Annabelle

On Wednesday afternoon I managed to put aside some time to have some horsey fun time. Christine was kind enough to invite me out to ride her friend's Belgian mare, Annabelle.

Annabelle was a PMU baby whose owners got her as a companion for their other Belgian mare. The other Belgian has since passed away. Annabelle was taught to ground drive, but was never hitched. She was also broke to ride, and that seems to be where her true talent lies. This mare, who has basically been under saddle for a year, walks, trots, and canters reliably and has even been started over small jumps. She was originally placed on trial as a lesson horse for a big name NJ lesson barn, but she proved to be a little too much horse for dead beginners. She's a good girl, but her head alone probably weighs more than your standard rider and she does tend to be a little looky. Annabelle's owners are looking to place her in the right riding home. They are not in any hurry to see her go, but they don't want to see her go to waste either.

I had heard a good bit about Annabelle before I went to meet her, and I was extremely excited to get to try her out. I used to ride a Belgian mare named Sandy when I was working at the harness track. I used to take her galloping after the racehorses were put away for the day. We made the ground shake and she provided a safe haven from my teenage woes. I haven't ridden a full blooded Belgian since. I have a massive soft spot for the breed. As it happens, they are Mike's favorite breed of horse. Our secret hope is to get a Belgian gelding for him sometime in the future.

The drive out to see Annabelle was a gorgeous one. It's a part of NJ that I haven't been to, even though it's only half an hour from the house. Along the way I discovered gorgeous views, rolling countryside, and even a covered bridge!

Apparently I really over estimated how long it would take me to get to Annabelle from Lilly's farm so I got there super early, even though I knowingly took the long way. I located the farm and decided to explore some back roads and take some pictures. After making a lap around the neighborhood, I figured I'd try my luck pulling down the driveway. I'm friendly, I figured. I'll just introduce myself and see where it goes. Worst case, I'll sit in my car for a while.

As I pulled down the driveway, I was waved over by a grinning woman in barn clothes. I rolled my window down and she exclaimed, "You must be Dom! And that must be Herbie!"
"I am, and she is!"
"I'm Carla! Go ahead and park down by the barn. You can let Herbie loose if you'd like."

I did just that. Carla and her husband were about the nicest people you could ever hope to meet and we talked about all kinds of things while we waited for Christine to arrive.

Apparently SRF's reputation precedes them and she had had all sorts of terrible experiences with them. We exchanged nightmare stories, which is how I found out that Carla knows Carolyn.
"Do you know Carolyn?" she asked me, when the subject of volunteers came up.
"Do I know her! That's where I board my horses. I also work for her part time in her clinic..."
Small world strikes again.

While we were chatting, Carla and I walked out to the pasture to get Annabelle. The farm seemed to go on forever behind the big barn and I was greeted by a herd of curious Arabians of various colors and ages. It turns out I also know the endurance rider who boards there.

I also got to meet Gracie and Lacey, a former Camelot rescue and her donkey companion. It turns out the mare is in her mid to late thirties. Every winter, she gets very stiff and achy, and Carla announced earlier this year that this winter would be the end of Gracie. That plan was shot to pieces with the addition of the donkey. Gracie immediately claimed Lacey as her own. The two are now inseparable and the mare is so happy that they can't bear to put her down so they're playing it by ear. It's the stuff of fairy tales.

Just as Carla was tacking up, Christine pulled in the driveway. It was great to see her. It has been way too long since we got to hang out... not since that disastrous hike at Cheesequake last winter. We caught up on all the latest news and Christine hopped on Annabelle to show me what she was all about. The mare may not be quiet enough for a lesson program, but she certainly had no trouble being good in the big, open front field that we were riding in. Christine showed off her walk, trot, canter, gallop, and excellent brakes, then hopped her over some cross rails and cavaletti before dismounting and handing me the reins.

I was pleased that I can still ground mount draft horses, and the second my butt hit the saddle, I was squealing with joy. Annabelle is so much fun to ride! I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get her moving forward and was prepared to take the whip from Christine. It turns out I had nothing to worry about and after a few trot circles, the mare and I were tearing around the field at a ground shaking canter. Of course I couldn't resist the urge to hop her over some baby jumps myself. She was extremely honest and comfy to jump.

"This thing needs to be a fox hunter," I declared.
"The truck and trailer are hooked up. You can take her home today," Carla half-joked from the driveway.

It's too bad I really don't need another horse because she is LOVELY.

Poor Annabelle had really worked up a sweat by the time we were done with her, but she cooled off in no time.

In the mean time, Herbie had met Carla's dogs, Muddy and Taco. Muddy was a big, white shepherd and Herbie would not stop tormenting him. She wasn't dumb enough to start anything with Taco, the Jack Russell though. That dog would have kicked her butt.

Once Annabelle was hosed off and turned out, Christine humored me by letting me take a billion photos of the whole herd. We stood on opposite ends of the pasture, sending the horses back and forth. Herbie ran between us while avoiding any actual contact with the horses. A good time was had by all.

At the end of the day, I thanked Christine and Carla for having me out and grinned from ear to ear all the way home. I've decided that I need a draft horse to call my own in the future. Meanwhile, I know a really cool Belgian mare looking for a home.

Didn't know we had covered bridges around here.

Strange things you see in NJ.

All oil refineries out here...

Christine rode first.

Look at the knees!

My face says it all.

I don't need no stinkin' stirrup...

So tolerant.

I think she needs to foxhunt sidesaddle. 

The ears!!!

  

"Ok, Annabelle, show us your lady parts..."

Best friends.

Boris, the super sweet 2yo.

Christine's newest project.

Bob Langrish, eat your heart out.

Herbie likes adventures.

One of these things is not like the others.

"I'm an Arab!!!"

Like mother, like son.

Herbie helps.

The cute just about killed me.

And then I got trampled, the end.