While most of the US Olympic hopefulls are competing this weekend at Bromont, Sinead Halpin’s Manoir De Carneville “Tate” is already on his way to England for Olympic lead-up preparations. Tate’s groom, Meg, was kind enough to send us an update from the flight to Europe.
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From Meg:
Ah, nothing like a giant Swiss cheese sandwich and a lukewarm cup of instant coffee to get one fueled for a 6 hour flight to Liege, Belgium.
Tate has traveled like a star thus far, but I cannot say the same for all of his new friends. His girlfriend, Six Belles, has managed to injure herself getting off the trailer coming into the vetport and again getting back on the trailer leaving the vetport. I told her not to worry because I am stealing her and she is coming to England.
Tate’s other buddy, young stallion “McKickerson,” has finally calmed down. I must commend whomever produces the pallets the horses are in because they some tough cookies…all horses seem to be enjoying the new found peace and quiet of the flight. I have made friends with a show jump groom who works for an adult amateur rider that is flying 2 of her horses to france to ‘play’. That is a direct quote.
Dear eventers: make friends with show jumpers.
Signed, broke event groom who is now friends with rich show jump groom
The two professional grooms on the flight are nice, and very good at sleeping. I will have to say flying with Richard on my first flight spoiled me, but I suppose it is time for the baby bird to fly from the nest and figure out the airline kettle on her own.
The pilots are all European and are very friendly. The youngest pilot keeps trying make jokes about the plane crashing in broken English. I only laugh at them because he is flying the plane and I don’t want to give him any reasons not to like me. But the upside to laid-back pilots and no door separating the cockpit from the galley is that they let me sit in with them during takeoff. Pretty cool shizznizz, but it’s still terrifying and they still were making jokes about not making it.
I feel as if my journey has only just begun. When we land in Belgium we are trucking 3 hours to the ferry…crossing the channel, then trucking a few more to Maizey Manor. I’m almost 24 hours in, but fear I have about 24 more to go. I’m hoping to lose as much weight as my counterpart during these travels…but probably not with these giant Swiss cheese sandwiches on board.
Well, ta ta for now …. Good luck to everyone at Bromont!
Xx Meg Kep and Taterball! ….and Six Belles.
