Lotus Land
I’ve just arrived home from Just Horsin Around 2010 and inaugural horse expo put on by volunteers in Nanaimo, BC to raise funds for SPCA horse rescue efforts. This show grew from ideas tossed around last February when 27 horses were seized and rescued from near Vernon, BC. At the time I was working with Cathy Cross on the sale of a horse and she convinced me I should make the trek. Now on the otherside of the trip…oh, mama… that’s a long way to go. I was gone a full week and am on day 2 of the recovery phase.
I had an amazing time and met some wonderful people, starting with overnighting with Cheri & Joe at Barriere (I found them from their ads on Kijiji and really appreciated their hospitality). It was a chance to show some of our products to Islander’s that never make it to the Mane Event. Starting with the ferry over, I met Glen from G&H Horse Transport, who works parttime as a deckhand on BC Ferries. I’m looking forward to some reciprocal business with him. It was late when I finally arrived at Ferris’ (Ferris Fencing). I had brought with me a mini/shetland cross pony I found Ferris’ purchased for their granddaughter. So Thursday we put the little guy through his paces. I also drove Goldmine, as he was supposed to give a demo at the gala on Saturday night and has only been in the shafts twice previously. If you know me, …, you know about my good intentions and how I’m always scrambling to keep up.
Friday, I was late moving into the show, as I had used the day to drive again and clean my truck/trailer. A stop in Nanaimo for groceries and last minute copying saw me move in about 8:00. There I finally met show organizers Jacque, Shannon and Pat, along with Kevan Garecki from W4 Horse Transport. I was cooked and elected to set up in the morning.
That was a mistake, as our product line and display has become way more than a 1 person job. Shortly before show opening I was seriously threatening to pack someone in the Bale Buster Hay Steamer and bury them in my composter when I got home. However, although I didn’t see much, the show was amazing and all done by volunteer instructors, clinicians, saddlefitters, nutritionists, etc. If anything they had too much going on with a lecture center, 5 round pens and two instructional arenas. They raised over $8500 for BC SPCA Horse Rescue.
I had taken Goldmine and Joey with me to showcase the Caspian Breed at the Gala, Saturday evening. I didn’t have a clue how weather dependent the venue at Beban Park was, but despite some light showers and cooling temperatures a large crowd remained. I got Goldmine out way too early and he was upset about leaving Joey at this point. So, and I know I am the only person crazy enough to do this; I got Joey and ponied him from the cart until it was time to go in. I basically just gave the history of Caspians while trying to drive Goldmine and used Joey as an exemplar of the breed. I couldn’t have been happier with Goldmine. He drove coming down into the bridle, negotiated serpentines around cones, did hard turns both left and right, backed up and worked into a canter; not bad for a very greeny, his first time in an arena. I got some very positive feedback on Sunday about our demo.
Sunday was a nightmare after the show. I had truck trouble. I had tons to pack. I ran over two stacked tables driving out of the arena. I took the ponies for grass and Joey got away and after trying to outsmart him for 2 hours left him out overnight. On Monday, I drove right past Duke Point to Ladysmith trying to catch the ferry. But I met a great guy on the ferry, a trucker for CFB Comox and he taught me a lot about our new truck and how to maintain it for longer life. I stopped at Milner Downs to meet Natasha, a contact Cathie had set up for me. Then I tried to make another call on a client and got hopelessly lost on the backroads between Ft. Langley and Abottsford. I think its definitely time I invested in a GPS. The Coke was wet and slippery, but we made it. I had a place to overnight in Clearwater, but cratered at Kamploops and overnighted the ponies on board at the Husky station. That sucks because you’re awake when they are. Tuesday was jusst long and I got home around 9.
So this weekend, I run the place while Glen goes to Fami Camp. Next Wednesday, we leave for overnight in Cochrane, a business call, a pick up for Kathleen Rawls of Mr. Dragon Stud in Oregon and we’re off to Walla Walla, Wa for the Western National Welsh Show.