Glory-da, by Meg Kep

My current flavor of the week is most definitely FLORIDA-PREP. Or as I like to refer to it as : GLORY-Da.

This is my third winter as a pro-groom heading south, and my second trip to Ocala. For those of you fortunate enough to send your horses, work with horses, or ride the horses going to Florida for the winter I am sure you are just as excited as I am.  I have started making budgets, and itemizing saddle pads, labeling hoofpicks, making baby sarah scrub the trailer with toothbrushes, stalking my farriers, and bribing my hay guys. Sarah and I go shopping for all the best deals on lightweight riding attire and SPF 900, as Sinead makes the competition calendar and pays the bills. Its like the typical family life..???

If this is your first year going south – it is very easy to be overwhelmed with the task at hand.  Where do I live? Where do the horses live? Who will I train with? What do you mean I need coggins to get across  Florida’s border? 

There is a lot to consider when uprooting for one, two, three, even four months. Every year we get a little bit wiser, but as event riders we know how hard it is – especially financially – to go south.  Where I wish I had the answers on how to be as much of a baller in Ocala and Aiken as you can be in your own hometown – I can offer some suggestions on how to be better prepared.

1. Shipping. Shipping costs are always rising. Do your homework if you have a lot to take. The shipping company we use at Sinead Halpin Eventing is Meadowbrook Transport. They are based out of NY and West Palm, FL and are a small operation and family run business (and not too bad looking I may add). They offer great equipment, smaller and larger rigs equipped with cameras and two drivers at all times. They are all horseman so you know your horses will be in good hands from pickup to drop off. Let me tell you  – I met Peter randomly a few years ago, and he has always offered me the best rates AND the best equipment.  Not to mention his father Ralph (one badass dude) backed his semi like 2 miles down this ridiculous road in Califon NJ in the ice and snow on a mountain to make sure we got our ponies out quickly and safely before the next snow storm was due. Badass I tell you. http://meadowbrooktransport.com/

2. Hay. Haayyyyyyy . Hay is the big one.  Supply and Demand is great when you are the one with the supply. Write that down. If you have never headed south – be prepared for astronomical hay prices.  I am talking 12-18 dollars a bale. If you are unable to bring every last bale of hay from your hometown south with you, you may consider getting together with some fellow riders and committing to a tractor trailer delivery from your home state.  Or if you have to bite the big one and pay the prices – ask some veteran south dwellers where the best deals are.  (and start moonlighting as a dancer at Midnight Rodeo) And most of all, don’t be shocked when you see myself and Sarah dressed like creepers selling New Jersey’s finest timothy mix on the corner for a whopping good deal.  Cash only, please.
3. Barns. It is always hard going somewhere for the first time without knowing the area. There are an unlimited amount of facilities to rent in Ocala and Aiken – the hard part is finding one that is suitable to your needs. I think the best course of action is to piggyback with a PRO for your first time and let them show you the ropes. Otherwise you may end up with 25 open air stalls and one giant paddock for a herd-like experience with a “ring” dragged last in the summer of ’84. If you want to go to Aiken, I recommend being as close to Puddin’s Place as possible. If its Ocala, I recommend making sure crazy old women don’t live above your barn and think your dogs are killers before committing to a lease.
4. Manure Removal. This one got me last year. A lot of places in Florida use dumpsters. It probably is a law (one that I hear NJ is toying with and am praying does not go into effect). Regardless – prepare to pay an extra 250-500 a month for one of those badboys. (Sarah and I are currently in the lab developing manure-eating algae. Be prepared for this revolution, but don’t hold your breath)

5. Footing – from a grooming perspective – you have to be aware of new surroundings. Sand will affect your horses differently than the mud. A lot of times the sand scratches the skin microscopically – and there is all sorts of new fun bacteria that your mud-dwelling ponies are not used to. Make sure you stay on top of this because it can turn nasty, fast. Be sure to remove all sand – keep legs dry (as usual), and even after their after-workout baths  – do a once over with some white vinegar diluted in water as an extra precaution.

6. Beer. Because all your best friends will be in the same 10 mile radius as you, rather than strewn across the land, make sure you have beer, chilled to the proper serving temperature, at all times. You never know when someone cool may stop by – and who are you if you cannot offer them a beer?

I am going to stop there because most people just skim over the blogs that are long. (Be honest!) I know that is really only scratching the surface – but it should get the ball rolling in those smart little brains of yours. Going south is most definitely a privilege, and I am very lucky to be a part of the process. Aside from the great availability of training, riding, and eventing – there is a great sense of camaraderie and a very present, very healthy sense of competition always lingering in that warm, Florida air. (or that less-warm south Carolinian air)

So good luck to all those packing up their lives and heading south this winter – and good riddance to the snow! I am very much looking forward to our trip – SHE leaves on January 3^rd with a rig full of babies, training horses, a show jumper, and one very talented chestnut. Bring it on 2012! 

Ps: I am super excited to be writing for EN. I am very open to all suggestions and comments…except for the negative ones.

Pps:  if I do stop by your barn in Ocala, I really like landshark as my summer -in-winter beer. Or if you are really cool, I will take Black Sheep Ale brewed in North Yorkshire, UK.