Shanna and I could hardly sleep last night -- our excitement about Tucker's arrival today resembled that of a 6-year old's Christmas Eve bedtime! We stayed up late into the night chatting about his summer with us and happily donned our breeches and boots this morning.
We just spoke with Beth and she and the handsome fellow are en route to Tucker's new summer camp, an eventing barn in Redmond. He'll have a big pasture in which to play and maybe even a buddy or two to beat up.
The barn's great. Just 10 minutes up the road from Shanna's office it's so convenient that he'll get loved on every single day, even when Erin's on a trip. Saddle Rock Stables is a professional barn but it's got a nice, laid-back feel. The folks we met when we interviewed them seem friendly and capable, and we're looking forward to meeting fellow horse addicts and making new buddies.
The facilities are awesome -- an outdoor jumping arena for when Tucker's a bit more fit, and a covered arena for those gloomy wet days that sometimes happen in the Northwest. ;-) There is also an extensive wooded trail system that runs right through the property for more than a dozen miles! So when he's not being asked to go in circles Tucker will be able to chill out under the shade of the trees on superbly groomed trails like he's used to. (And there are maps of the trails for when Magellan (Erin) goes out by herself -- she'll hopefully be able to navigate her way back on the same day!)
Each of us has different goals for our summer spent with this sweet horse. Shanna's eager to increase her fitness and learn more advanced skills on this challenging and forward horse. She's been riding off and on since she was a kid with her own horse, and she's looking forward to learning about some of the more refined aspects of English riding. Erin's, not surprisingly, keen to get back into the show ring after a 15-year competition hiatus. She hopes that as Tucker gets fitter and they all get weekly lessons together, both on the flat and over fences, they'll have the pleasure of getting all spiffed up for a schooling show or two before he heads home in a few months.
Stay tuned for our daily adventures with Tucker as he hangs out at Summer Camp in Seattle! Right now we've got to go welcome the big guy to his new digs!
(And a HUGE thank you to Beth, for entrusting us with her Boy. We'll pamper him and smooch on him and pretty much spoil Tucker rotten....)
Good luck, Tucker! Keep them in line...
ReplyDeleteI know Mother Tucker will be in good hands this summer and I fully expect that when I pick him up this fall I'll be able to try some of those jumps myself! Have FUN and don't let him get away with too much spolin'!
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