to learn to be a big girl. She had a rough time at first because I boarded her somewhere else. She beat herself up in the stall but mended well and finally got over it. She had her pictures taken at 6 months and was officially registered with The Jockey Club as "Simply Sealy." She won't ever race but those papers do mean a lot.
Sealy is now a late three year old. She's been broke to saddle and had 60 days on her back. Then she was sick with a cold for about three weeks and then I became pregnant. So Sealy has been on vacation since the end of April. What a wake up call it will be for her in the springtime when we start REAL work!
Here are some pictures from Sealy's very first ride. I did all the work myself and am pretty darned proud of that. When she went to a friend's house for some riding time they always commented on how well she's been started. She made me proud! I can't wait to start riding her again!
These are pictures from last April when Sealy was boarded at a friend's for some education under saddle. I had two surgeries on my hand and really wanted her training to continue so I sent her there.
I may be a little biased but I couldn't love this filly more. I hope she turns out to be a super star eventer when she's a little older. We shall see!
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