Well today we had a bit of a lye in, we got up at about 7, but that’s a lye in compared with the previous two days where we have had to get up between 3-5! Genie and Rio were stabled last night so they got let out into the paddock, and in true rio style he managed to escape twice in an hour even though the fence was run off the mains! We had a delicious French breakfast with bread and croissants. When we returned after breakfast we turned the horses back out into a different paddock where the fencing was better, however as we were packing the rest of our things and putiing them back into the lorry, Mr Houdini had managed to escape again and was trotting around the garden in a true LBE manner.
Once the horses were bandaged and loaded up we set off to continue the rest of our journey.
We only got lost once this time as we missed one of the turnings, but then we were back on track and heading for the Swiss border.
We reached the border at about 5.15 pm. As we got there the patrol men asked us to pull over because they needed to see our paperwork. So mum took the paperwork and headed to the office. About five minutes later mum returned and told us that they were not going to let us through the border today as we had arrived 15 minutes late after the office had closed! So they told us to come back tomorrow morning . At that point we really didn’t know what to do as we had know where for the horses to stay the night.
Luckily one of the other officers lived in a town nearby called…….., and they knew of a local farmer who had horses that might be able to offer us a stable for the night. After a phone call, it was all arranged and the horses could stay there.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Day 4 - The unexpected day
The day began with another early start. We drove the few kilometres to where the horses had spent the night. When we reached the farm, Genie herd the car so let out a little whinny. We then went into the barn to see their two little heads poking over the same stable door, waiting for breakfast.
So we fed the horses, bandaged them and went outside in the snow to load them. They both loaded fine, so off we went to the border in hope that we would be let through this time.
When we reached the border mum went to the office, and they looked at the paperwork, stamped it and said that it was fine. So we then had to go to the customs office for them to check it which was a few kilometres away.
Half an hour and 50 francs later, everything was sorted and we were off heading to the IENA. The journey to the IENA is only about an hour away, so by 1.00 pm we were at our final destination! What a relief, we finally made it.
So we unloaded the horses, took off their bandages then led them to their stable. They both seemed to settle in well, and Rio seemed to make an impression on people. I don’t know why!!!!
We then left the horses for a few hours and headed to the accommodation to unload our things then to drive to a supermarket.
By 5.00 we went back to the IENA. Both Genie and Rio were settled, so we took them for a little mosey and so they could have a munch on some grass.
On our walk, Rio had a few thresholds and got a little emotional when we passed another horse. Genie was very left brained the whole time, but just became a little more exuberant when we met the other horses.
After the mosey we went back to the yard and let them loose in the round pen so they could stretch their legs and Rio especially could have a trot around.
After an hour we took them back to their stable, fed them and left for the night. It was the end of another day.
So we fed the horses, bandaged them and went outside in the snow to load them. They both loaded fine, so off we went to the border in hope that we would be let through this time.
When we reached the border mum went to the office, and they looked at the paperwork, stamped it and said that it was fine. So we then had to go to the customs office for them to check it which was a few kilometres away.
Half an hour and 50 francs later, everything was sorted and we were off heading to the IENA. The journey to the IENA is only about an hour away, so by 1.00 pm we were at our final destination! What a relief, we finally made it.
So we unloaded the horses, took off their bandages then led them to their stable. They both seemed to settle in well, and Rio seemed to make an impression on people. I don’t know why!!!!
We then left the horses for a few hours and headed to the accommodation to unload our things then to drive to a supermarket.
By 5.00 we went back to the IENA. Both Genie and Rio were settled, so we took them for a little mosey and so they could have a munch on some grass.
On our walk, Rio had a few thresholds and got a little emotional when we passed another horse. Genie was very left brained the whole time, but just became a little more exuberant when we met the other horses.
After the mosey we went back to the yard and let them loose in the round pen so they could stretch their legs and Rio especially could have a trot around.
