If you have ever tried to move a horse -- down the road, much less 4 states away -- it's a 1,400 lbs. nightmare. YES, that's what's my American Warmblood registered mare, Krystol, weighs. She's a big girl like her mama (me) and a love, but she's tall (6 ft 1 inches at her back), and stubborn. Krys mad it clear that does not like honkin metal machinery near and around her!
Forrest and I booked two transport vans, to the tune of $500 each as of May. Neither team could help me and our trainer load and move her after a May and June attempt, with me driving down to Virginia and couch surfing. Now, horse transport drivers are not really required to walk, load or push your horse on. Believe me, we tried all of that, with straps on her butt, a little crop tapping her big butt etc.
However, Krys (Krystol Mint) decided she was not getting in that big box on wheels and she backed up, side stepped and "Just said NO!" Tranquilizers, backing her up, nothing would work on big 10 or 4 horse trailers -- boo hoo. After 5 years here and finally finding an affordable barn in Dutchess County at High Point...thought I'd never get her here. I stayed with my Uncle Bill Shoemaker, my cousin Caitlin Toft, his daughter and got to see family friends. But, the dilemma and fear that Krys would not "load" was a big weight the first two times.
Three's the Charmer!: In the end, Forrest and I rented a $150 trailer from Rich in Lagrangeville, NY, drove down ourselves last Saturday, stayed at a Red Roof for the night (really nice actually in Manassas Battlefield, VA area) and got our girl on after a 3 hour battle. I told her that "Dad" was going to sell her -- to the Japanese or French, who eat horse meat perhaps -- if she didn't get on the freakin' rig...the rented two horse trailer hooked up to our company's F150 pickup with a V-8 engine. Still, this was nearly 3,000 lbs to pull...and it's dangerous for the driver and the horse!
For the past two months, our Virginia barn owner and friend, Diana Graves, loaded her on trailers that were parked/sitting at her barn. We had help from riders/horse owners at that barn, including Suzanne, Liz, Tina and Sonya, trying to urge her on to trailers and letting her go back to the herd. Sometimes, they even got her on...including Caitlin and me in June, my cousin who drove down into the heat and helped me get and keep her on with carrots for a bit. Had high hopes, but the next day in June, she did not get on a smaller, 4-horse, after 4 hours, 2 tranqs and a lot of struggle.
So, we urged her on with treats, grain, mama leading and pulling (me) and Forrest bringing up the rear with a little crop and taps...out of Moonraker Equestrian where she lived for 12 of her 15 years. Our 7 hour ride home took almost 10, going slow around turns for our poor, sweaty mare. We got her in just at dark, gave her dinner and hay and fresh water in the barn. 
Outside the stall to keep her calm her first night, I slept on an Army cot that the barn owner's friend Frank made up for me. Krys seemed to feel secure and that I was on the watch and eventually laid down and rested her sea legs, sore from rocking all the way from northern Virginia to NY. Horses sleep on their feet usually and do not lay down unless they feel safe -- as herd and prey animals in the wild.
Now, she's settled in with Pat, a horsewoman and barn owner of High Point, with nearly 50 years in the horse training / ops biz. Leaving Krys last night after a visit, I felt like my kid was just abandoned at a new school in a new down and like a bad mommy.
I shed a tear because she's in a herd with new, territorial mares and has to make her own way. She'll be okay, but I'm a mess...no sleep and a long drive from Fleetwood to Staasburg barn a few times a week. At least she's in the same state as us now!
Krystol Mint is out of Romancer w. Mint-to-Win, dressage champs in Northern Virginia / Prince William County. She was a first premium fill for American Warmblood Registry and even has a tat (looks like pacman image) on her left hip (hind). Her back is taller than my husband at 6'1" and when she puts her head up - rare as she's always grazing - it is 7' tall! Hanovarians were warhorses and for royalty in Germany back in the Middle Ages...bred to draft or plow horses for size -- so they could carry that metal armor and riders.
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