Monday, September 27, 2010

My Old Kentucky Home




Today we started by meeting all the critters at Marian's brilliant farm, and showing me what Mo, a sweet TB, eats so I could feed him in the mornings. Then Marian took me on an amazing tour of farms and historic buildings. First, she took me to meet Mary, who is one of the farm owners hosting some of the horses for the USPC WEG team. She was very kind and her dog, Hogan was very excited to greet us.

Then it was off to the hunt club, a restored old mill that was just amazing. The outside was red like our main barn although the inside was a one of a kind. It was all beautiful wood. The floors were nicely laid wood planks, stained and oiled, and the ceiling was wood beams that were amazing. It was two stories tall, complete with ropes to drop from the windows as a fire escape. Being a mill, it was right on the river. It also had a club swimming pool. Then right across the street was a house and the kennels for the hounds, plus a huge barn that used to be used for the hunt horses.

After are tour Marian took me to Cathy's farm (Fox and Feathers Farm) where Kanobi was going to stay. Cathy was so nice and has an amazing way with her horses. Her barn is really neat (it is a big barn, 10 stalls + tack and feed rooms and x-ties with amazing lighting). She introduced me to the horses and then she went back to work. I knew she had a lot to do, so I tried to give her her a hand the best I could. Then we put Lieutenant, a chestnut with a blaze and 3 tall socks, in the jump chute and she jumped him around. He just got better and better. She then took me to the house and made me a delicious turkey sandwich, and allowed me to stay in her cool, air conditioned house to wait for Kanobi while she went to the store. I greatly appreciated it!

It was 2:45pm when Kanobi finally arrived. He looked great (not phased at all by the trip). I took off his boots and put him in the field where he enjoyed just trotting around then reared straight up and did 4 big hops on his back legs. He loved not being cooped up after 24 hours of hauling. Then I brought him out and gave him a shower and a vetrolin bath, and took him back to the field. After a bit, I put him in the stall that Cathy had helped me get ready for him. He took a good long roll (3 times) and was cover from head to keg shoe in shavings, but completely happy and settled in. Then when the other horses went out for the night on the field, Kanobi wanted to go too! (If you know Kanobi, he might just jump out!) So, Cathy was kind enough to put him back out for me since Marian and I had already left. That was just what he wanted, happy again.

On our way home we went to the grocery store and bought some food. For dinner we had pizza (for some reason I was craving pizza!) Between the two of us, we burnt it……but once you got past the smoke pouring out of the oven and the chiseling it took to get a piece off the pan, it was actually quite delicious! Ok, all for tonight, thanks so much to everyone back home, hope its cooler for you, you’re the best!

Off, off and away to Kentucky


Today I left for the airport with plenty of time to spare, but that didn’t matter when our flight attendant was “just running a little late”. That little late was more than ½ an hour late as we finally ended up with another flight attendant that arrived from another plane and was willing to come on our flight. I was sitting with 2 guys about my brother's age that were just like my brother: funny, jokers, and very open. We were joking around quite a bit, then one finally said "do you want us to be the extra flight attendants?" She seemed quite insulted and said “you have no experience. You have to be able to handle situations and help people, plus have first aid training.” They only paused a second before they continued with, “ I’m sure she missed some things but if she didn’t then between the three of us we could do it, lol: we all had first aid training, and were already being tested with how we handle things and how hard can it be to say would you like anything to drink, or do you have any trash?” The rest of the flight went smoothly but that was clearly my highlight!


As for my connecting flight, I had 8 minutes to get from one gate, up an escalator, down an escalator, up some stairs into a shuttle, down another escalator, then right past the ticket lady and on to the plane right before they pulled the gate away. But I made it!

After arriving at Lexington, I went to try to find my bag as the airline said my bags (with all my riding gear) would probably not make it. Keelari would know what I was going through…. But guess what, ........it was there!

Next, it was off to find Marian, whom I had never met other than a few conferences calls and e-mails. She was right out front and she's an amazing person. No, I'm not just saying that because she put candy in my room and gave me the most comfortable bed in the world. And now that I’m thinking about it…. This bed is looking better and better. I'm going to have to call it a night. And for those of you who are at the barn thanks for all your amazing work, and for allowing me to go on this once in a life time experience!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Off to KY

This Blog is to keep my family and friends up to date with my adventures in KY, I will post some updates along the way when I have a little bit of free time and an internet connection.

Right now my horse Kanobi is in TX, enjoying his free time in a turnout and not bouncing along in a trailer, but that won’t last long as he leaves first thing in the morning for a 20+ hour ride to KY.
Today I got back from my brother’s wedding (congratulations again!) just in time to ride 3 horses and practices some of the quadrilles for weg. There was two packages at the door when I came up from riding, one was the music for are quadrille tests at WEG, which I’m listening to as I type this, and the other was boots and half chaps that I’m test riding for Ariat, just in time! I leave midmorning tomorrow so I hope to practices some of my test before I leave. As for now, I’m off to do night cheeks at the barns then off to bed. Good night.