Boggle- USA bound!

[Michen]

The hacking looks amazing just looks like you can canter forever, everything is under water here raining non stop so it's basically a walk around the block, I'm only a bit envious?

I wouldn't worry about the plane journey for Pepper I think most dogs cope fine even if they are a bit nervous in general, and you have until the new year to find dog sitters and help if you do need to leave her.

ha, the grounds too hard for that sadly!Though cantering in the snow is fun ??

I'll chip in my tuppence worth.

Life has been a whirlwind so far so I would take my time over this decision. Go through several cycles of work patterns and think how you she would fit in with it all as you do. Talk to others who have dogs and what they do about work arrangements. Think also how much you want to/would need to curtail all your other adventures if she were with you. Boggle is getting used to the barn staff looking after him on a regular basis. Getting help with a dog might not be so regular so how would she adjust to a variable routine like that.

Personally, I would not worry about the flight - dogs spend that amount of time at a vet's sometimes and live to tell the tale - (or should that be tail??!!)

Thank you that’s really helpful and sensible. She’s used to being bunged around a fair bit and she’s totally fine, just gets on with life. Although she is a nervous dog in some ways once she’s befriended you (a minute) she’s anyone’s frankly ?

I mean in the next 4/5 months she’s going to have been in five homes. Mine, three friends, and my brother. I know she will be fine and just slot in as she always does. It’s not ideal for her to have been bounced around like that but it is what it is and everyone adores her so she will have a great time.

I will see how the next month or two goes.

 

[HashRouge]

You sound like you really want to bring her, from everything you've said, so I think really you know your answer. Just maybe give it a little bit longer so that you are more settled/ have more of a feel for things.

 

[Michen]

You sound like you really want to bring her, from everything you've said, so I think really you know your answer. Just maybe give it a little bit longer so that you are more settled/ have more of a feel for things.

Yep I really didn’t expect to feel like this. In fact when the whole America thing cropped up I was adamant she wouldn’t be coming. Then I wasn’t sure. Now I’m feeling weirdly quite distressed about the idea of not having her.

She has just been my constant little happy shadow for the last couple of years and I want my animal fam complete.

Bar the cat who, as my mum unpacked the very expensive down duvet I left for her today, promptly pissed on it. Guess that’s what he thinks of me leaving ?

 

[Michen]

Out in the trailer with his new friend! Great they have hitching posts here.

he did just fall out of the trailer not looking where he was going with the drop down though. ? hopefully he will be more savvy next time!

 

[EarsofaSnowman]

I'm currently on a riding holiday in Bulgaria, and one of my fellow riders is American who now lives in Colerado. Some of her trail riding photos are fabulous, like the ones you've shared to date. You and Boggle (and Pepper too) are going to have a blast

 

[druid]

On dog flights - I flew two out to USA from Ireland and back home again a year later. Didn't ever consider not bringing them. One is the nervy sap of a spaniel who clings to your legs. Did they enjoy the flight? No. Did they bounce into their crates for the return? Yep. I was working ridiculous hours (surgical internship, literally 24/7 on call and could be at work from 6a-9p on bad days or even longer. I found an excellent very very flexible dog walker who also did home boarding and they became half her dogs really. I could cancel services with 1hr notice. Wasn't cheap but it made me comfortable having them. I had two housemates who helped with them also as needed.

They LOVED the dog friendly going to bars and breweries. They loved the trails. They came to work, a lot after we settled in. Learning to field trial in a new country is a good game too. We got invities to hunt with all sorts of people. I'd do it again in heartbeat.

I also clear dogs out of customs via work and rarely see any I think shouldn't have made the journey. They are more resilient than we give them credit for

 

[Honey08]

When I was cabin crew we could often hear dogs barking in the hold on a 777 when the plane was on the ground. They went in the rear hold underneath one of the galleys which was the heated, pressured hold. We never heard a peep in the air. Our crew suitcases used to go in that hold too. One time there was a delay getting our bags off as a dog had got out of its crate and wouldn’t let the baggage handlers up the ramp!

Initially I thought it was a crazy idea taking your horse, but that’s working out wonderfully and he travelled/settled so well. So I’d probably be tempted to fly the dog over.

How long are you meant to be over there for? I realise it can be extended.

 

[Northern Hare]

Ref taking Pepper to Denver, only jesting but how about travelling back to the US by sea - Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has kennels on board for passengers wishing to take their four-legged friends! ? Cunard QM2

 

[Caol Ila]

My brother took his dog to Zimbabwe when he moved out there seven years ago. And she's kind of a neurotic dog. I doubt she enjoyed the flight but she bounced back.

As you're figuring out, Denver/Boulder is the doggiest place on the planet. Everyone has a dog. Except for my parents because Mom doesn't like them. But everyone else. You would be able to find dog-sitters, kennels, etc no bother.

Dogs obviously get in the way of last minute skiing days, unplanned trips to Moab, nights out, etc. If you have friends who will take the dog at the last minute, great! But kennels, paid dogsitters, etc. often require something resembling advanced planning because there are a lot of dogs around there, and they get booked up.

 

[Michen]

Ref taking Pepper to Denver, only jesting but how about travelling back to the US by sea - Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has kennels on board for passengers wishing to take their four-legged friends! ? Cunard QM2

Not at all I actually have thought about it but it’s more the amount of leave I’d need to utilise!

 

[Michen]

Proud of my horse. Negotiating the kind of terrain he’s never come across with such ease. He loved his trip out with his new mate! The lady who took us is just brilliant, we think exactly the same way in terms of horse care and she’s really taken me under her wing.

Also they go off and do cattle lessons in the spring and I am 100% joining for that, Bog loves cows!

