I am the facility manager at Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms in Woodbine MD. I consider myself an up and coming adult amateur with the goals of a teenager that has sights set on Rolex. At the ripe age of 30, what better time then now to dive head first in the world of eventing and all it has to offer.
Myself and Sue's Reputation schooling at Liberty Farm.
Many professionals have learned this lesson multiple times. This past week, it was my turn for a lesson in horses and eventing. But let’s rewind back a little bit and give you some of the back story. Me and my horse, Beans, have been on a roll for the past year. We only had our first recognized horse trials last summer at Surefire, where we debuted at Beginner Novice.
After that awesome first outing, we have been on an adrenaline bender that even the harsh winter of the mid-Atlantic could not slow down. Last month, Beans and I earned our last NQR at Training to go Preliminary. Planning to make the jump to Prelim in the very near future, we put our nose to the grind stone and got hard to work perfecting our stadium and dressage.
I set a very ambitious goal for myself. I wanted to qualify and attend the Virginia CCI1* at the Virginia Horse Center in October. This goal did not leave myself or Beans much room for error, especially when working around my wife’s dressage business and horse shows as well. Our first step in meeting that goal would be attending the Maryland Horse Trials II on July 18 and knocking out our first Prelim.
As I am a bit of a day dreamer, thoughts of qualifying for the one-star in our first four Prelimss became a false reality. So much so I bought two new men’s fashion suits for my first time down the evening runway. Some sort of delusion of me prancing down the jog with “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred playing over the speakers — or maybe it was “Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer.
As my dreams kept my mind in a euphoric state, add to that being chosen by EN to win the latest Blogger Contest, I was on top of the metaphoric eventing world. Then life pumps the brakes and lets you know you’re still human and dealing with a living horse.
My farrier came out last Tuesday, and what he found in Beans’ left front foot brought my early 90’s music montage to a screeching halt, kind of like MC Hammer’s career in the mid-90s. Now this issue does not have the death sentence of Mr. Hammer’s music career, and Beans will be fine in time, but it hit the gut hard and with a flood of emotion.
My farrier described the hoof problem to me this way: She has a malady of the hoof caused by moisture that undermined the structural integrity of the hoof wall. It in theory is similar to white line disease, but at the same time different. Treatment is also similar, where you must treat the underlying bacteria, fungus and microbes. In doing this, a portion of the hoof wall must be removed to allow oxygen and treatment to be applied.
Bean’s foot after being resected prior to treatment.
Beans was not keen to the treatment and showed some discomfort, which resulted in stall rest. All I could process was: There goes my season. There goes my Prelim debut. There goes half my paycheck in show entry fees I can’t get back.
I sulked around the farm for the next few days, trying to grasp this first real let down of my eventing career. Because not only does this seemingly small hoof issue affect me going Prelim in the month of July, but it pretty much negates my one-star chances in 2015. To help me deal with this sad puppy dog emotional downturn, a good friend of mine at the farm invited me to lunch.
During our lunch, after explaining to her my woes, Sammy offered me something completely unselfish that mystified me. She offered me a ride on Rep, her 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. I thanked her and kind of brushed it off as a kind gesture and finished our lunch. When I got back to my office, the reality of what she offered me settled in.
Sammy offered me a ride on the horse she has not shown recognized in about two years. She offered me the opportunity to be the first person to take him around a cross country course since a major eye surgery this past winter. But most of all, she offered me trust and compassion to help me get through — that and not lose all those dollars in entry fees.
I then printed out the paperwork, emailed the secretary and got all my ducks in a row to change my entry to another horse at a lower level. I walked into Sammy’s barn with a sheepish grin and asked if she was serious in her offer. As she laughed at me and said yes, I handed her the entry to sign.
That got me thinking: This is why I love this sport. We are all family, and we are all in the same boat together. We come together to help one another out in times of need — some more serious than others, but a sense of true compassion exudes from all of us at the right times.
