Why Trot When You Can Glide? Endurance With My Paso Finos (OH! My Arab Too!): Sometimes, you just need a little bit of good Karma....or "Good adventure gone south"

So, back in late March/early April, for whatever reason, I was chatting with Strider's breeder (I believe I was showing her that 2 horses from her breeding program were horses 1 and 2 for the Paso Fino Horse Association "Pleasure Long Distance Trail Horse"). I mentioned that when I think about the day I will need to retire Strider, how I'm dreading it. And that I feel bad because now I'm back down to just the 1 endurance horse, and so Strider is ALWAYS on deck for competitions.

"Would you consider free leasing my mare, Karma?"

My jaw fell open in shock.

Karma's registered name is Primadonna de Vez. If you do endurance Pasos at all, you'll recognize the "de Vez" part of her name. She's a Coral LaCE mare. Which means she's got speed. And a largo to die for. And usually horses with her breeding are out of my price range. I can't afford most "de Vez" horses just because they're such quality animals.

"Let me talk to Joe, and I'll get back to you about it."

Now, Joe understands my "need" to have a main horse and a back-up competition horse. I give him a LOT of credit for that. He's said it a few times that he has no problems at all with me having 2 horses.

However, to take on Karma would put my herd at 6.

At which point, he said he was okay allowing Elvis to find another home (which I've already found, he just hasn't left yet). Which puts me down to 5, but he would really rather see us at 4. Which just isn't going to happen. :) I'm happy with 5.

Ultimately though, Joe and I discussed things, and he agreed to me taking on a free lease if Elvis leaves.

I'll be honest, I'd only seen this mare in pictures. Old pictures. I didn't know much about her EXCEPT her bloodlines, and that I'd seen pictures of her under saddle and some videos.

Strider's breeder also asked if I could also transport another mare down with Karma to return her to her previous owner. OF COURSE I COULD!!

We communicated, and I worked out to come them Memorial Day weekend.

I drove Hannibal and my friend H.D.'s stock trailer up to the bus terminal on Friday morning, with the plan being to run Kaylee to my parent's house on my way up to B.R.'s house outside of Hillsboro, where the plan was to overnight Friday night. Drive up to Oklahoma Saturday and return Saturday evening. Overnight at B.R.'s house Saturday night with the 2 horses, and then drop the one mare off with her owner and take Karma home.

Now, I borrowed H.D.'s trailer because we weren't sure if these 2 mares would load in to my straight load trailer. H.D. warned me to glance over the tires on the trailer, and maybe toss in my spare from Red Draggin, which I did. Bolt pattern was a match, so I heaved it into the trailer.

Friday evening went off without a hitch. Got to B.R.'s house later than I planned (ended up eating dinner with my parents and chit chatting), and she and I sat up talking and talking and talking. I finally went out to bed around midnight, maybe later (they always let me crash in their LQ when I come visit, so I've taken to just calling it my "apartment"). I slept in a little bit on Saturday, maybe until about 7 or so, got up, dressed and hit the road. Grabbed breakfast and kept on going.

The drive up was pretty uneventful. Oklahoma actually has some REALLY pretty parts. And, LOTS of land for sale there. LOTS.

As I got closer and closer, my GPS took me down some random road...and...speed bump number one.

Now, I REMEMBER what the road is like once I turn off the main road to get to her place. You drive down a little ways, and turn left. I REMEMBER. I've been to her place about 4 or 5 times. Granted, over 12 years ago, but I REMEMBER. And as soon as I took a left turn on the road I was on, I KNEW it wasn't right.

Here I am, in the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, on a dirt road. I don't know where this road is going to take me, but I can attempt to maneuver my rig by swinging wide in this driveway and flip it on this road....as LONG as I stay off the dirt/muddy shoulder.

Things never play out as I need them to play out. I was working on my two point, backing the trailer some, maneuvering as best as I could, when the shit hit the fan. My truck rolled, ever so slightly forward, so that the front two tires were now in the mud. And then I try backing. Trailer slips, truck slips. Jackknifed the entire damn thing.

Great. And now I'm stuck.

I message my friend and try to figure out where I am, and let her know I'm stuck. She tries to figure out where I am, and mentions if we can puzzle out my location, she could bring their 4x4 to pull me out of the mud.

She gets to work looking at the screen shots I send her, while I work on rocking my entire rig back and forth until I get one front tire on the firm packed road.

And then I just step on it. Back and forth. Rock it some more. Rock some more.

Keep stepping on it.