What cool opportunities ??

thank you everyone for your advice re pepper and to answer the question above my visa is for 5 years. I’m going to see how the next few months pan out but I think I can make it work. Thanks @druid especially as that was all so helpful to hear!!!

 

[Honey08]

Seriously I knew someone who lived in Boston and he always sent his dogs back and forth by that boat. They got walked on the lower deck daily. I’m pretty sure he sent the dogs by sea and flew himself to save money.
(I wasn’t going to say this, but it’s come up anyway, he did this because he had one dog completely traumatised by flying and he swore he’d never send another by air).

 

[Michen]

Seriously I knew someone who lived in Boston and he always sent his dogs back and forth by that boat. They got walked on the lower deck daily. I’m pretty sure he sent the dogs by sea and flew himself to save money.
(I wasn’t going to say this, but it’s come up anyway, he did this because he had one dog completely traumatised by flying and he swore he’d never send another by air).

Hmm I’d only do it if I was going with her! I think I’d rather she flew than did that alone but can see why you would if you had a traumatised dog!

 

[Michen]

I'm currently on a riding holiday in Bulgaria, and one of my fellow riders is American who now lives in Colerado. Some of her trail riding photos are fabulous, like the ones you've shared to date. You and Boggle (and Pepper too) are going to have a blast

That sounds amazing!!!

 

[ycbm]

Proud of my horse. Negotiating the kind of terrain he’s never come across with such ease. He loved his trip out with his new mate! The lady who took us is just brilliant, we think exactly the same way in terms of horse care and she’s really taken me under her wing.

Also they go off and do cattle lessons in the spring and I am 100% joining for that, Bog loves cows!

What cool opportunities ??

thank you everyone for your advice re pepper and to answer the question above my visa is for 5 years. I’m going to see how the next few months pan out but I think I can make it work. Thanks @druid especially as that was all so helpful to hear!!!

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Do they know what a Newmarket blanket is over there ?
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[Moobli]

I can’t wait to see you and Bog cattle wrangling or on a cattle drive across that gorgeous scenery!

 

[Michen]

Do they know what a Newmarket blanket is over there ?
.

I am not sure actually. Though the barn is full of rambos!

 

[Michen]

I can’t wait to see you and Bog cattle wrangling or on a cattle drive across that gorgeous scenery!

I can’t wait! Very excited to kit him out in some western tack and learn some new stuff. He will love it. Just need my finances to recover slightly before I dive into that ?

 

[BBP]

I can’t wait! Very excited to kit him out in some western tack and learn some new stuff. He will love it. Just need my finances to recover slightly before I dive into that ?

He very much looks like an Englishman (or Irishman!) abroad in those photos ?

 

[Michen]

He very much looks like an Englishman (or Irishman!) abroad in those photos ?

Yeah he’s a proper tourist especially when he fell out of the trailer! He literally went down on his knees and scraped his face, recovered quickly and looked very embarrassed, thankfully no scratches on his knees ?

He was much more careful coming out the second time though his legs still buckled a bit like he was surprised there was a drop, I’m not sure why an event horse who flies off drops isn’t quite grasping a step down trailer haha!

 

[Caol Ila]

Gypsum was horrified, absolutely horrified, by ramps until the end of her days.

 

[Michen]

Gypsum was horrified, absolutely horrified, by ramps until the end of her days.

Ha! I can’t decide if they make things easier or harder.

 

[druid]

Ref taking Pepper to Denver, only jesting but how about travelling back to the US by sea - Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has kennels on board for passengers wishing to take their four-legged friends! ? Cunard QM2

This was supposed to be my way home from USA with spaniels but they don't have kennels large enough for a Springer when I tried to book.

 

[Caol Ila]

Not sure, either. When I was doing loading training with Hermosa, it seemed that the ramp was the hardest part of the process to get her head around.

It felt easier in a low step up, which is what I had. And slightly less dangerous when dealing with a recalcitrant loader because they couldn't fall off the side of a non-existent ramp and scrape their legs.

Usually, I'd prefer the step up, but there were occasions where a very lame or sick horse had to be transported to the hospital, and the step, especially if it was a bigger one, made loading an animal in that state more of a ball-ache than it would have been with a ramp.

Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Michen]

Well North Carolina is beautiful so far! I’m just sat enjoying the warmth,a bit of humidity and 26 degree weather!

Maybe I should have moved here ?

 

[Honey08]

Nah, that’s winter. Summer is so sticky. I’d choose Colorado anytime!

 

[Michen]

Nah, that’s winter. Summer is so sticky. I’d choose Colorado anytime!

ah I agree- I did have the choice for a slightly different role and figured humidity would be harder on Bog.

Plus, skiing!

 

[Michen]

I love my new barn. I am away for four days and was worried about leaving him and have had so many photos and messages from the other boarders giving him some love great group of people and staff.

 

[palo1]

I love my new barn. I am away for four days and was worried about leaving him and have had so many photos and messages from the other boarders giving him some love great group of people and staff.

That must be so reassuring. How did you choose the barn you are at from the UK @Michen?

 

[Michen]

That must be so reassuring. How did you choose the barn you are at from the UK @Michen?

They were really easy to communicate with on email (big win when doing things from long distance) and had been recommended by someone on a local site who seemed really sensible. Location played a big factor as most of the other barns that seemed like they may work were in the south of Denver which would have been too far from where I was staying.

Turnout. Lots of places didn’t do more than half a day in the winter and many seemed to only do mon- Fri which I found strange! They did have runs at the back of the stable though but i prefer the idea of daily structured turnout over small runs. And I wasn’t keen on the way they were separated by bars with a horse like Bog who loves to strike out with a leg, and likely get it stuck!

I didn’t really intend to end up at such a “fancy” barn but I’m glad I did as small details matter. For example although every horse has an auto waterer, they also have two hanging buckets of water.

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