A Litttle Slice of Heaven

I am a big believer in what is “meant to be, will be” and that “things always work out for the best.” So even though I stated in my December post that “all I want for Christmas is for Jaliska to go to Florida,” I really did not understand the full implications of that wish.

In retrospect, what I really wanted was for Jaliska to be professionally trained, full-time in an outdoor setting for the winter and that is exactly what she ended up getting. Just in South Carolina, not Florida.

So, even though I was initially disappointed that Jaliska didn’t go to Wellington to train, she ultimately ended up in the right place.

Let me elaborate.

Checkout this outdoor riding area!

The farm that Jaliska is staying at in Aiken is absolutely spectacular. It has sprawling fields, outdoor rings, and a large grassy jumping area. All abutting woods and trails. The farm is in such a rural setting, you drive through miles of cotton fields to get there, it’s like you have checked out from civilization altogether, the only reminder, the buzz of an occasional plane overhead (and of course the state-of-the-art stables). All this and still only 25 minutes from down town Aiken.

The climate is so mild that Jaliska is in turnout around the clock with the exception of coming in to eat her grain, and to be tacked and groomed. She is pretty much treated like a princess, six days a week she gets focused, high quality training in the morning and is taken for a hack around the property in the afternoon.

I am so happy that I made the trip to Aiken to visit Jaliska. It more than confirmed the fact that I made the right decision, and while I was there, I got to explore the charm of the city and interact with it's residents. I was just delighted all around with the setting and hospitality, I mean really, how many high-end steak houses will let you dine in your boots and chaps? Not an issue in Aiken, “of course you can, this is a horse town” the owner declared.

I just loved it.

So with J getting the royal treatment in Aiken, I can now focus exclusively on my training, with the goal of taking it to the next level. I am hoping that when Jaliska comes back, I can meet her somewhere upwards, towards the middle.

Visit Quest Facebook to see more photos of Aiken, SC.