See you, Miss Abby! Take Care!

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HAAAAAAPPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Be safe tonight and have fun all! Many blessing to you and yours for the New Year!!!
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(Abby in May 08)

So....this morning Abby was loaded up on a trailer and is now headed off to her new home!!!!

No! I didn't sell her! And have no plan to do so. But she will not be home again until the fall of 2010! I haven't wanted to say anything here- I didn't think it wise until all was said and done- but now that she is truly on her way, I feel it safe to say that Abby is heading out on a breeding lease!

Let me tell you how this has come about...

(Chex Nu Jewel)

Abby has been in training for exactly one year this coming week. She was blessed to find an amazing trainer that was able to look through her anxiety and see the little rock star that was hidden benieth. Watching Abby bloom, week by week, has been one of the greatest joys of my year. But I could not keep her in training indefinitely and we (her and I) needed to move on; to start the transition between her being my trainers horse, to her being my horse...

(Check Nu Jewel)

The problem was that I was just not ready! I have ridden Abby a handful of times and let me tell you, she is freakin' amazing! I mean....like the coolest thing I have ever ridden in my life! She is broke to death, has a incredible amount of feel and rides like she is on rails! Seriously. Love. This. Mare.

(Chex Nu Jewel)

But......when my 'one-year-training-promise' to DB came to an end (an extension from the three-month-promise), I was just not to the point where I felt I could take her home and use her effectively....or...more importantly....for her to continue to improve with me alone! The idea that I put so much money, and Kari put so much time and heart, into getting her to where she is at- only to bring her home and not be able to use all the cool little buttons Kari installed for me....just didn't bode well for me. At the same time, I couldnt keep her in training any longer nor, (as she is close to two hours away), was I able to work with my trainer and her full time.

(Hold That Cow)

My plan was to use her in 2009, to compete a little more at reining (where she nearly finished) and then take her into the cutting pen. But that just wasn't going to happen so I thought maybe it was as good of time as any to get her seasoned in another aspect of her future!

So...I decided on a different course of action.

(Hold That Cow)

Abby will be 6 years old this spring and as I plan on using her as a broodmare (and trail horse) once she is done her "career" I figured it would be a win win for both of us if at this point she were to go out of training to have her first foal!!!...That way, even if not used as a show horse, she'd still be moving ahead in the long run! ....That is for Miss Abby to become Mrs. Abby by becoming acquainted with a really nice stud!

I would have loved to breed her myself but as I board out (at $400 a month) it just didn't make any sense economically.

(Hold That Cow)

So as luck would have it I knew just the right place for her! I contacted McBride Quarter Horses and asked if they were interested in taking her on a breeding lease and thankfully, they were very excited at the prospect. So we fussed over a good solid care contract for a week and then settled everything up a few months ago.

(Sunglows King Fritz)

And now....the day has come for her to leave!! Abby is in a trailer on her way to Eastern Washington as we speak (or type! ;)

(Sunglows King Fritz)

It is....bittersweet for me and for poor Kari. Abby is a princess, through and through, and no more believed as such as in the eyes of her trainer, Kari. While we both appreciate that this is the "name of the game" I know that Kari has given her heart and soul into seeing Abby become the wonderful horse that she is today so could hardly help but be sad to see her go. Though she has been really supportive of the whole thing!!! And, as I plan on continuing lessons with Kari (on a school horse), once Abby comes back in fall 2010 I should be much further along as a horsemen and we can start our future together with many years ahead of us free from the worry of having to take a "momma" break as we would if she were a maiden.

But....Abby will be missed.... sorely.

Wait! There is more!

I also have, in exchange for the lease, been given a breeding to Chex Nu Jewel, McBride's beautiful palomino Nu Chex To Cash son; Sunglows King Fritz or to Hold That Cow (Holidoc x Docs Hickory), a stud with offspring earnings of over $220,000....to use, sell or trade!

So.... if you wouldn't mind... please do wish us luck?!! I pray that Abby will be happy in her new home, that she takes to breeding, carries a foal without event, produces a healthy and beautiful colt for McBrides and comes home to me safe and sound!

See you, Miss Abby! Take care!