TomS Words of Wisdom

Below are some of my experiences hauling to Nationals. I know that others in our region have also hauled to Denver, and I'd be interested in hearing their experiences too.

I've attended every nationals since '02, Livermore, Denver, Lexington, Denver, and City of Industry. I helped Tammy Denault (Emerald City / Mtn. Wind) haul to Nationals '04 (Lexington, VA) and Nationals '05 (Denver, CO). On both trips we stopped overnight at "Horse Motels" along a route she pioneered to Mt. Holyoke for Nationals '01 where she and the Emerald City Vaulters won the National Trot Team Championship.

The first night out (& last night back) we stopped at Mountain View Arena in Dear Lodge, MT. Their place is right off the Interstate, well maintained with good size stalls. They also have an indoor arena that we have used to work the horses before departing in the morning and were even able to get in some vaulting practice on the way to Nationals '04. They have plenty of stalls so getting reservations isn't usually difficult. Tammy likes to stay at the Super 8 Motel that is across the Interstate from Mtn. View Arena.

The place we've stayed outside Sheridan, WY (in Big Horn) is a family owned and operated bed & breakfast. Their stalls have attached runs and they have a large paddock where we have also been able to work horses in the AM. From Sheridan, WY Denver is an easy day's haul. They have fewer stalls then the place in Deer Lodge, so if we travel as a group we'll have to make sure they have space for our horses and humans or get their help finding additional accommodations in the area. In '04 when their B&B was booked up, but they had space for the horses we stayed at the Super 8 Motel in Sheridan. That Super 8 was a little close to active train tracks for me to get a good night's sleep, so next time we can't stay at the B&B, I'd suggest trying the newer Motel 6, also in Sheridan.


Tammy's Rig
Originally uploaded by TSayles.

When hauling with Tammy, a typically road day from these locations begins with breakfast for the horses then the humans. After breakfast we would give the horses a light work out then loaded the horses and hit the highway. We'd usually make a quick late morning stop to check on and offer water to the horses. Midday we'd make a longer stop while we made and ate lunch under her trailer's awning. In the mid-afternoon we typically would make another stop to check and water the horses. We'd also check and water any time we needed to stop for gas or restrooms. On the shorter legs we'd arrive at our overnight stop off load and settle the horses, then hit a local restaurant for dinner. On the longer legs in '04 (WY <-> IA and IA <-> IN) or if we got a late start ('05) we'd stop at a restaurant along the way for dinner.

In '04 we had two vaulters and two horses traveling with us and once they learned the hauling routine the operation was relatively quick and efficient. The vaulters got to sleep much of the day so they could do most of the loading and unloading work while Tammy and I did the driving and supervised. In '05 it was just me and Tammy with five horses going to Denver, which was very exhausting. Coming back we had only two horses, so the work load was better, but we still wished we had a vaulter or two along to help.

And finally as others can also attest to, traveling with Tammy is always an adventure. That said, I'm ready and willing to sign on with her for my third long haul trip. And probably again in '08 to Kentucky!