After an hour we took them back to their stable, fed them and left for the night. It was the end of another day.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Day 2 – The ultimate friendly game
It started off with another early morning. The horses had had a good nights rest and were ready for the day ahead. Rio was fine at bandaging up and loading but Genie got a bit emotional when it came to having the bandages on as she was distracted by the gorgeous looking Friesian stallion that was a couple of paddocks away. After taking the time it takes they were all bandaged and loaded up, with still plenty of time to 
spare.
We arrived at Dover ferry port and queued with all the other freight vehicles for about half an hour, until it was time for them to look at our documents. At the minute it seems like there was all that fuss with paperwork for nothing as they only looked at the export license. Once that had been checked, the lorry was given priority boarding and so boarded straight away. Everything seemed to be going without a hitch until we discovered that freight vehicles are meant to have anchor points, which this lorry did not have. However they said that as it was a calm day we would still be allowed to travel on the ferry. Phew! That was a relief!
So now it was time to leave the horses as you are not allowed to stay down in the lower decks. Before we left the horses, we checked they had plenty of hay, ventilation and we also took along an iPod and speakers so that they could have music playing to help drown out some of the noise of the ferry.
Half way through the 90 minute journey we were allowed to check on them but had to be escorted down there. When we got to the lorry both Rio and Genie were really relaxed and left brained (listening to the Jackson Five!!!) and were not bothered by anything at all.
Finally the call came over the speaker that we were about to dock as we had reached Calais. I couldn’t believe it, my horses were in a France, another Country!!!! Lol!
Three years ago, on a cold dark March evening a former Parelli instructor was in a sand school for over 2 1/2 hrs trying to load Genie. If somebody had told us then that we would be taking Genie on a ferry and travelling down to Switzerland, i never would have believed them. But you know how the saying goes, “don’t never say never ...”
Then it was time to unload the ferry, with the chaos of watching the 18 wheelers barge their way through and having to remember to drive on the other side of the road. Once we had got through all the chaos, it was time for the convoy to group together and check the route that we would be taking down through France and to the B & B that us and the horses would be staying in that night.
So off we went, the journey on the continent had begun. The route we decided to take, which was best for the horses was the main road the A26 heading towards Troyes, although this was a toll road in places and quite expensive it was to provide the most comfortable and steady route for the horses.
spare.We arrived at Dover ferry port and queued with all the other freight vehicles for about half an hour, until it was time for them to look at our documents. At the minute it seems like there was all that fuss with paperwork for nothing as they only looked at the export license. Once that had been checked, the lorry was given priority boarding and so boarded straight away. Everything seemed to be going without a hitch until we discovered that freight vehicles are meant to have anchor points, which this lorry did not have. However they said that as it was a calm day we would still be allowed to travel on the ferry. Phew! That was a relief!
So now it was time to leave the horses as you are not allowed to stay down in the lower decks. Before we left the horses, we checked they had plenty of hay, ventilation and we also took along an iPod and speakers so that they could have music playing to help drown out some of the noise of the ferry.
Half way through the 90 minute journey we were allowed to check on them but had to be escorted down there. When we got to the lorry both Rio and Genie were really relaxed and left brained (listening to the Jackson Five!!!) and were not bothered by anything at all.
Finally the call came over the speaker that we were about to dock as we had reached Calais. I couldn’t believe it, my horses were in a France, another Country!!!! Lol!
Three years ago, on a cold dark March evening a former Parelli instructor was in a sand school for over 2 1/2 hrs trying to load Genie. If somebody had told us then that we would be taking Genie on a ferry and travelling down to Switzerland, i never would have believed them. But you know how the saying goes, “don’t never say never ...”
Then it was time to unload the ferry, with the chaos of watching the 18 wheelers barge their way through and having to remember to drive on the other side of the road. Once we had got through all the chaos, it was time for the convoy to group together and check the route that we would be taking down through France and to the B & B that us and the horses would be staying in that night.
So off we went, the journey on the continent had begun. The route we decided to take, which was best for the horses was the main road the A26 heading towards Troyes, although this was a toll road in places and quite expensive it was to provide the most comfortable and steady route for the horses.
A few hours later and Sophie directing us around in circles we eventually made it to the B & B in Lesmont. The horses were then unloaded and led to their stable for the night.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
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