December 1st was my first full day in Ocala. I unpacked most of the day. I did go grocery shopping only to have my debit card denied. It had worked the whole way down here, but, no more! John informed me the next day that he had, uncharacteristically, answered one of those 1-800 calls we receive all the time. Thank goodness! It was Wells Fargo informing him of suspicious spending on my card. $280 worth of groceries (o.k. and I stocked the liquor cabinet, of course). I'm thankful they called, but, if they had paid attention there was a pattern to my charges. I had a $40 charge for gas every three hundred miles in a path from Minnetrista to Ocala for the last three days. Was it really such a surprise that JODI was now in Ocala and wanted actual food?? I'd eaten nothing but gas station snacks for three days.



Wednesday was spent checking out hay, grain and shavings. Shavings run $4.95/8 cu feet. Sounds o.k. to me. I buy in bulk at home, so it's pricey for me, but, compared to what I pay at shows, it's not bad. Grain runs about the same as in MN, maybe lower. Hay, well that's another story. I paid $9.75/small square for timothy/alfalfa mix. . . or so she said. What it looks like to me (and evidently my horses) is straw. They've turned their noses up quite definitively at my offering. Two days later I purchased a round bale stored inside for $65. Doesn't sound too bad either. Except that this lovely, nice smelling round bale of grass hay has turned into a lawn ornament. I'm thinking of putting Christmas lights on it and gifts below. Goodness knows I've spent $65 on a really nice Fraser Fir in MN. The horses do not even acknowledge that it is edible. They are polite when I pull out a chunk from the middle of the bale and hand it to them. They snuffle it, push at it, even lip a sprig; then they walk away and chew on the three day old, rained on hay I brought from MN. I'm hoping it's like if you have been served chocolate pudding your whole life and one day all you are presented with is tapioca. It's an acquired taste AND you probably have to be really hungry or threatened to try it for the first time.



Friday my Internet savior came and hooked me up with the world. Then I went to dinner at Wim's farm that evening. Much to my surprise, he and K.T. had brought me a present. . . Roy Williams! He is an eventer and farrier from Duluth who I have known for decades. I haven't seen him since he showed up at Becky Holder's farm in North Carolina while I was there in '07! Not sure why we two Minnesotans can never meet in Minnesota, but, it just doesn't work out that way. Wim is a wonderful cook! We had a lovely dinner. Roy and I monopolized the conversation, for sure. Roy was full of good stories. None of which I can repeat, sorry.



Saturday I took Tiz to school cross country at the Florida Horse Park. They had an open schooling day for $50. You didn't need to ride a course or work with a trainer. You just needed to show up, sign a waiver and pay. I asked if they needed a Coggins. The secretary said, that would be nice, but, no-one else brought theirs. I asked if they required armbands. She said, "You should set a good example and wear yours." Everyone was extremely welcoming and kind to me, but, we in MN are much more safety (or liability) conscious.



Tiz was wired! We haven't ridden cross country for about 2 years. A woman on horseback saw his gymnastic protests and trotted over to 'babysit' me. She was super cool about it. Just said, "Saw your horse is a bit agitated and thought I would hang out over here by you for a while." I introduced myself and explained a bit about our situation. Her name was Leslie. I found out later she was Leslie Law's wife, Leslie Grant! Her husband is an Olympic Eventing champion and her resume is not far behind his.



I galloped the perimeter and then managed to jump a couple dozen obstacles including water and banks before the EMT needed to leave AND wasn't willing to leave me on my bouncy black steed still at risk of being bounced off!! As I was loading Tiz back into the trailer some pinto paso finos (I can only presume) came strutting by. Well that put Tiz over the top. Another stranger came to my rescue and put up the butt bar so I could head for home! I'm sure he thought they were cows-his nemesis!



I got a tour of Betsy Watkin's Longwood II eventing facility. Some of you will remember the original Longwood Farm in the Prior Lake area that hosted several schooling shows and clinics each year. Betsy moved to Ocala and has an unmatched facility that now hosts many clinics and training for the Olympic team. I counted three dressage arenas, one covered, a stadium jump field, extensive cross country jumps and numerous stables. The blacktop is interrupted with rubber at all potential horse crossings. It's gorgeous and WAY cool. I'm hoping to trailer over to ride there soon.

The horses are moving closer and closer to the end of the pasture nearest the cows. The bugling episodes have decreased. The rides are less exciting (in a good way) and more productive. I set up a dressage arena in my front yard. Other than having to duck under a tree when passing the letter "V" and sinking into the fire ant mounds on occasion, it's working out well.

I'm going to a dressage show in Orlando this weekend to 'sit' with judge Sarah Geikie. She was extremely helpful to me during my training for the "L" program and has agreed to work with me in Florida. I'll have to dust off my judging knowledge, find some respectable clothing and hope she is kind.

You probably don't want to know this, but, it's been in the 80's and wonderfully humid. This unusually hot weather is due to your huge storm! So, although I am sorry for your snow and cold temps, I THANK YOU for my lovely heat and sun!

Happy Holidays!