Gary, Chester and Steffen - A Journey to the USA for Dressage - Part 1

by Gary Lung for Equestrian Life

 

 

As much as I wanted to travel with Chester, there was not enough room.  There were already 6 professional travelling grooms booked on this particular  flight, all to look after 20 horses.  This was a special charter of “shuttle stallions” plus a number of other horses such as Chester, the thoroughbred and warmblood mares and a couple of Arab fillies.

 

Shuttle stallions travel from the northern to southern hemisphere and visa versa  for breeding duties.  I was lucky to join this charter because the flight went from Brisbane to Auckland to pick up more stallions, then onto Honolulu (to refuel) and then onto Los Angeles. It was a more direct flight compared  to the normal flights that take horse through Asia and then onto the USA.

 

Chester left on the morning of the 26th January and arrived the same day.  He went straight into quarantine for 3 days at Jets Pets, where they monitored him closely to see how he travelled. Horses can come down with travel sickness and it was important to watch them closely and taking temperatures regularly helps to identify any problems in advance.

 

A friend of mine, Jane and I flew over on the 27th and checked into a hotel near LA airport waiting to hear from IRT as to when Chester was ready to be released.  We received a call early 28th January to say Chester was going to be released at 5-00pm that day.  

 

 

The quarantine centre was close to the Los Angeles airport and their facilities were very good.  It was secured and although you could visit the reception area, the managers and staff there did not allow any visitors. They were strict but one could understand the importance of efficient bio security practices. It was tough, knowing that Chester was in a stable in a quarantine centre very close by and not being able to see him.  The IRT representative and the staff of Jets Pets reassured me that Chester was well.   All I wanted to do was to see him with my own eyes.

 

Since we could not see Chester, we decided the next best thing was to drive down the freeway to Arroyo Del Mar to meet everyone and to be come familiar with the “lay of the land”.  So off we drove (right hand side of the road) and I think I gave Jane several heart stopping moments at intersections.

 

We arrived at the barn to meet Lientje Schueler (assistant trainer), Dawn White (Steffen’s groom and assistant) and Kate (the Manager). It was lovely to be welcomed by everyone.  We got to catch up with Emma Weinart (a fellow Aussie) training with Shannon and Steffen on her beautiful Grand Prix mare “Velvet” and Kate took the opportunity to show us around especially where Chester was to be stabled.

 

One of my concerns before coming to Arroyo Del Mar was that, in a barn of 60 horses, Chester was going to be lost amongst the whole production line.  I had the idea that he was going to be one of the many horses churning through each day.  Far from it, because Steffen is riding and training Chester, he was automatically treated like he belonged to him.  For a start, Chester was given Ravel’s stable (secretly hoping the success rubs off) with rubber floating floor, next to Shannon’s and Kate’s offices and the club room.  Dawn decked Chester out in all Steffen’s gear (products that he receives from his sponsorships). Steffen has requested to ride him early in the morning after Legolas (Steffen’s current Grand Prix horse). This made me feel comfortable that Chester was best hands.?

We left the barn early afternoon, went to check into a local hotel and then headed back up the highway to meet up with the transport company that was bringing Chester down to San Diego.  Folks at the barn thought I was crazy, driving all the way back up to Los Angeles (2 hour drive) to load Chester onto the float and follow him back down.  It may have been crazy but I needed to see him.  I needed to see for myself that he was fine.  

 

One cannot explain how I felt once I saw him.  I was relieved and pleased.  He was a little tense, looking around at the strange surroundings as the manager of Jets Pets led him out but it was my Chester. The poor man was shivering. He left Australia with temperatures of 35 degrees to arrive to a windy cool 10 degrees.  We threw a warm rug on, put floating boots on and loaded him onto the float.  The transport company we used was the same one that Steffen uses all the time so they knew where to go and they also knew how he liked his horses looked after.

 

Off down the highway for the second time but this time we knew where we were going plus I felt relaxed knowing Chester was in front of us and that he was on the final part of his trip.

 

Chester looks fresh after his plane trip with IRT ©

 

We settled him into his new stable, put more rugs on and Kate gave him a warm bran mash.  I’ve never seen Chester so hungry, he ate it like it was his last meal and proceed to munch through the mountain of hay.

 

What a relief, first part of the journey completed.  We left for the hotel, had a small meal and went back to our rooms to collapse.  As I lay in bed thinking, what a world we live in, 6 months ago I found out that I was selected to ride in the Mitavite Ultimate masterclass with someone I only ever dreamt of training with, 3 months ago I got to train with this person and now, my horse and I are here in San Diego (11,500 km away from home) to continue our training.

 

In my next blog, I’ll write in about my next trip.  It is exciting and scary to think 1).  if Chester remembers me and 2). what will he be like to ride.  I’ve ridden him after Steffen had 2 rides and the difference was amazing but can you imagine what 4 weeks would be like!!!