Indian Summer…Sort of….
I can’t believe my last post was in September. We were in overdrive, as usual trying to get ready for the sale. The weekend of the sale was brutally cold, as in -20 with a wind. Discretion was the better part of valour and we checked into a motel instead of trying to brave it in the trailer. I kept telling people that this was just the glitch that happens when Spruce Meadows Master’s is on… it has to happen for it to be Indian Summer…it would get nice again; after all everything else was a month late. That was my story and I was sticking to it. Yesterday, it was +17C
The sale was a blood bath. We didn’t get anywhere near what we were anticipating for prices, even with a recession economy; but both horses were sold and to nice people and it is time to move on. That’s what counts.
I seem to have been reading a lot of books lately centering on Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, so forgive me, that’s where this analogy comes from. I sincerely believe there is a coven of demons from the 9th circle of hell that have access to your bank accounts, no matter how wealthy you are. Whenever, you think you have just managed some breathing space financially, they conspire to find a way to strip you of anything that remotely resembled disposable income; a major car repair, failed septic – you get the idea. It always seems to be within spitting distance of what you thought you had. We got hit with a 3x what we expected major bill, the same day we got the proceeds from the sale. If that’s character building; I’m quite a character!
After the sale, Illusion went into training. I can’t believe he’s coming home on Friday. He has been a “kitten”; that’s what Lindsay calls him. I think he is happier at Donna’s “Quinn’s Quarters” than at home. He has progressed amazingly well. Lindsay Gerber has done a wonderful job in preparing him for the next phase of his career. I was fully prepared for him to be gone up to 90 days of training, but he is a star. We are in the process of planning how to promote him. He is going to be “Mr. April” of the 2010 North American Sport Pony Calendar.
Then we were off to the Mane Event in Chilliwack. Hard work, but for us, almost a vacation. We had a very good show. We are now selling RejuvGelz for Crystal McPeak Young and took them with us.
We entered the All Breed Horse Showcase with a Caspian Horse/Anivac display for the weekend of Farm Fair instead of booking a trade booth for the whole 9 days, including CFR. So most of October was spent trying to get Texas fit and reliable in harness. I was working with Goldmine and Lacey (she is headed to a feed lot to work for the winter). It was a treat to stay home and do what I love best. We had a great weekend at Farm Fair. Texas is such a great ambassador; she never moves to the back of her stall and rarely pins her ears.
After the Showcase, time was spent running back and forth to Edmonton, new shocks on the truck, helping Crystal in her booth, getting photos of Illusion. We used Linda Finstad of A Sharper Image, but given the time of year Illusion’s debut as a stallion will be on the Teddy Bear side. Linda was wonderful and we had a lot of laughs.
Thanks to Linda’s ideas, we are now considering publishing a monthly bulletin presenting new products that fit into our philosophy of environmentally friendly, sustainable, non-invasive and proactive maintenance. The intention being we rarely see trainer’s, coaches on the trade floors and it may provide a way for people to stay up to date. Let us know what you think; if this is a good idea or not.
At CFR, Lynne Hoff saved my life; new orthotics…aaah. Subsequently, we are now agents for her other product, Bio-Equine. I saw this the year before last and thought it was awesome, but the price point was too much for me unless it was a show horse. Illusion will go on it when he gets home. I have some major work to do on the website, so keep checking for updates and new products.
Which bring us up to present. Glen is busy packing and I’ve been trying to tie up loose ends all day so I can get myself off to Regina tomorrow early for Agribition. I’ll be gone for 11 days, leaving Glen with the farm. I’ll owe him big time. I’m also taking my Shetland Pony Cart to their Antique Carriage Auction. I hope those darn demons are on coffee break.