I took Rep out this weekend for a cross country school as my first ride on him, and I fell off at the second jump. I laughed as I slid down the face of the jump like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. I smiled as I got back on because I have a new goal for the time being, and I can’t wait to take this horse to his first event since 2013.
Go Eventing … even when it’s not the original plan.
Team Canada enjoying a day at the races. Photo via Phoenix Equestrian Team on Facebook
With only four days separating us from the official start of the 2015 Pan Am Games, the Canadian team stepped away from their rigorous training schedule to enjoy a little afternoon racing. Both the dressage and eventing team attended The Queens Plate, the oldest Thoroughbred race in Canada, which is the first leg in the Canadian Triple Crown. Make sure you stay locked right here on EN for the latest and greatest in Pan Am’s coverage, as Jenni will be our eyes and ears on the ground in Toronto.
Get Pan Am tickets while they’re available, again! It seems that the Pan Am committee had been sitting on a little Christmas in July gift for us. On July 6th, a small block of tickets had been released for all equestrian events. When searching the Pan Am site, most say “Not Many Left”, so if your in the market for some non inflated tickets, here is your chance! [Caledon Enterprise] [Ticket Master]
A group of veterinarians and riders affiliated with Bern University is looking for your help with their collapse and sudden death survey. If you have ridden, trained, or treated a horse that has collapsed or died during exercise, take a moment to fill out the questionnaire below. Your input will help in the design of strategies to prevent these episodes. [Rider/Trainer Survey] [Veterinarian Survey]
Zara Phillips and High Kingdom will miss out on European Championships. After the injury sustained in the stall prior to dressage at Rolex Kentucky in April, High Kingdom will not be fit enough for the European Championships at Blair Castle. Zara, with no other top level mounts, will miss out on this years Championships as well. [Horse & Hound]
Are you staying properly hydrated while you ride? Its easy to forget about yourself when you’re hard at work perfecting your riding and making the most out of a sunny day. Make sure you listen to your body and drink the right stuff before, during and after your rides. [Equestrian Professional]
Tuesday Video Break:
Let’s all sit back, grab a Blue Diamond Cocktail (Offical Cocktail of the Queen’s Plate), and pretend we are enjoying an afternoon at the races with team Canada.
Our top three Blogger Contest finalists submitted their final entries to us this week, and now we need your help deciding on the winner! We asked the finalists to submit their interpretation of #EventerProblems. We’ll be posting all three submissions here on Bloggers Row this weekend, followed up by a voting poll. All posts are presented without editing for fairness’ sake. The votes will not decide the winner but will be taken into account during the final decision process. Good luck to all finalists!
#EVENTERPROBLEMS: Blogger Edition
Yes this is the hashtag that will not end. Everyone from beginners to the upper level pro’s have their problems that are unique to our sport. These problems are what make us tried and true eventers. They are what bring us together. So I give you my personal and favorite #EVENTERPROBLEMS:
And there are those problems even a picture cant capture the true essence of our problems:
If you’re having horse problems I feel bad for you son, Cause I got 99 problems but Eventing ain’t one.
We recently announced the final three Blogger Contest finalists, and now we’re bringing you each submission from Round 2 here on Bloggers Row. We will be posting all six entries over the next few days, so be sure to check them out and leave your feedback in the comments.
All entries will be reprinted without editing for fairness’ sake. Thanks again for your support and readership, EN! We are thrilled to have such quality entries yet again this year.
Preserve the Old, but Embrace the New
Imagine you’re at Rolex and you see Michael Jung galloping around cross country with a set of golden arches on his shoulder and a saddle pad that is similar to Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet with sponsor logos all over the quilting. Imagine Phillip Dutton, immediately after a great dressage test, takes a giant gulp of Gatorade’s just released flavor for the new ad in Sports Illustrated. Now picture the main arena at Burghley surrounded by banners from Coca-Cola, Panasonic, Heineken, Progressive and Sunoco as Andrew Nicholson has another amazing stadium round.
