A lot has happened in the last two months around here.
We sadly closed a chapter on our time at Cherry Creek Farm. After being our home for almost 4 years, we said goodbye. Initially, we had moved Bacardi to a private farm in Arlington, but unfortunately, it was a very poor experience and we had to leave emergently following a threat of bodily harm from the farm owner. We were blessed that a friend was available to haul us at the drop of a hat and that their farm had room for us. Bacardi and I have been at Arlington Equestrian now for a little over a month. Regretfully, even though they graciously took us in during our hour of need, the barn is not a good fit for us and we will be relocating to Stanwood Equestrian in the first part of August.
On to the BIGGER news. Ruffi is back. Many have probably seen this since it was posted to Instagram and the FB page. It has been quite the rollercoaster since we found out she was going to be put back up for sale a week ago.
Originally back in Sept of 2022, I had sold Ruffi because Preston (my partner) and I were separating and realistically I could not justify keeping two horses on a single income. It would have been impossible. I did my best to find a care lease home for her, but eventually received an offer to purchase her as a broodmare for appendix quarter horses. At the time, I was not able to refuse the offer. Shortly thereafter, Preston and I were able to reconcile and I regretted not holding off longer to sell the mare. It has been eating at me for the better part of these 10 months. I felt grief at the loss of a horse I loved, guilt at selling a horse I had been gifted out of love, and regret sending on my partner’s horse, who he loved deeply.
At one point we did go out and visit her to check up on her and she seemed to be in good spirits. This was about a month and a half after she had been sold. She looked to be in good weight and doing well. Over time I saw photos of her and got updates and she seemed to be doing well.
On Monday 7/10/2023, I received a message that she did not get into foal and so they did not want to feed her through the winter. I asked if we knew why and was told they did not investigate. I was told he she didn’t sell in 2 weeks she would be going to an auction. At that moment I shifted into emergency mode. I tried every which way to come up with the money to buy her back. She wanted the price she had paid for Ruffi and the price of the stud fee for the failed breeding. I could not come up with the funds and I was devastated. I had resigned that it wasn’t meant to be and my last ditch effort was to try and find out what auction and try and buy her back there.
Come Thursday evening, I was told that if I came and got her this weekend I could have her for what I was paid for her. I started networking to get someone to haul. Initially, my side saddle instructor was going to go get her and bring Ruffi back to her farm for a month and bring her up to me when they were coming for a show. Due to some medical things, she was having a difficult go and posted for help on local pages. Thankfully, someone who lived on the east side of the mountains was coming our way in the morning and was willing to pick her up. The hauler was going to go in the morning and then due to location had to pick her up Friday night.
We were able to jump in the car and drive out to Yakima on Friday night and pay for Ruffi and have the hauler pick her up. The hauler was kind enough to keep her overnight and bring her to us on Saturday. She arrived bright and early in the morning and got settled in her new digs. Last night we went out and groomed her and bathed her and just tried to get her settled.
Today we have a spur-of-the-moment vet appointment since the vet was already scheduled at the farm for another horse to have her checked if she is actually not in foal and to discuss a refeeding program due to the poor condition she is in.
I will continue to post updates on Ruffi and make a new blog category called “Ruffi’s Rebound”. Stay tuned to follow her progress now that she is home.
Happy Reading,
A+R