18/08/08 - Going into Quarantine - Georgia Bruce and Victory Salute
Hi Everyone,
Today is our last day training at the Hufendiek's place. Sam (Victory Salute), Carolyn and I head to Aachen tomorrow
where we will be in quarantine for 8 days. Aachen is about 4 hours away by truck. It is a huge relief that we do not have to
fly to england for quarantine. This will make it much easier on Sam, and also on us!
Sam hand I have been doing intensive training. Unfortunately we were not able to get to the competition in Reisenbeck.
His shoes were left on for a week or two longer than usual so that the shoeing would fit in
with Hong Kong. With a lot of rain the ground was too soft and his feet were too long and we felt it was too much of a risk for
his legs. Anyway, he has had his feet done now, and we have been riding through test movements, with instruction from Carolyn and
things have been going quite well. There will horses from twelve other countries at the quarantine in Aachen that will also be flying to the Paralympic Games.
We are able to train whilst in quarantine, so we have another week of training before we get to Hong Kong. We fly out of Aachen on the
27th of August. I will be flying on the plane with Sam, as his groom. This will be a really interesting experience that I am looking forward to, as I have
never been on a plane with a horse before. The rest of the Australian team is doing quarantine in Victoria, (Australia) and I will meet up with them on the 28th of August
when all horses will arrive in Hong Kong.
Sam is getting to know me now....at least he knows I bring him his food anyway!..he always has a whinny or a nicker when he see's me.
It is a nice feeling to be able to get to know the horse before embarking on an international competition with them. It is a luxury I have never had before!
So we are heading into the next phase of our journey now.
They say nothing good happens without hard work. Well I am really working hard and we are improving every day.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and support.
I am not sure how much internet access I will have in quarantine, but I hope to send you a photo from Aachen.
thats all for now.
from Georgia
