<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>

We had only ninety kilometers to go when the problems began. I felt a violent push from the horse trailer and another one. The car made a little bump to the side and made it hard for me to keep it under control. Something was wrong - badly.

Six hours earlier, at 5am, our alarm clock was waking us up. We had been looking forward to this day for quite some month now. A week of vacation with horses. We wouldspend it in a camping trailer, only this trailer wouldn't be pulled by a car but by a draft horse. And to make things even better me and Mrs. Hugin wouldn't spend the time alone but with Mr. and Mrs. Nanuk, both of them close friends of us.

Our plan was to meet them in the Northern part of Germany, 500 kilometers away from where we live, where we would rent horse and camping coach. But what made this morning really exciting for us, we would take our Haflinger Jack along.

Our own cars are too small to pull a horse trailer, so I had to find a proper rental offering not only strong cars but also fit with mounts for trailers (and you'd be surprised to hear hof difficult that can be). But eventually I made it.

Picking Jack up at his stable was easier than expected and so we hit the Autobahn at 6:30am. Everything was fine and we made good progress. After three hours we made a rest and Jack seemed to be perfectly fine and relaxed.

And now this. What had happened? Maybe a flat tire on the horse trailer? I knew I couldn't hit the brakes without risking to loose control. So instead I allowed the car to smoothly slow down. We had to get off from the Autobahn. Working on the trailer with cars passing by at a speed of 150mph and more isn't a too smart move. I knew thatall too well from my days as a paramedic.

But the next exit wasn't too far away.I pulled the car off and we were finally able to inspect the horse trailer. In his feverish persuit not to waste even the tinyest corn that had fallen from the hay net to the trailer's floor sneaky Jack had somehow managed to push his head under the bar that was meant to hold his chest. Now pushing his head under that bar was one thing. Pulling it back out however seemed to be impossible, no matter how deftly he tried to free himself.

Seeing us Jack cooled down and we were able to get him out of this awkward position. A few bruises, nothing serious. What a great relief - it would have really been horrible if we had had to start the vacations with a badly hurt horse.

We made the last kilometers without any difficulties and met with our friends. We spend the first night in the camping coach in peacful silent - except of course Jack's whining. Seems like he hates to be alone out there. But he'll meet new friends on Sunday as we'll pick up the draft horse for our coach and another Haflinger as riding horse for Mrs. Nanuk.

To be continued...