Horse Hunting Day #3

Day 3 is upon us!

Excitement filled the breakfast table as Dad, Mum, Conor and I enjoyed a meal anticipating the day ahead filled with beautiful horses and a lot of scary Belgium traffic.
We all got ready and met in the hotel lobby. As I waited the A.C. Milan team that was bunking at our hotel were coming and out of a back room where they were relaxing and getting prepped for that nights game, I found it amusing that a grouped of 3 guys, 2 teenage boys and their father I messed sat in the lobby and waited for the players to pass so they could get an autograph. The coach passed at one point and I was nearly taken out by a group of 5 teenagers that rushed in with autograph books and iPhones in hand for photos and a signature from the great coach. I guess hockey to us is soccer to these guys.

We headed back to Stephex stables and before long we were there, after a very confusing and screwy car trip thanks to our little leprechaun tour guide Conor, including a few circles, a few red lights run and an interesting few moments of Conor sitting smack dab in the middle of a 3 way street.

Stephex day 2 was a great success, we saw 3 horses, first a fiery, gorgeous 7 year old gelding with a total white face, that was just a little too... untrained, then we tried the 7 year old mare from last night (the one with the small star and spot on her nose. absolutely beautiful girl)  and found that she was better outside, in better footing not to mention it seemed as the jumps grew, she improved. Finally a little cutie, a 6 year old stallion that was not our taste but cute as a button anyways, pretty face with a nice long white blaze.

After a cold afternoon we joined Stephan the owner of Stephex Stables for a hot soup for lunch before striking a few deals and headed out. But nothing before Dad and I went back to see Stephan's second business, horse trailers, both solely campers and half living half stalls, incredible machines I might say, gorgeous on the inside, Canada really should get some of those, they would work magic around here and sell like hot cakes.

Since we had been there for hours by the time we went home it was time to simply lay around and enjoy a little relaxing, we headed to a strange Italian restaurant down the street, after probably the best pizza I've every had... literally. We paid the bill and walked home.

It was time to have a few drinks, time to toast the future of our horses. A successful trip, coming home with 2 horses and hopefully another after negotiations but all in all a great trip. The few drinks, turned into a few more and a few more, I ended up going to bed since I was dying of sleeplessness. After a long conversation regarding the owner side of the new horses and a chat with D I'm going to lay my head down and sleep.

Tomorrow will bring a long trip home, but it will be worth it for my pets, my bed and to wake up enjoying my sheets, my house and my real life.


Cheers everyone,


A.Grange

Horse Hunting day 2

Evening from Belgium.

I wish I could be more energetic but after inly around 2 hours of sleep last night I am a little too tired for effort right now.

The day began with a confusing car ride through Italy, I must say it is rather beautiful in the sunlight, especially the Swiss Alps which personally took my breath away! Including the city streets, the amount of people, and the parking... which seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time, some were backwards, others right on someone's bumper or with another car on their bumpers, a mad house to say to least!

We arrived at the barn within an hour. I had made the joke that since the city seemed like it was going on forever we would most likely just turn a corner and be at a horse farm, equipped with outdoor schooling rings and all! Well I was not far off! The turn we made was into an old alley, next to a stone wall that was over 100 years old, there was a large gate that led us about 100 feet from the front door... interesting set up, look West and you have a farm, horses and nice fields.... look East and you have a few small town houses, one next to the other and a main road. A little different from the Canadian and American barns I am use to I suppose.

I have not been on a horse hunting trip in some time but they are exciting. We met "Dixson" a chestnut who gave a lot of love to our riders and us, a lovely stallion who is creating all the rave in our minds! Showing great promise and strength. Then there was a little monster at the age of 5, he is also a stallion and a beautiful one at that a shiny grey sheet laid over him with such amazing spots and features, by far my favorite and I just cant seem to get him out of my head. The way he moved, the way he jumped, his heart, his spirit, just the look of him  captivated me.

After a quick lunch we rushed to the airport to fly to Belgium, had to spiral out of the airfield. I just want to add, if you have not seen or some people may not know about the Swiss Alps, I ask you dearly to put it on a MUST DO list of your life, we had to fly over them twice to get out of Italy, I haven't been mesmerized so much in my life in a very long time I believe. The alps are probably the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen... I swore to myself I would take the trip to they're base and maybe farther up to photograph they're amazing sights. I was honestly so stuck on them, still don't think 40 photos was enough!

The short flight to Belgium was the easy part it was getting through 5-6pm Belgium traffic that was the pain, but eventually we arrived at Stephex, the most beautiful and super complex facility I think I've ever seen! The Mare was ready to go and we viewed her with great success, wonderful horse.
Since our tiredness had gotten the best of us, our rider led us to our hotel to sign in. SCARIEST CAR RIDE OF MY LIFE! I swore I was going to die atleast a dozen times, people in Belgium not only have no respect or care for the LINES ON THE ROAD, but also, pedestrians just walk out any time... you HAVE TO STOP or you hit someone, and either way it is your fault! So scary... Like there are no parking garages in downtown Belgium, get on that government!

Dropped the bags in my room, changed and headed to the bar for something very cold and preferably strong! A deep whiskey later and the rest of the group had joined and we had ordered dinner. As we sat with cocktails a band of large, fit men marched past in addidas jumpsuits with Red and black colours, they were the Milan F.C. Professional soccer team, big strapping guys, soe scary looking, marched past headed back to their rooms, suppose they are in town for a big match as our rider informed us NON-SOCCER FANS.

Enjoyed dinner and looking forward to a busy day tomorrow, today was hard enough but the travel is over until Thursday when we head home to our loved ones, pets and warm, comfy, familiar beds (my favorite part). Cant wait to be home but for now Im just trying not to die in Belgium. And hoping to come home with a horse or 2.


Cheers,




-A.G

Horse Hunters

Benvenuti a Torino, Italia

A long day, with a long flight, met by a late arrival has brought us into Turin, Italy. Torino, though dark under the moons light had proven to be a beautiful place, filled with light and history.

our night ran off lIke many late flights do, check-in to the hotel, find the friends already there, change out of sweaty, gross plane clothes and head down for a drink. I was slightly dying after the long long flight so have been running up and down the stairs as much as I can which will delight my workout Nazi of a boyfriend (<3 sorry D lol).

Tomorrow brings a new, early day. hopefully a trip to the gym followed by a hot shower will bring me out of the jet-lag funk before we get in our cars and drive 30+ mInutes to the stables to view a new horse.

Even with the busy few days ahead the new cities and places are proving to be a new adventure, off to Brussels either late tomorrow or early Wednesday, we will see but for now I am taking in Italia for the first time and liking what I see.


cheers!
-A.Grange