Finally, an all clear - and special birthday boy

Dr. Miller came yesterday for Remy's recheck, and as I had hoped: He is cleared to go back to work. Yay! Of course, with a transition period, taking it easy for another two weeks, but we can restart our lessons with Roz. It's been two months, but between Remy's care and rehab, my work, and everything else I've had hardly any time to notice. The horses are enjoying the good life, when the weather gets too hot they congregate under the fan while munching hay. Not a bad gig!

Chambord, Teddy, Remy (left to right)

Remy and Saumur (left to right)

It will be a bit difficult having Remy stay at another barn, even if it's just for 3 or 4 days a week, but the kid needs to go back to school, as do I. I'm sure we both are a bit rusty by now. Quite a few of my clients are back into the swing of the show season, but considering the still raging Corona virus I don't have any regrets on missing out. JP and I are still very careful, wearing masks, social distancing, etc. 

Speaking of JP, it's his birthday today. Normally we would have gone to our favorite restaurant, Assaggi, but instead it's a jumping lesson for him and Chambord with Lisa, followed by Maine Lobster Rolls and champagne at home. Life is good!

Bon anniversaire, 
 to a city boy from Paris that took to American country life like a duck to water

When your horse wakes you up at 5 a.m. - because he has an urgent need

This morning we heard Saumur call way too early, shortly after 5 a.m. Initially we thought he wanted breakfast, and decided to ignore him. After all, once he knows that his persistent calling gets the food delivery service at his beck and call, there will be no end to it.

Well, the calling sounded more and more desperate. That woke up Ziggy (our Vizsla), so JP and I had no choice: We rolled out of bed, JP took care of Ziggy and I went to the barn to see what was up with Saumur.

Well, Saumur had managed to let himself out to the little paddock outside his stall. Unfortunately, the door opens to the outside and for some reason it closed behind him, so Saumur was locked out. Normally not a big deal - but for Saumur it is. He is a very fastidious boy, and does not pee on hard ground (who wants the legs splashed, anyway??). So he called because he had a pressing need: to pee.

Once he was back in his nicely bedded stall he opened the floodgates, let out a big sigh, and life was good again :-)

The Sister- and Brother- hood of the Traveling Trunk

Last week while working on a horse heat exhaustion hit me hard (ja, ja, Ingrid, ich hoere Dich!) and I was sick for almost an entire week. My usually very low blood pressure decided to stay in the cellar, who wants to come up in that heat, anyway?

Today we concluded the story of the 'traveling trunk'. It all started with Paulette's friend in Florida. She was looking for a good home for a lot of horse equipment. Paulette knew of my volunteering at TRI (Therapeutic Riding Inc.) and asked if TRI might be interested. Yes, of course!, came the enthusiastic answer from Jen and Jan.

So, how do we get this trunk from Florida to Michigan without spending a fortune? Even though it's late in the season for the horse migration back north I asked Jan, the owner of C&W Horse Transportation if she had a load going from FL to MI? Affirmative. Jan had a shipment going from Ocala to Michigan. And, as she generously put it, "it's for a good cause", she waived the fee. So now we have to find a way for the first leg - Wellington to Ocala, about a 4 hour drive. Paulette volunteered for this part.

And this is how the "Sister-and Brotherhood of the Traveling Trunk" played out:

Step 1: Paulette drives the trunk from Wellington to Ocala
Step 2: Jan picks up the trunk at a layover farm in Ocala, and takes it back to her farm in Michigan

Jan, owner of C&W Horse Transportation, picking up the trunk in Ocala

Step 3: JP and I pick up the trunk from Jan's farm and take it home

Guarding the prize

It took a lot of French muscle to load it

Step 4: I take the trunk to TRI
Step 5: Mission accomplished!

Jenn (Education & Outreach, Para-dressage coach)  and Jan (Program Director, Head Instruction, Equine Manager)

checking the bounty for the TRI horses

Voila - teamwork at its best!