I am a big believer in what is “meant to be, will be” and that “things always work out for the best.” So even though I stated in my December post that “all I want for Christmas is for Jaliska to go to Florida,” I really did not understand the full implications of that wish.
The true meaning of my wish was for Jaliska (J) to be professionally trained, full-time in a warm outdoor setting for the winter, and that is exactly what she ended up getting. The fact that she’s going to South Carolina instead of Florida is beside the point!
Checkout this outdoor riding area!
The farm where Jaliska is staying in Aiken, SC is absolutely spectacular. (Visit www.facebook.com/questfortheprix to see more photos of Aiken, SC.) It has sprawling fields, outdoor rings, and a large grassy jumping area, all abutting woods and trails. The farm is in such a rural setting that you drive through miles of cotton fields to get there; it’s like you have checked out from civilization altogether, the only reminder, the buzz of an occasional plane overhead (and of course the state-of-the-art stables). All this and still only 25 minutes from down town Aiken.
The climate is so mild that J is in turnout around the clock with the exception of coming in to eat her grain, and to be tacked and groomed. She is treated like a princess and six days a week she gets focused, high quality training in the morning and is taken for a hack around the property in the afternoon. What a life!
I am so happy that I made the trip to Aiken to visit Jaliska. It more than confirmed the fact that I made the right decision, and while I was there, I got to explore the charm of the city and interact with its residents. I was just delighted all around with the setting and hospitality. I mean really, how many high-end steak houses will let you dine in your boots and chaps? Not an issue in Aiken, “of course you can, this is a horse town” the owner declared!
I just loved it.
With J getting the royal treatment in Aiken, I can now focus exclusively on my own training, with the goal of taking it to the next level. I am hoping that when J comes back I can meet her somewhere in the middle. So, even though I was initially disappointed that J didn’t go to Wellington to train, I believe she ultimately ended up in the right place. What’s meant to be, will be.
