Biasini set off home this morning. He had a very early breakfast and then a short walk around Standing Oak Farm just to get a bit of exercise before the long trip. His travel trunk was packed and ready to go.
His Export papers were all ready. All horses returning to Canada must have been inspected by a vet and found to be healthy and then the Department of Agriculture forms are filled in and approved. If Biasini did not have these health papers and proof that he was a returning Canadian horse he would not be able to cross the border into Canada. But Biasini’s were all ready to give to the transport diver.
Then, right on time, the transport arrived. My husband David gave the driver a wave to let him know which part of the barn Biasini was in.
Soon Biasini was loaded onto the transport. I always pay that bit extra for him to have a box stall for the 30+ hour trip. Here one of the drivers holds Biasini while the other driver sets up the partition.
Biasini took a last look at the Florida farm and bid farewell to Coach Lou and his Florida friends.
The driver then backed up the big transport.
There were already horses on before they picked up Biasini; one horse from Wellington and four racehorses from Payson’s Park. They would make one more stop in Ocala, for one more horse, and then be on their way north.
The transport turned around and left the farm. Our Florida season was over. But what a great time we had!
Tomorrow morning my husband and I will start our drive north. It will take us longer than Biasini as we do not go straight through. We will drive for about 10-11 hours a day and stop overnight tomorrow and the next day. Unfortunately the weather forecast for the day we hope to get home is dreadful….an ice storm! In the middle of April….? There is no driving in an ice storm. It does not matter how careful you are, or what tires you have, driving on sheets of ice is just not possible. So if the weather turns bad we will just take an extra overnight on our journey and wait for the weather to clear.
Biasini will be met by the barn manager Carl Callahan at Oakcrest Farm and he will know right away that he is back home. Carl has already told me he has Biasini’s winter blanket ready on his stall and advised me to send his warmer stable blankets in his trunk with him. What a bizarre spring this is!
I shall not be posting for a few days but will try to keep up with my fellow bloggers posts in the evening when I can. Have a nice weekend everyone!
I’d love to hear from you!