Aiken....Finally!

As a kid you always dream about going places like Wellington or Ocala Fla, or Aiken SC to train with the best the Equestrian world has to offer. It always seems like a pipe dream, and one never expects for it to happen in "real life". Thanks to many, many people, I am actually here and keep pinching myself. I cant thank my husband and son enough for allowing me to go and train for a whole month! They are amazing, as are all the family who is helping out...thanks guys! Of course, without my wonderful clients Angela and Marian I might not be here at all; thank you so much for sending your horses. And we cant forget those girls at White North...Liz, Tracy, and Laura....you are the best for supporting me and picking up the extra load while I'm gone.

The horses have yet to arrive due to our friend mother nature and her beautiful winter snow storm, but I was able to unpack, organize, and even get a few groceries today, despite the rain. I drove around and started to figure out how to get places...its really great having a computer so that I can Google map and see the best way to get where I am going. Thanks Angela! :) The GPS is great at sending me the long way around the block! (Grrrr) The farm where the horses are staying is beautiful. It is called Sandy Hills Farm, and there is pasture everywhere! The stalls are huge 14x14 and have dutch doors and huge windows for the horses to hang their heads out. Its is set up like a shed row with awnings on both sides and a courtyard in the middle. The cross country course looks fun and should be a great for tuning the horses back up. There is an excellent bank complex, corner, water, skinny etc etc etc. I will get pics soon.

I have also been privileged to stay with Shari Dale and her boyfriend "D" in a lovely one room apartment with one of the biggest bathrooms I have ever seen. Their farm is located at the end of a development, and is in the beautiful European style. It is kept immaculately clean (who would have thought I could ever walk down a barn aisle in slippers!) and Rose is getting along great with their dogs Ruby and Luna. Speaking of Rose...she has been a great travel partner and is loving her new digs. I am enjoying the quietude, and cant wait to start at Boyd's tomorrow. I will hopefully be doing some riding for him as well as watching the training sessions with our "A" list Team riders.
Therese