FINALLY I break my rig free and we're rolling. I'm shaking like a leaf from the adrenaline and the fact I managed to get it done.

My friend and I figure out where I am, and where I need to go, so I get my rig set to rights, and meet up with her and follow her to her house.

We chit chat, get caught up some, and head inside to sign paperwork to make this lease official (contract states she's on a 2 year lease that we will evaluate at the end of those 2 years). She's going to file that with the PFHA so everyone is protected and it shows Karma as my lease. Got the health certificates, Coggins and all the other pertinent paperwork for Karma and the other mare and load that up in the truck.

We stuff hay bags for the horses, catch the two mares, and then I turn the rig around and both girls easily load up.

I felt so awful because my friend was crying. She has said over and over she knows that this is best for Karma; to fulfill her destiny and for her to actually be ridden and used. And I told her, I completely understood the heartbreak to watch a beloved horse being hauled off, KNOWING it's right for the HORSE, even though it's hard for us. And I reminded her, at any time, Karma can come home if she wants her home. But, she said no...this is for Karma. She patted her nose, reminded her to be a good girl and waved good-bye as we left.

Let me say that...Oklahoma is weird. I stopped for fuel soon after I left my friend's house. Mostly because I hate stopping, but, I was thirsty and needed a bathroom break.

I stop at a gas station that must have been on a reservation because there was a little casino attached to it, and the gas station smelled like smoke. So, I think smoking must be allowed inside of buildings in Oklahoma? Or maybe just the casino area?

Any which way, detour and break over, I hopped back in the truck and kept on moving.

B.R. messaged me and let me know that she was at a BBQ with her family for Memorial Day, but to feel free to drop the mares off in the side yard (they have an area that guest horses and/or quarantine horses can stay in...it's AMAZING) and to go relax in my apartment when I got back. So, while I hadn't eaten since breakfast, the plan was to drive to Hillsboro, grab some McDonald's, get the girls set up, grab a chair and relax watching the girls and reading.

Ohhhhh fate. Why? Why are you like this?!!!

I'm on IH-35 at about mile marker 27 or 24 heading southbound, and thinking to myself "Man, these roads in Oklahoma sure are rough! I'd forgotten just how bad..." when I realized "No...nope...that's not the road, it's worse now. Shit, I've had a blow out."

Blinker on, pull to the side of the road, hazards on, let's get out and evaluate what the hell's happened and how bad the damage is.

So, damage isn't AWFUL. Tire didn't blow, just shredded. Other 3 tires are okay though. Hmmm, okay then. Let's get the jack and change to the spare I'm so glad I threw in and get rolling again.

What then proceeded to happen was one of the longest 8 hours of my life ever with horses in a trailer.

Joe had removed the jack from the bed of the truck.

I already knew that the jack that's supposed to come with the truck was gone.

Try and get someone on the horn for roadside assistance. I JUST NEED A JACK PEOPLE!!!

Eventually I get the Oklahoma State Troopers on the phone (you actually dial 911 for a non-emergency), and was told that they only had 1 trooper on duty at the moment and he was on his way to the scene of an accident, but they'd see what they could do for me.

*bury face in my hands and try not to sob*

While I'm waiting, I go ahead and break all the bolts free on the tire. Then go sit in the truck and try to figure out what to do as I message B.R. for ideas. She and I are scrambling to see if we can find assistance...ANYTHING. Nothing at all.

I'm literally on the side of IH-35, trucks, cars, other horse trailers BLASTING down the road for well over an hour...not a single soul stops. And I'm in a mild case of panic because it's hot out, and this stock trailer is painted...ALL BLACK.

As I'm in the truck, messaging Joe about what has happened, I almost jump out of my skin when I hear a cough and a "Ma'am...?"

I turn to see a young Sheriff's officer there.

I jump out of the truck, so relieved to see him and we start talking. And I am SURE this poor young man thought I was the biggest moron, and I apologized and actually told him I'm sure he thought I was stupid.

