On To Maryland...

Several weeks after The Ride Patches and I did which endeared us to thousands, it was time for us to be on our way to Maryland.  One of the donations was Sallee Horse Transportation of free transport for Patches to Maryland, with a future return to Kentucky if and when needed.

As touched on in previous blogs, I had raised Patches from a tiny foal and we were very close.  Due to the extraordinary ways the public became so inspired and touched by our story with all the media coverage, two television stations wanted to be there when Patches would leave first...then I would follow the next day in my car.

So there was quite a crowd when Sallee Horse Transportation arrived.  Only they didn't send just
any small van.  They sent a HUGE semi-truck size horse van!  And due to its size the road had to be closed by police, since the van was so huge it couldn't fit in the gate of the place where I had Patches...the farm with the miniature horses.

The same two policemen who escorted Patches and I during The Ride insisted upon being there to help this day too.

Unbelievably, Patches would be the only horse in that truck!  The whole truck just for him!  With the crowd watching and the television cameras rolling it was time for me to bring Patches down the tree shaded lane.  Everything suddenly became quiet.  As Patches and I neared the ramp leading inside the truck the driver met us and asked for Patches' lead shank.  He explained only drivers were allowed to load horses so I complied.

As the driver began leading Patches up the ramp, Patches suddenly realized I wasn't leading him and slammed to a stop jerking his head around to look at me.  When he did I realized I suddenly had a huge lump in my throat.🥺

Patches wasn't about to move.  At that moment the farm owner said to the driver, "Uh, sir, Patches is not going up that ramp without Adelaide by his side."

The driver began to say something about company policy when our two policemen stepped forward.  They said the responsibility would be theirs if anything happened but nothing would because they had traveled with us those ten miles witnessing the bond we shared.  So Sam, the driver handed the lead shank back to me.

Without a problem, I led Patches into the van and Sam helped me get Patches situated in a small stall with hay and water.  I sent his bucket and lead shank on for the farm in Maryland.  They too, were located on a small road and Sam had to park a long way from their farm.  Patches arrived there at 3am!  So in the dark, in strange hands, and in a strange place, Patches was led to his new farm.  I was SO proud to hear how well he handled it, and how everyone had already fallen in love with him!

Very early that same morning I too, left Kentucky for Maryland...a twelve hour drive.  I drove straight to the farm.  It was pitch dark.  I could barely make out what appeared to be a barn roof.  Then I softly said Patches' name and immediately heard him respond.  So back and forth we went until I felt my way to his stall.  He was SO happy to "see" me that he kept rubbing his head up and down me.

So Adelaide, horse, cat, rabbit, and goldfish had finally arrived in Maryland on the wings of the thousands who were deeply touched and inspired by our story.  And our story was far from over.😃💫