Happy New Year..

Jack and I are looking forward to 2016 with the arrival of our first foal crop! We plan on retaining two of our three foals for our breeding program and give us some babies to hit the show scene with:)
The week before Christmas we headed down to California to get our three new girls and Jennifer Truax’s new colt SD MoonRaker. When Master Plan was sent over (7/2015), I was on a road trip heading to Missouri picking up SD Easy Elegance from the SD Farm, so I didn't get to go pickup MP with Jack. It was fun to see the process and meet the people of Jet Pets. I will post the pictures of the “pods” they are shipped in. There are three horses per pod. While on the journey, they are accompanied with a groom who attends to their safety and food needs while on the plane. I have learned about the two style of jets that the horses come over on, a freighter or a half passenger and half freight which tends to run smoother time wise than the freighter.
Once the horses arrive, then its time for USDA temp readings, this is done throughout the day. The horses were then released after 48 hours of normal temps; if one had a raised temp, it would be seen by the vet and not released until the horse had a stable temp, and of course, additional costs. Any stock under two years does not have to partake in any additional screening, but our mares will have to spend two weeks(stallions 4 weeks and have to successfully breed a mare) screening for CEM in Medford with Penny, who is amazing. It was our first time meeting Penny and she is a joy to work with and it clearly shows the horses are her PASSION! I will include the link for both the USDA and Penny’s webpage.
Back to our trip, Jack and I were the first to get loaded up, the two mares first and Dixie and MoonRaker aka Mr. were in the last stall, big enough for the two yearlings, we took our bumper pull trailer for this reason. Once everyone was loaded up, the USDA sealed the back of the trailer as it cannot be opened or tampered with. A USDA vet cuts off the zip ties when you arrive at the CEM facility(Penny’s). I asked myself, what if there was an emergency and the trailer had to be opened? Well, you call state patrol. Good to know LOL.
Jack and I drove straight from LAX to Penny’s. We took turns driving while the other slept. The weather was perfect:).
Once the mares were unloaded and put in their stalls, we put the yearlings in a stall, let them feed and drink as we went to breakfast to give them a break before we started the trek home. We were able to feed and water all the horses during the trip by having access with the drop down windows. We chose to pickup our horses for two reasons, the cost and knowing they will be handled properly and safely. Though I would trust Penny anytime to get our horses. Next week, we get to go pick up Prada and Pride, so excited to have those two amazing girls running in our pastures!