Home sweet home . . .

What a week! So Bailey started his journey home Tuesday afternoon and was sent off with love from his home in Florida . . . and he arrived safe and sound in Mass. Wednesday evening, only about 24 hours later! He traveled in style and arrived in good shape!





It is so great to have him home, he really has matured a lot and took everything in stride. He definitely was a little dazed to get off one big trailer, a quick rest and then into a little one to make the final leg of his trip up to Vermont.




Ali was so happy to see the gray boy and loved having him visit for a quick stop over, if all goes well Ali & Bailey will get to spend a lot more time together.



Bailey definitely thinks its a little chilly up here in Vermont and is glad we had plenty of warm blankets waiting for him.



Bucky isn't sure what to think of Bailey, he let Bailey know that he *is* the boss, but is happy to share his paddock and even hay (from a distance). Bailey on the other hand is in love with the pinto pony mare Sass and loves to hang out by the fence with her. But overall very minimal drama, you've got to love geldings!




Now its time for Bailey to settle in, relax and adjust to life in Vermont. He likes the warm fall days to roll without his blanket on and trot around the back paddock while I work with Bucky.




He is a sweet and beautiful boy and I am reminded everyday of how lucky I am to have him again in my life. This weekend we headed off to Equine Affaire and the hubby took care of the ponies, they were good for him too!

A homecoming of sorts . . .

Many years ago I worked at a Thoroughbred breeding farm, where I fell in love with a certain 3 year old racehorse by the name of "Booger" (registered as Snake Oil's Star). He was a little horse with a big personality and a recent race track flunky. He ran in a total of three races and embarrassed his owners by running last or close to it in all of them . . .

How Dear aka "Nana"

I also cared for both his sire and dam. His momma was a shy little grey mare affectionately called "Nana", though her registered name was How Dear. Nana was born in Florida in 1977, never raced but produced 16 foals, she passed away around 1998. And his sire was a handsome dark bay fella named Snake Oil Stevie, foaled in 1985. He sired some other racehorses and was also standing as a sport-horse. Booger had at least four full sisters, one was an adorable filly I also cared for named "Charm".

One of my very first rides on Bailey . . .

At the age of 3, Booger had already failed as a racehorse, so he and some other racehorses were scheduled to be shipped to auction. Foolish and young, I decided it would be a good idea to buy him and train him as a riding horse! The name had to go . . . so he was renamed "Bailey". Lucky for me he was a very sweet and willing colt and we had great adventures around the farm.




He loved to jump, once he got over the initial spook at new fences . . . and he was a beautiful mover. I was lucky to have a few dressage lessons on him as well and Bailey turned out to be a very willing partner. We did a few local shows and even trail rode on occasion (which was exciting!). But in 2000, I had to leave the East Coast to go to veterinary school and considered selling Bailey. He was an amazing little horse, but was very sensitive and I worried about finding just the right home for him . . . so decided to lease him to my best friend instead.






Ali & Bailey were an amazing pair! Ali really brought out the best in Bailey and he would always do his best for her. Ali took dressage lessons with him and showed him at training level.



After graduating vet school in 2004, Bailey came "home" to stay with me in Vermont. But in 2005 with life getting in the way, again it was time to find Bailey a new home . . . so he was given to a dressage trainer to continue his training and have a good home. As horses often do he changed hands again and spent a few years eventing and living the good life with a family that adores him in Florida.




And now Bailey is being shipped up from Florida tomorrow to come home - again. We can't wait to see him, it is so hard to imagine that he is 16 now! Our dapple grey boy is now all white! In photos he looks a little like his mother, but I have not seen him in 5 years. Although we already have plenty of horses to fill our barn, we had to make room for this sweet horse. He will always have a place in my heart and in our barn as well!