The water jump at Ocala 3DE
Hi everyone,
Sorry it's taken so long to get my first blog up, I have been flat out!
On the 28th March I left Sydney airport and flew into LA, I had a great flight, arrived, got off the plane went straight to line up for customs, about 45 minutes later I had almost reached the customs desk, I went to get out my passport, disaster! It had been stolen from my bag, it was there when I got off the plane and now it was no where to be seen, I tipped everything out of my bag onto the floor, security checked the plane, no sign of it!
In the mean time I was asked to be seated along side a kiwi who had a past record in the States for a drug offence. We sat their waiting and waiting until finally they said ‘we will take you to our customs office across the road’ (about a 5 minute drive). We were shoved into the back of a proper criminal van, one that you would see with criminals in it with their hands handcuffed and locked inside it, well that was me and my kiwi buddy!
When we arrived to their office I was searched, questioned about every little detail, they took everything out of my 2 suitcases, made me pack them back up, I wasn't allowed anything, no phone, not even a belt (incase I tried to hang myself). I was shoved into a cell, as big as a stable, with a TV that had one Chanel, some water, nothing else. And I had to be escorted to the toilet.
I sat and waited until they would question me, work out what they were going to do, finger printed me, the lot! Finally 4pm came, I had been in their since 9am, I was free, after a lot of paper work and crap!
Off I went to try and sort out a flight to Atlanta then to Gainsville, which is 30minutes from Clayton's.
I was on two standby lists and finally the next morning at 6am, after spending the night in the airport, I was on my way to Atlanta. At 5pm I arrived in Gainsville … finally I was at Clayton's.
Clayton's trailer that carries six horses
When I arrived I had a quick look around, the place is beautiful.
Clayton is very busy as he is the Canadian coach, he also has a few eventers in work, most are for sale, along with some client’s horses.
Me riding George, a six year old from Germany
I've only been here for two weeks and I've been exercising the horses and I've had some help from his Yard Manager, Lisa, who is brilliant! I look forward to learning more from them both!
Rudy - another six year old from Germany
Back to my passport, I had to fly to Washington DC last Sunday afternoon to get a whole new passport! This trip was pretty straight forward, I went in Monday morning, gave them my forms, they said 10 working days and you will have it, ok brilliant! I had about two hours to have a look around then off I went back to Clayton's. The next day back at the farm, a man delivers me a letter - my passport had arrived overnight! I couldn't believe it.
Preparing Cadillac Cruise for his dressage
By this stage it's Tuesday and we are getting ready to go to Ocala farm horse trials, three day event, about a 40minute drive. Clayton had one in the training (equivalent to pre novice but less technical) and one in the prelim (equivalent to a tough 1*) and a client who is from South Africa had her horse in the CCI2*. They finished up rather well.
Meanwhile I was hit with the flu on Saturday afternoon and had to go back to the farm.
Cross country jumps at Longwood ... just for schooling
I forgot to mention we went to Longwood farm a couple of times for some Show-jumping and cross country schooling, it's like Disneyworld for horses, the facilities are amazing!
I hope I've covered everything that has happened so far and I will try to blog at least every two weeks!
Cheers Wendy
