Quick Trip To Texas

Amy and I pulled out of the Bridlewood parking lot just before 6:00 am Wednesday morning and drove straight through to Bonham, Texas arriving at the Holiday Inn Express there around 7:00 pm. We quickly checked in then left for Ravena, Texas to meet Belle and her trainer Di.  Our first impression of Belle was, "what a sweet mare!"  Both Amy and I were pleased with her kind eye and calm behavior. Amy groomed her up, Di tacked her up then Di rode her first explaining what she has been working on with Belle and what Belle could improve on. Amy and I were impressed with how well she behaved under saddle and her willing attitude. Then Amy got on and out came a big smile. Di worked with Amy on cues and contact and had Amy walk, trot, canter, sidepass, shoulder in and haunches in with Belle. Amy's smile just got bigger and bigger.

Amy knew by the time she got off, that this would be her new mare. Belle is a 10 year old registered Half Andalusian mare.  We left Di's place pretty happy, drove back to Bonham to the hotel and pretty much went straight to bed exhausted from our long trip.  We ate breakfast at the hotel at 6:30 am then checked out and headed to Ravena only to realize we had forgotten to fill the gas tank of the truck last night. By the time we had all the paper work done and Belle loaded into the trailer it was 8:30 am. The trip home was uneventful. We stopped to offer Belle water but she wouldn't drink. It was cool and cloudy most of the way home but around Rolla, Missouri the sun came out and the thermometer climbed in the high 80s. we used the water bucket to wet Belle down to cool her off as she was getting hot and was sweating.  We ran into traffic around St. Louis and then road construction on 55 before Springfield and again after Springfield Illinois but we still arrived back at Bridlewood at 8:30 pm exactly 12 hours later.  Our entire trip was around 1500 miles. The truck worked perfectly and I was very thankful for the 2 horse trailer. It was light enough that we could almost forget it was back there, much easier than driving the big 4 horse gooseneck down to pick up 1 horse. 

As soon as I got back to the farm Madeira was checked. Her udder is about the same with no waxing so she was left out. I'm now ready to unpack, make the coffee for tomorrow then head to bed. What a good day!