Boy, were we lucky! Chiron stepped on fairly quickly -- motivated by a bucket of feed! Bribery is always a good thing! ;-) The babies were quite a surprise too. Shiraz walked on after hesitating less than a minute and Ripple followed shortly thereafter. We've been very fortunate -- they have eaten LOTS of hay and drunk LOTS and LOTS of water. They were drinking so much on this leg of the trip that we just decided to leave the water bucket hanging in the trailer with them. Chiron got a water bucket hung in his stall shortly thereafter -- it really is surprising how much they will drink while the trailer is moving, especially on a warm day.
The trip down was largely uneventful, some construction along the way, but mostly lots of driving (for Beth, who is STILL doing a fanatastic job behind the wheel) and looking at fantastic scenery. Kentucky is absolutely beautiful. We passed the exit for the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs, and woudl really have loved to have been able to stop, but really needed to keep pressing forward with the babies.
Even as much as we pushed though, it became clear by Nashville that we were going to be on the road 18+ hours and we decided that that was a LOT of ask of babies, and called Cindy Bell to ask if we could overnight them in Resaca, which is her and Kevin's beautiful new place in Northern Georgia, about 70 miles north of Atlanta.
She was a very gracious host, rearranging her own horses so that the three babies could have stalls and providing us a place to hookup for power.
This was a very good decision for the babies and for us! It was very nice to stop and rest and Chiron, who hasn't yet learned to pee in the trailer, was VERY happy to step off the trailer. It took him a minute to get his land legs and then he found a place and REALLY had to go! Glad he didn't have to hold it all the way home! ;-)
[Chiron trotting around Beth early Sunday morning in Cindy and Kevin's front yard.]
Cindy was very nice about the disruption and we were glad to see her horses and had a nice visit and even got to watch the Belmont, which she had recorded earlier. Very nice to see the filly win!! Guess I have to get used to cheering for Girl Horse Power!
Other than blowing a breaker with the trailer just as we were going to bed, it was a perfect evening.
These babies have been so good, you'd think that they had traveled like this their entire lives!
Early this morning, we got up, and I was lucky enough to have Cindy take me on a tour of the property and the training trails by four-wheeler.
Wow. We went places that I didn't think a four-wheeler could *get* to!! Of course, I was a moron and didn't take my camera, but I am so grateful that I got to see it all -- they have a gorgeous place!
[Beth's boys enjoying the early morning in North Georgia.]
When it came time to load, Chiron wasn't completely sure he wanted to get back on, but it only took a few minutes and he hopped on. Shiraz is so in love with him now, she walked up and loaded with no hesitation at all. I am afraid he is her new boyfriend, as she came into heat immediately upon arrival in Indiana. Why did I want a mare again?!!
[Libby & Shiraz in Cindy and Kevin's front yard right before loading.]
So far, we are about 2 hours from home now, and they've been fantastic. Drinking lots of water, which is my favorite thing of all!
I'll take some more pictures and post about their arrival at the Farm later tonight.
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