My daughter, Nicole, and I are well on our way to a fantastic weekend in Aiken, SC to visit my horse and do some serious riding. Our plane lands at the Augusta, Georgia airport right around noon. When making our way to the jet way from the airplane, we are instantly hit with bright southern sunshine and 70 degree temperatures. A stark contrast from Massachusetts, I must say, for when leaving the house this morning my car temperature gauge registered a chilly 18 degrees. It’s amazing what a 50 + degree shift in temperature can do to ones attitude. I, for one, had permanent smile on my face nearly the entire stay.

Nicole and I make our way to the rental car place, which I notice is located conveniently across from the baggage claim. A major multi-tasker, I immediately appreciate the fact that while I am completing the paperwork for my car, I can be watching out for my bag.

Nic against the Rav 4

At Ace Rentals, I am greeted by southern hospitality at its finest. I ask the pleasant lady at the counter to “please make sure that I have a GPS for my trip.”

I am majorly geographically challenged so when Rhonda, my former neighbor and now local resident, said it’s a must have in Aiken, that was the only encouragement I needed. Not only did the rental car lady give me a GPS, at half price I might add, but she threw in a free car upgrade to boot!

I initial all the spots on the form and once the paperwork is complete, I glance towards baggage claim, low and behold, my luggage is making its way down the conveyor belt.
This trip is off to a fine start, if I say so myself.

It was such an amazing weekend; I didn’t want it to end.

I rode with my friends both Saturday and Sunday for hours at a time on the trails. Jaliska popped all the jumps in the woods, effortlessly. It was a great farewell, for the next few months anyway.

Jaliska is ready for Aiken. With the added training and my daily rides, she is in great shape for full time professional training.

It was warm enough on Saturday for me to wash all of her outer blankets. I did this while they were on her, outside of the stable, as she munched on a bucket of grain. I had previously washed her under-blankets and saddle pads in the washer at home over the past few days.

Last night, I filled a months supply of my homemade supplement formula (Cosequin, Gleam & Gain, ProBios and Kosher salt) in daily containers. I packed what was left of the larger containers for refills.

This morning I thoroughly cleaned all of J’s tack. I tucked my helmet, spare boots, chaps, and other essentials, in the container with her saddle and bridle, and then placed all of her blankets, supplements and grooming gear in a large tack trunk. I taped Adrienne’s contact information along with the farm address and phone numbers on both, and then slid her health certificate and Coggins in an envelope in the trunk.

She was ready to go.

Jaliska will ride in style to Aiken

Mark pulled his eighteen wheeler up along the side of the road at around 3:30 PM.

With just a light blanket on and the halter she wore from Ireland (don’t pack your leather one, I was instructed, as she will be in turnout all day), Jaliska walked into her home for the next 20 hours, without hesitation.

She was soon busily tearing away at a bag of hay, with a prime view of the ponies and horses making the trip south with her.

Jaliska makes herself right at home

She was the last one loaded up and will be the first one off. This makes me happy.

Jaliskas’ travel buddies

I normally would have been heartbroken to see her go but since I will be joining her just next week, I am beyond excited. I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfolds in my continued Quest!

When Mark, the horse shipper, called me today to say, “Jaliska’s trip needs to be delayed for a few days,” I was secretly thrilled. The weather has been amazing with the temperature registering nearly 60 degrees today and the seven day forecast showing more of the same. This meant spring riding in January and I want my horse!

There are several hundred acres abutting my stable, providing ample trail riding opportunities

With J’s travel postponed it will give me the opportunity to hack her to the field at least one, if not two, more times before she leaves. Also, since the kids are with their dad this weekend, I can now spend hours at the barn with Jaliska and my riding friends. This is of particular significance to me since I know that I won’t be seeing much of them during the next few months with Jaliska gone. I’ll miss them.

So during my morning ride with my new friend, John, I say, “John, would you like to go on a trail ride this weekend since the weather is going to be so nice?” Yes,” he said, “that sounds great.” “Excellent, I will work on getting a group ride together,” I reply.

I focus back to the job at hand. John had set up trot poles for his horse. I ask him if I can join in on the fun. “Of course,” he says. I notice that John rides quite a bit longer than I usually do. Feeling on top of the world with Jaliska riding so beautifully and it being so nice out, I think, Gosh, I should ride longer, too. So I do.

John set up trot poles, like these, to work our horses

John and I agree to ride again the next morning when we’ll firm up plans for a group trail ride on Saturday.

So, to say the least, I’m not at all upset about this trip delay. What’s meant to be, will be.

The New Year is off with a bang and with two kids, two dogs, a horse, a business to run and house to manage, my blog has fallen to the wayside.

Let me catch you up.

Since Christmas a Grand Prix rider trialed Jaliska for a potential stint in Florida. He concluded that she was too green for competition,  however, he could bring her down for training as he really “liked her” and said “she has heart.”

As exciting as this might be, I felt training her at the most expensive horse local in the US, if not the world, was probably not my best option.

So the universe decided. Jaliska is not to go to Wellington. 

I set Jaliska up for weekly training rides.