EVENTING NATION

EN Blogger and Jersey Fresh CCI2* Lisa Marie Fergusson returns this afternoon with a recap of the Stuart Horse Trials and a look ahead to moving up at Millbrook as part of her quest to win $15,000 by placing first at the Fair Hill CCI3* this autumn.  Since the Jersey CCI3* winner, Andrea Leatherman, sold the beautiful Mensa to Carl Bouckaert, Lisa is the only remaining rider in the Bit of Britain Challenge.  Thanks Lisa for writing this and to Bit of Britain and John Nunn for sponsoring the challenge.  Bit of Britain's sister companies Nunn Finer and Tack of the Day have been EN sponsors from the very beginning and for that we are incredibly grateful.  
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From Lisa:

Hello once again to all EN readers, Lisa and Smartie ( Smart Move) here with an update on our journey toward our Bit of Britain Challenge at Dansko Fair Hill being held in Elkton MD this October.  Before I start, just a quick shout out to Bit of Britain, who since my last post has furthered their commitment to helping motivate and provide incentives for the hard working riding community with their newest of challenges, the "Chase the Challenge Across America".  I don't know much about them but I do love a company that gives back to our sport.

Since our last update Smartie is back at work and has successfully completed his first event back.  For those of you who have not had the opportunity or the pleasure of competing at the Cosequin Stuart Horse Trials, put it on your calendar for 2012.  It really is a fantastic event that is very well organized, very well attended and have excellent cross country courses for all levels.   At the competitors' party I chatted with Bonnie, one of the land owners, for quite a bit.  She shared with me a great story of the humble beginnings of the event which started with a maximum capacity of 26 competitors and has grown into one of the great Eastern US events.  Wonderful people, outstanding facility and an excellent event, I can't say enough good things about it.  As you have probably already heard the ground was unusually hard at Cosequin this year, and I think most everyone was either really conservative on the cross country course or simply scratched all together.   Smartie and I chose to run conservatively and benefit from a great technical course but not to worry about making time.   As it turned out Smartie was still pretty quick with just 4 time faults but he felt more adjustable and rideable than ever, I simply let him choose a comfortable pace and we went with that.   The courses were designed by Derek di Grazia, and if you have had the chance to run any of his courses, Derek finds a way to ask all the questions but does not try to trick you or your horse.  It's a great challenge and confidence builder for a horse and rider combination at the appropriate level.   I ran my young horse, Tali (Honor Me,) at Novice level, it was his first recognized show, and the cross country had quite a few challenging questions that you rarely see at that level, like a corner and a full coffin, which I thought was great.  Overall Smartie and I had a good show, finishing third, and got back on track after taking a well deserved month off.

Smartie's next excellent adventure...... Millbrook Advanced.

Smartie is a cross country machine and has boldly galloped around some of the more challenging intermediate cross country courses.  He is an extremely brave and scopey horse, and - at only 7 yrs old - is still growing and developing.  He is continually getting stronger and more rideable, but he is a horse that likes a challenge, and a cookie...or two! Smartie's attitude is "bring it on"....which is the best feeling in the world as you get set to gallop out of the start box!   I really believe he is up for the challenge and that the move up won't faze him at all.  I have talked with several competitors who feel that Millbrook is a great event to make the move to Advanced. I guess we will know soon enough.

This year Smartie has proven himself at the 2* level with solid performances each time out and I truly believe he is ready and has earned the opportunity to give Advanced a go.  However, Advanced really is a whole other level, so we will take it one stride at a time and will keep you posted and let you know how it goes and yes...GO EVENTING!

In his Saturday recap, Jon Holling steps his game up and delivers a message that, even two years removed from the young riders ranks, resonates with me as a rider who never accomplished my young riders goals while I had a horse who definitely should have.  Thanks for writing this Jon and thank you for reading.
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Area V waiting out the afternoon thunderstorms, photo via Emma Kate Fisher

From Jon:

Cross Country day is in the books for the 2011 NAJYRC.  I must say that overall the level of riding was very good today.   It is encouraging to see so many good riding kids in our sport. This was particularly evident in the two star division.   I can honestly say that there is no way I could have kept up with some of these riders when I was their age.  The two star track had trouble scattered around in a few places, but as a good course should it rewarded good bold riding.   The riders that came out and attacked the course in a controlled manner were predominately rewarded for it in the end.   Obviously, big hats off to Devon Brown, Joelle Baskerville, and Kendyl Tracy, they all had great rides and are at the top of the leader board for a reason.   I really feel the need to mention Lizzie Snow as well.   I did not see her ride today, but I did hear she was doing everything she could to keep a lid on Coal Creek.  Coal Creek is an exceptional athlete and I am certain that Lizzie will get this partnership back on track in short order.   I had penciled them in last week as the individual gold and I am sure if they are given time that they will achieve great things together.   The team competition is very close, and I expect a very exciting day tomorrow. Area V and IX have a razor thin lead over my home area III.   I am disappointed that our Area IV, VII and VI team did not have a better day. Unfortunately that is the way it goes sometimes in the sport of Eventing, I know we will get them next time.

