Grace's New Ride!

I have a 3 horse slant load trailer! Not just a trailer but a Sundowner! I’ve been looking at trailers on Craigslist for at least a year now, knowing that I wanted to upgrade. While my little Circle J straight load is great for local trips, I wanted something bigger and newer for hauling down the freeway to shows. I was also in need of a walk in tack room. Half of my tack is in the small under manger compartment of the Circle J with the other half strewn throughout our house. I’ve been borrowing one of Sarah’s trailers for shows which has given me a chance to get comfortable hauling a longer trailer but meant lots of packing and unpacking from one trailer to another. I love my Circle J, but could not help but to yearn for something bigger and better.

 The Sundowner fits the bill and then some. I know the trailer from Jeanni the previous owner and I always thought it was a classy looking ride. Grace’s first trailer rides were in Penny’s big Sundowner so she has no issue loading and unloading with the rear tack. I remember when I brought home the Circle J and the second time I loaded her she refused to get in. In an emotional outburst I told her “I’m sorry that I can’t afford to buy you the Sundowner Princess trailer you deserve, but this one will have to do.” Jeanni showed up to help me load Grace in the Circle J. Grace loaded up for her on the first try and Jeanni was quick to point out that she had no emotional tie to the situation. I will admit I was pretty frazzled by the time she got there. Soon after I had Grace loading into the Circle J on her own just by throwing the lead rope over her back and pointed to the trailer. Still, I’ve always wanted to get her the Princess trailer that she deserves.

 

The opportunity to buy the Sundowner presented itself last weekend. One of Sarah’s students had upgraded from the bumper pull to a living quarters trailer. I knew I wanted the Sundowner, but didn’t have the available cash to purchase it. The owner of the trailer offered it to me on payments; he said he wanted to keep the trailer in the barn family. We agreed to a payment that I knew I could comfortably make, but still I had that nagging thought in the back of my mind that I had just agreed to take on more debt. I knew that my husband wouldn’t be thrilled as he wanted me to pay the truck off before taking on another payment.

Now this is where the magic happens! I had an overdue annual review at work on Friday. I LOVE my job, not kidding here I really do! I love what I do all day long and I actually miss it when I take time off. In the last few months my team and I have received appreciation and recognition for what we do. That to me will always go farther than a paycheck. I received high scores on my review but was not expecting a pay increase as the company is waiting to become cash positive. So I was pleasantly surprised when my director slid a piece of paper across the table to me with my new salary listed on it. The pay increase divided by 12 months equals EXACTLY my monthly trailer payment. I love manifesting my own reality!

Rear saddle rack

Swings out!

Walk in tack

How did I ever get all that stuff into the little trailer?

The trusty old Circle J will be looking for a new home soon