Step One of Taking-the-Horses-to-France (Martine)

Although Anne and I are really good friends and see each other several times a week, Flurry and GiGi had only ever met once, briefly.  It's really important that they know each other well, as they will be sharing a paddock in La Florentine, the horse farm where they will be staying.  Olivier, who owns the farm, is a well-seasoned horseman, and knows better than to add two temporary visitors to his herd!  So, this week, GiGi came to stay with Flurry and Paddy (who looks after my friend and co-conspirator for the last fifteen years, Denis).

All went well, and within a couple of days all three were totally settled.

Left to Right, Paddy, Flurry and GiGi enjoying the evening sunshine

Next step was to box Flurry and GiGi together.  I have to say, I think that every time a horse goes into a box, it underlines their utter trust in us.  It goes against every instinct a horse possesses to allow himself to be confined in a small, narrow space, with no escape route, and then be rattled and bumped around our winding country roads, yet the vast majority of horses willingly walk up those shaky ramps and into the blind alley that is a horsebox.  We're lucky in that Flurry and GiGi are pretty easy to load, but GiGi had some sort of a panic attack in my trailer last year so we weren't too sure how she would be.  Also, it's ages - well over a year - since either of them travelled with another horse, so we were a little concerned that either one of them could feel extra claustrophobic.
We needn't have worried, they loaded really easily and although GiGi stamped around a bit, they both arrived at the other end of the journey (Anne's house) cool & unflustered.  We had a lovely hack, including a gentle canter through a stubble field, loaded them up again and brought them home.
Step one complete!  Horses are buddies & will travel happy together!

Quite content in the horsebox