The one star competition actually got some of the best weather of the day.  The clouds came in and kept things a bit cooler.  Again, great job to the top three in this division.  Sable Giesler, Alyssa Phillips, and Victoria New all finished with great clear rounds over what I felt was a very legitimate one star track.  The team competition is tight in this division as well.  Area V has a good lead on VI and team Ontario, but I would think it will all come down to the show jumping. The standings have a way of moving around on Sunday.   It is always interesting to watch what pressure from big competitions does to riders.  Some of these kids are able to block out everything and just do their jobs.  Others can actually take the pressure and turn it into motivation to focus and perform at their best.   Others unfortunately will crack and make crucial mistakes.  To those who had a day they would like to forget, I would like to assure you that pressure is most definitely something you can learn to deal with.   You're all event riders and the amount of stress you are under at NAJYRC is huge.  To those at the top I say great job and enjoy your success until about nine o'clock tonight.  Then go to sleep and get ready for tomorrow.  To those at the bottom, remember to keep your chin up, pat your horse and get ready for next time your moment to shine is coming I guarantee it.  I often hear people tell the riders at NAJYRC that they are all champions.  I think that gets lost on the kids somehow.   I know I never bought it when I rode at this competition, but trust me everyone that is here has earned their spot.  So assuming the rain subsides, I expect to see some superb dancing at the party tonight.  And watch out because Caiden has taught me a few new moves.

This week Tamra Smith was named to the Pan American short list with Mar De Amor.  Just a few days before she competed at The Event at Rebecca Farm with the help of the Rebecca Broussard International Developing Riders Travel Grant.  Tamra was kind enough to send us this post about her experience and the inspiration of spending a weekend remembering Rebecca Broussard.
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From Tamra: 

Last weekend at Rebecca Farm was full of everything that comes with eventing and competing.  But it also was full of remembering a staple in our sport, Rebecca Broussard.  We spent the week remembering a wonderful woman who was instrumental to the sport of eventing.  It was inspiring to hear her beliefs, the story of her life, and what she brought to fruition.  I never knew Mrs. Broussard well, but I could see the passion she had for our sport and helping people.

The Rebecca Broussard International Developing Riders Grant was developed in her memory.  This grant will be awarded to help developing riders travel and compete at Rebecca Farm each year.  Candidates that travel and compete at Rebecca Farm will then go on and interview for an international grant.   Each year $30,000 will be awarded to one individual to help them achieve there goals of riding at the top level of the sport of eventing and help them get that much closer to competing for Team USA.

I was fortunate to receive a travel grant to help with competing at Rebecca Farm.  I then interviewed with the USEA Endowment Trust committee for the international grant and although I was nervous I quickly became intrigued with what I learned about Mrs. Broussard and her vision for the sport of eventing.  This woman helped so many people start and continue their careers.  Her generosity both within there local community and the eventing community is astronomical. 

I asked what Mrs. Broussard's vision was....and what I mostly got out of the committee's response was that Becky wants to keep this sport alive!  I reflected on that and thought to myself, what can I do to keep eventing alive?  I love this sport.  It has kept me up in my darkest days and kicked me right back down when I needed that.  It has been what saved me and raised me from a kid to a woman, and it created most of my lifelong friendships.  

I was reminded by Mrs. Broussard's example to try and help promote eventing!  No matter how big or small our contribution is......eventing needs a rebirth!  We need to pick our sport up and believe again!  Believe that we have brilliant horses with talented riders and supportive owners and sponsors!  And mostly an amazing supportive community!  We need to have pride and even when the going is not going well we need the eventing community to stick behind this sport and pick it up, instead of pointing fingers.  There are too many people in this world who thrive on failures, our country sure isn't about that and neither is eventing!

Let's create what I had as I watched the 1984 Olympics.  I sat on my living room floor and said, "I wanna go to the Olympics and represent my country!"  We need that passion back in this sport again.

So when someone looks at you and says....you are an eventer!?  Say: yes, and we have the best equine athletes in the world, we have the toughest competitors in equestrian sports, and know that we have the most supportive community in any sport because we know how hard it is to lead from start to finish, and sometimes the under dog comes from nowhere and wins, sometimes the best of the best wins, but there is one thing for sure in eventing.....you never know!

Keep kicking on...and let's do our part to bring eventing ALIVE!