Bringing Home a Buddy

Auggie Makes a Major Change

Auggie's first afternoon at the farm. He wanted to sniff everything!

By Tuesday of that week, the adoption process was completed with the application fee and paperwork was all submitted. Amy (at the farm where I was going to board Auggie) said she would have a stall ready for him by the last weekend in August once she was back from vacation. Everything seemed to be going perfectly, until later that evening.

    Sammi had texted me that night about the adoption being completed, and as we were discussing Auggie's future, she asked me what day I was coming back to pick him up.

    "We'll have the stall ready on the 27th, so probably that morning," I said.

    "Oh no, he has to be out by Saturday, the policy is they have 1 week to get picked up."

    "Ohhh jeez, well he can't go to the farm until the owner comes back from vacation on the 27th, and he can't come home yet because of Tony," I replied. I felt my stomach turn. Another dilemma had popped up.

    "Well, I can see if Kelly will make an exception?"

    "No, I can't put Kelly in a spot like that. I'm sure you have more horses to come in now. Let me try to talk to Amy first about bringing him in a little earlier."

    Amy was a bit frazzled at the end of the summer riding camp season, and many of her staff were taking time off for vacations as well. I felt that I couldn't put her in an awkward situation where she would have a new horse to be worried about while she was trying to take time off. I called a couple neighboring barns and explained the situation, but no one had any space available on short notice. I started to wonder if this roadblock was a sign that I was making a stupid decision. I felt a sense of despair setting in, and I made the decision to tell Sammi that I just wasn't prepared for another horse at the moment.

    On Wednesday, Sammi texted me to see if I had resolved the boarding situation. I told her that I had not, and that I couldn't find a place to put him for two weeks. I would just have to admit that I was unprepared and move on. 

 "Wait, don't give up yet. The lady that does our hauling, Nancy, has a barn that's pretty much empty. She might be able to keep him for two weeks and then drop him off to you when you are ready. It's worth a shot to see if she can take him. You don't want to miss out on a horse like him." 

    "Ok, I'll try calling her and see what she says!" 

    I felt my mood beginning to lift, although I had no idea who Nancy was or how agreeable she would be to boarding for short term. I took the number from Sammi and proceeded to call Nancy, leaving a detailed message about the situation and hoping that she would have space for Auggie.

    Several hours later, I received a phone call from Nancy. We talked about what was going on and she assured me that she could pick Auggie up at the rescue and keep him at her barn for two weeks. It would be $14/day to board him and then $200 for her to haul him back home for me. The only catch was that I couldn't come visit him at her house as she did not want people in and out of her property while she quarantined horses. I agreed and sent the boarding fee to her immediately, trusting that my horse was safe with her. 

    Nancy picked up Auggie that Friday and sent pictures and updates every couple of days while I waited out the two weeks. I still wondered if I was doing the right thing by taking on MORE responsibility when I already had a daughter to raise and bills to pay, but something kept telling me that I could do better with my life if I would just take a chance. It felt like a long time to wait, hoping that things would work out and fighting the doubts, but I was going to stick with it. 

    Nancy arranged to bring Auggie to me on the afternoon of Sunday, August 28th. Amy would be home, and a stall would be ready waiting for him. I was naturally excited, and a bit nervous too. As I looked at the calendar, I noticed that August 28th was the feast day of Saint Augustine, a funny coincidence for sure. For that reason, I felt in my heart that his nickname "Auggy" had to remain, however, Amy had taken to spelling it as "Auggie," and I decided that was how it would stay.

    A little after 2pm on that sweltering Sunday afternoon, I sat in the truck in front of the farmhouse and waited for Nancy to arrive with my new horse. I saw in the distance, a chevy suburban, towing a stock trailer coming down Shearer Road and I knew immediately that Auggie was home. As Nancy pulled up, I could hear the big Standardbred pawing at the trailer to get out. The metal clanging was unmistakable as Nancy parked in the driveway and stepped out of the car. 

    "You must be Carolyn!" Nancy laughed. She was an older, somewhat heavy woman with a gritty voice. She seemed like someone who had been through a little bit of everything and knew a good bit about horses.

    "Yes, that's me!"

    "I'll get your horse off for you and get your paperwork," she grinned as she turned to open the door of the trailer. 

    "I hope he was good for you; I really appreciate this!"

    "He was no problem at all. This is a good horse. My husband is an old rodeo cowboy, and he said, 'boy, that girl got herself a good horse,' and he doesn't say that very often!"

    Auggie stomped and pawed anxiously as Nancy clipped the lead to his sparkling new halter from the rescue. In a flash he was off the trailer with his head held high and his ears pricked forward. Nancy handed me the lead rope and his file, "He's all yours now, let me get a picture for Kelly and I'll be on my way."

    Just like that I had a new horse in my hand as Nancy drove away to her next destination. I didn't see Amy around, but Diane, one of the ladies in charge of the feeding schedule, was there to show me his new stall. Everyone flocked to see the new horse, as they often do. Boarders and employees looked curiously as I led Auggie on a tour of his new home. He kept his head high and remained somewhat guarded as I walked him around the area, but he finally began to open up when I brought out the carrots.

    When Auggie seemed sufficiently settled, I led him to his stall for some hay and water. It had been a long day, and it was nearing dinner time. I had to get home and get ready for the work week. I felt like I had made the right decision at last. Auggie was home and his new name was Saint Augustine in honor of the day.