Basic summary of initial conversation:
Sheriff's Officer: "No jack?" *somehow materializes a cigarette from thin air, pops it in his mouth and starts smoking...which really detracts from his beautiful blue eyes that I'd first noticed*
Me: "Husband took it out of the bed of my truck. He usually throws one in for me, but he was saying he was going to rotate the tires on our car at home, so I guess he took it out for that."
S.O.: "Where's your trucks jack?"
Me: "My husband and I have tried to find it in the past, but, as we bought the truck used, we assume the previous owner took it with him when we bought it."
S.O.: "What's the tire for in the bed of your truck? Trailer spare?"
Me: "No, truck spare. Same previous owner took the bar we need to lower the spare tire holder beneath the truck."
S.O.: "So, you just need a jack?"
Me: "Yes. I have a spare I can put on it, but I need a jack to lift the trailer."
S.O.: *wandering around my trailer* "Well, we could put your spare on, but these other 3 tires are badly dry rotted. You MAY make it. You may not though."
Me: *tries not to start crying* "Oh no. Really?!"
S.O.: "Yeah. My dad is bringing the jack though."
Me: *mentally imagining dad pulling up in his old, beater pick up truck, and just grateful* "I really appreciate that!"
S.O.: "Let's look at your spare. Uhhh, Ma'am, this spare is REALLY badly dry rotted too."
Me: *mentally hyperventilating and having internal hysterics at this point* "Please tell me you're kidding."
S.O.: "No Ma'am. Although *inserts laugh*, this trailer was made just back up the road in Ardmore."
Me: *wondering what in the eff that would solve for me RIGHT NOW* "Yeah?"
S.O.: "Sure was."

We stand there for a bit, talking for a few more minutes as the sun beats down on us.

S.O.: "Do you mind if I go and sit in my vehicle? It's awfully hot out here." (note, his uniform is all black and he's got his full rig on)
Me: "Oh my gosh, no PLEASE go sit in your truck!!! I'm so sorry, yes, it's so hot out here!"

*we both sit in our respective vehicles as occasionally some horse paws and rattles the trailer*

Out of my peripheral vision, I see a vehicle pull up.

Another Carter County Sheriff's vehicle, this one an SUV. I assumed it was just another one of the force who was bored.

Nope.

Older gentleman exits the vehicle, and as I look at his nameplate, it's the same last name as the other officer.

This is his dad.

*laughs internally*

Other Sheriff's Officer: "What do you need me for? I see 3 tires with air in them!!" *laughs*
S.O.: "Yeah, but they're dry rotted. Come look dad."
Me (to O.S.O.): "Wow, so you keep law enforcement in the family, huh?"
O.S.O.: "Well, yeah. Although, I'm now just a reserve officer. My son is full-time."

Both men agree, my tires are effed. But, they're willing and game to throw the spare on there and let me see how far I can get.

Except...the spare won't fit.

The tires for Red Draggin' are 15's. H.D.'s tires are 16's. So, while the BOLT pattern is the same, the size is just different enough that the holes won't go over the bolts on the trailer. And we tried. OH did we try. Nope. Not gonna happen.

So, I toss the blown tire into the bed of the truck, and at their suggestion, I limp onto the frontage road to get the mares into the shade and to puzzle out what on earth to do next.

Frontage road safety in the shade.

Why yes, there IS only 1 tire on that trailer. What's so odd about that?! >.<

At this point, it's maybe 3 in the afternoon. The mares have been cooped up in the trailer for maybe 2 or 3 hours at this point. THANKFULLY I had my water tank in the bed of the truck still. The water is warm, probably doesn't taste good, but I fill up a bucket with some water and offer the mares drinks through the side of the trailer.

Karma does her best job to get a good drink. The other mare isn't happy about it, takes one or two sips and goes back to her hay.

It is at this time when I realized that I have some of the most loving friends. B.R. and I have been back and forth through all of this. We try to find someone local to help get me to a tire place. Or to bring a trailer and take the girls some place safe. No one is responding. No one is helping. I don't even know what to do at this point.

B.R. says "I'm coming to get you. I'm an hour and a half from home, but I'm going home, hooking up to the Sooner [her run around trailer], and I'll come up, we'll get the horses loaded in to my trailer, and then we'll limp yours here to the house."

Not going to lie, I cried. And I warned her when she showed up, I would probably cry again.

At this point, it was getting out every hour, offering the girls water to drink, making sure that they still had plenty of hay, and waiting.

I want to say this though; the entire time I was on the interstate, and the entire time I was on the frontage road NOT A SINGLE SOUL ONCE STOPPED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. No one. This was discouraging and depressing. You would think that perhaps a fellow horseman or horsewoman would stop and check in. Nope. Not a one.

I had mentioned to B.R. that I really hadn't eaten all day. I had breakfast, and the drink I grabbed after picking up the girls, but the plan really was to eat once I got back near her house.

She said she felt so bad for me, that she stopped and grabbed me food from Sonic.

At around 10:30ish, she found us. I knew it was her immediately when she made the swing under the overpass.

