The Eagle has landed

After our lovely Georgian morning, including a ride on the sandy trails in the woods around the farm, we carried on to the Sunshine State on Monday afternoon. The temperature gauge on the truck reading 29 C.

We arrived around 3:00 and found our way to Cabin 4. Each cabin has 4 stalls attached at the back, but we set Luba up in a lovely shaded paddock with many of the other Canada East horses.

Luba looked visibly relieved to see all the electric fence pens. “Oh, this is ride camp! I know how to do ride camp.” And she promptly set about eating hay. She must have wondered what the heck was going on for the last two days.

Kara and Deanna are sleeping in the cabin and I am cocooning in my camper.

First order of business was clipping off the winter coat. Luba had a surprisingly thick winter coat. She is a “flea-bitten” grey, which means she had darker flecks like freckles in her coat. After clipping, she looks like a leopard! 

Then Dr. Hie adjusted Luba. She was quite sore in her hind end from working so hard in the trailer. He also adjusted me later in the day. I was quite sore in my hind end from sitting in the truck and in my shoulders from travel stress. Traveling in truck and trailer for over 2400 kms is not for sissies!

All horses had to be on site by 12:00 yesterday. The FEI officials came by to check the FEI passports to make sure you brought the right horse, to take the horse’s temperature to make sure they were not sick, and gave us numbers to attach with zip ties to the horse’s tack for ride day and to the halter.  Luba was wearing her ratty old barn halter, so I sprinted over to the trailer to get a nice leather one. This is the big league!

Afterwards, seven of the Canada East team members went out for a stretch out ride in the Goethe Forest. We walked about 5 miles. Saw a deer! Then Wendy M and I took our horses for a short canter just to take the edge off. I felt all the accumulated tension of the travel flow out my fingers, my toes and the top of my head. 

This is what we came for. Baby, we were born to run!

One "P" short of a load

Long day yesterday. Luba gave us a scare - didn't poop all day! Eating (E), drinking (D), peeing (P) but no pooping.  Horses that are feeling fine do all for EDPP. Luba was one "P" short of a load!

We finally stopped for supper and unloaded her at a truck stop near FL border around 7pm and she finally pooped! Hallelujah! Stopped at the Rojeck's with Dessia and Stephanie for the night.

What a lovely farm. We are so grateful for their hospitality! Only a few more hours to drive today and we are there!  Also grateful for all our OCTRA friends who kept checking in with us throughout the day. Here are some pictures of the Rojeck's lovely farm this morning.

One more sleep…..

We are ready! 

Uwe helped me get the hay tied down and covered. He hooked up the trailer and has it pointing down the driveway. He made a special effort to make sure that Luba could load on the only patch of grass showing beside the lane way. 

Deanna arrived this afternoon. We all had a lovely dinner at Agave. 

The truck is all safe and ready for the big trip, thanks to:

Bob Peter's Garage

2046 Scott Street, Ottawa

Proud supporters of our Excellent Adventure in Florida!

Let's get this show on the road!

Rig is ready for early morning get-away,  pointed down the icy driveway.

Frozen sand

We got our first real dump of snow last week. That plus some cold weather and me running away from a cold started to get me worried about a classic recipe for tie-up.

Sonja and Horses of the Sun save the day again! I get a text that says "Will aim to work Luba each day for the next week. Pronoia! xo". Don't let old man winter kick you in the butt!

I got out to ride yesterday and today.  Today maybe for the last time before we leave for Florida.  The footing is great - powdery snow - just like frozen sand. It was too cold for the flash to work on my phone's camera, so everything looks pretty blue.

Now that we have the hay loaded in the trailer, most of the big jobs to get ready to go are done. Just washing horse gear, polishing up my saddle and installing the back up camera in the trailer, so we can watch the Luba Show en route.

This time next week, we should be arriving at our destination in Florida, the  Sunshine State. Here comes the sun!

Luba's Excellent Adventure in Florida

It snowed yesterday.

I schooled Luba in the sand ring on Saturday and then drove home in a white-out on the icy Highway 417 with a lame wiper on the driver's side.

Ottawa: Low of -17 C tonight. Feels like -23 C with the wind chill.
Bronson, Florida: 8 C tonight, with a high of 21 C tomorrow.

The North American Endurance Team Challenge in Florida can't arrive soon enough!

I invite you to join Luba's Excellent Adventure in Florida as a sponsor.

Every donation of $50 or more will receive a pair of hand-knit socks or a toque!
 Luba's Excellent Adventure in Florida!

Thanks to our sponsors!

My parents

T minus 15 - Getting the ducks lined up

Wet and rainy today. Good weather for a duck! Wish I had put a tarp over the top of the camper while it was still dry yesterday. Looks like it will be below zero now until we leave for Florida on December 7. Thankfully, the forecast calls for a bit of snow, but no freezing rain.

Luba and I are staying as active as the weather and footing allow. Focusing on body work, staying limber and a bit of speed work when we can. Using the sand ring as much as possible. Had a great canter ride with Kim and Ziggy/Shaka Khan last weekend on a balmy sunny Saturday.

We have been cross training as well - mounted archery! Finally put all the pieces together last Sunday.  What fun! Can't wait for skijoring! Charlotte good some great photos and a video.

Uwe and Samba photo: C. Tremblay

Agnus the arrow retriever photo: C. Tremblay

photo: C. Tremblay

photo: C. Tremblay

Uwe and I go to get hay for the trip on Saturday and Dr. Jenn from Navan Veterinary Services is coming to do the export papers for the trip.  I am grateful for her advice on keeping Luba in good health and making sure we have all the paperwork for the big trip! She is a rider herself, so I feel like she shares the excitement! Ducks of a feather flock together! Thanks, Dr. Jenn!

Dr. Jenn Hubbard, Navan Veterinary Services

The countdown...

“I set my goals, allow the power of the Living Universe to take over, and I enjoy the ride.”

The 100 mile North American Endurance Team Challenge is just a month away.  The gods willing, Luba and I will set out to ride 100 miles in a single day in the Goethe Forest in Florida on Friday, December 13, 2013 as part of one of  Canada's zone teams.

Supportive spouse and daughter bless Mom's adventure.
Deanna and Kara have agreed to crew for us :)
Travel plans are firming up - big girl pants pulled all the way up. Luba, rider and crew heading down in our own rig. Trailer clean and safetied. 
Annual leave approved.
Cabin and paddock booked at Black Prong Equestrian Centre.
Kind Mary has offered her guest paddock and guest bedrooms for a layover in Virginia :)
Paperwork and entry fee payment submitted to Equine Canada.
Flu booster done. 
Coggins done. 
FEC zero. 
Export papers in the works.
Square bales ordered.
Team uniforms ordered.
Bio and pictures submitted.
Luba blanketed with new insulated rain sheet and started on Biotic 8 and Ulcer Therapy Mix for a happy gut for the trip.

And we have even had time to take some group lessons with Sonja at Horses of the Sun and have some great group canters with Captain Wendy on  Club Équestre les Forestiers riding trails in St. Lazare. 

Just ride!

photo: K. Woolley

AND THANKS TO RENEGADE HOOF BOOTS FOR SPONSORING US! 

photo: wendywebbphotography.com