Cue my tears. I hugged her so tightly and tried not to sob against her as she thrust food at me and told me to go and eat.

I wolfed down some of the burger and fries as she loaded up some hay bags for the girls in her trailer. We offloaded the girls, let them graze for a few minutes (both promptly peed after getting off the trailer) and stretch their legs, then...in the dark, with cars and 18-wheelers driving by, both girls quickly hopped into B's trailer, and then away we went. Mobile once again.

I had a massive knot in my stomach. Anytime the trailer moved funny, I held my breath.

B and I had planned that if the tire on the passenger side went, we would pull one of the ones from the driver side and put it over there and limp it home on 2 tires. And if another blew, we'd abandon the trailer for the night and come back for it.

Thankfully, after dealing with the idiots and morons that you inevitably see on the road while hauling horses, we made it back to B's home. Her husband was still awake at about 1 a.m. As we pulled in he told us that he'd put out fresh hay and water for the horses, hooked the water up to my "apartment" so I could take a shower after the day and he started up the a.c. so it was nice and cold. And for us to just go to bed and get some sleep.

B had to go pick up her dog that had surgery from Texas A&M early the next morning, so she told me just to sleep in, rest and we'll figure out what to do in the morning.

So, I slept in, but I could hear her husband, J, up and about at around 7. I laid around until 7:30, and then realized I should get up and check on the girls and start figuring out how on earth to get these two horses moved now.

As I stepped out of the trailer, I see J on the ground, trying to break tires free from the trailer. He and I talk some, and we weigh our options on what I can do. And ultimately, he opts to loan me 4 tires off their stock trailer to help get me home without a big cost out of my pocket.

Once again, almost broke into tears of gratitude. So, he went and got the tires off their trailer, then we set to work on breaking the bolts loose on the other 3 tires. And, let me say this; I am GRATEFUL that the tire that shredded was the one that did. It took J getting a big leverage bar to break the other bolts lose (and that was even trying to use his impact gun).

As he and I get to wrapping up, B gets home with her dog, and I realize it's almost noon. So, we manage to catch both mares, get them loaded up and I hit the road. And then I start wrestling with myself.

Should I head for my home and put the other mare on MY trailer and take her? And if so, do I take her today or tomorrow? What if she gets hurt on my property? Can I REALLY convince myself to get back in the truck again and haul?

OR

Should I just take the mare to her new home and be DONE with this adventure gone awry? I'm aware that I'm putting miles on B and J's tires, and I feel badly, but I cannot convince myself to get back in the truck again tomorrow, and I can't trust that this mare won't hurt herself at my place overnight.

So, I stop briefly in West at Slovacek's for brunch, then proceed south. I stop at some point for a potty break, and as I get in the truck again, I look out on the interstate and see a bad wreck and realize; I'm glad I stopped. I'm now able to get ahead of it, and I wasn't involved in it.

I'll take the blessing when and where I can.

Continue my trip south. My first stop is outside of Luling. I manage to get the other mare dropped off, then spend some time trying to wrangle my rig back out. Which, I eventually manage to do...and then make the final push for home.

I stop and get us dinner from Dairy Queen, and with an audible sigh of relief, I FINALLY pull in to our driveway at after 9 pm.

It's dark. I'm exhausted, and I don't want to just turn Karma loose with my herd in the dark. Strider will terrorize her, and while we have lots of room for them to run, she hasn't seen the fencelines. No, I can't just turn her loose. Not up front and not out back. So, what do I do?

AH!! I'll put her in our catch pens for now! That way the herd can meet her safely through them, and I can spend a few days getting to know her since I was told she's a hard to catch horse. Win/Win!!!

So, I go to the trailer and go to off-load. Except, I can't get the one divider moved over far enough, so it swings, pinches her sides just enough for her to panic, so she rams in to me, throwing me off balance and flinging me out of the back of the trailer where I land on my knee wrong, wrenching it. I scream in pain and fear, while maintaining a firm hold of her lead rope. It hurts, but there's nothing to be done. Grab my buckets from the trailer and take them and Karma to the back pasture and get her in the catch pens. As I'm hobbling back up I call Joe and ask for him to please blow the tires up on my garden cart as I still need to haul some hay nets to Karma. No can do. So, I just keep limping back and forth from the front to the back of our property.

Eventually I get her settled in with 2 stuffed to the brim hay nets, and 2 large tubs of fresh water.

And FINALLY hobble back into the house, the adventure over.

However, look at this mare, and tell me that the adventure won't ultimately be worth it?