I feel that many of us cringe at the thought of “selling out” our sport to the corporate giants. At the same time, we wonder why there isn’t more widespread acceptance of our sport? The reality of professional sports is that corporate sponsors dump more money than one can imagine into sporting events. Companies like IHeart Media sponsor the US Figure Skating Championship. IBM is the IT sponsor for the US Open at Chambers Bay, Purina sponsors the Westminster Dog Show and Geico sponsors the Pro Bowling Association World Championship with a whopping 35 hours of television coverage on a major network.
Turning to sponsors of five of the four star events worldwide (Kentucky, Badminton, Burghley, Luhmulhen, and Adelaide), out of over 100 listed sponsors about 10 are internationally recognizable non-equine related companies. There were no beverage (i.e., Coke, Pepsi), alcohol (who drinks more than equestrians?), telecom, food service, or snack manufactures sponsoring our biggest annual events.
If our sport is to survive, thrive and increase its audience, shouldn’t we try to attract the sponsors that the everyday non-horse person can relate to? In attracting those sponsorship deals wouldn’t that make it more valuable for our sport to be broadcasted across mainstream media? Thus increasing viewership and even knowledge that Eventing (or Tri-equathlon, Equestrathon, or whatever we are going to be called) exists.
We should continue to recruit sponsors that are part of our way of life, but we should also include sponsors that the everyday person can relate to. I can get on Facebook at any time and pick 5 well-known brands that get mentioned by fellow eventers at least once a week. For example: Starbucks, Chipotle, Wal-Mart, Ram Trucks, and Home Depot are all in my news feed from just today. Shouldn’t we get these companies on board with eventing?
Sponsors want a return on investment. We need to start gathering more demographic information about our membership (see the USDF’s statistics) and the people who participate in eventing either as competitors or spectators. If we plan to attract these companies as sponsors, we must encourage attendance, aka more eyes that come with wallets that will potentially buy what they’re selling.
Here are a few ideas to get the conversation started about boosting attendance at events: partner with an A list celebrity that is passionate about horses. Wouldn’t it be cool to have Kaley Cuoco or Robert Duvall as the guest emcee of Rolex Kentucky? Even better – how about a big blow out concert after cross country in the Rolex Stadium with Bruce Springsteen, Miranda Lambert, or Maroon 5? These ideas would drive more interest from the mainstream public to attend 3-day events, increasing the visibility and popularity of our sport and driving the return on investment that big-name sponsors require.
Our sport is deeply rooted in tradition. The way we dress, the tack we use, the movements in a dressage test are all part of a historic tradition that transcends all of us. We must remember where our sport came from, but if we wish to make eventing more appetizing, engaging and understandable to the mainstream public, we must embrace the things that can help it survive and grow.
The first time I heard about Eric Smiley coming to Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms in Woodbine, Maryland, three years ago, I had no idea who he was. Well, if you type his name into Google, you get more than you think. Pictures, articles, blog posts and more pictures flood the results. It becomes very clear that Eric Smiley is true eventing royalty.
Eric has a list a mile long of his accomplishments and achievements. This list includes being a member of four Olympic teams, three World Equestrian Games teams, being an FEI international judge and being a regular competitor at both Burghley and Badminton. The list goes on and on, but I believe anyone who doesn’t already know Eric’s resume gets the overall picture.
For the first-timers, riding with Eric can be intimidating based solely on the previously mentioned resume. But within the first few minutes, it becomes clear that Eric has a way with teaching. It takes only one look around to see the smiles in the arena to know a ride with Eric is going to be fun and educational.
Day one
The tag line for this clinic was “Three Days Three Ways.” The first day was all dressage. Dressage is inherently a complex, hard pain that we eventers must all suffer though, but is it? First are two questions that gets your mind going: “What are two things you like about your horse?” and “What is one thing you want to work on?”
Eric starts with warming you and your horse up, the simple basics of what makes three good gaits. Probing for answers, Eric asks very basic questions that causes most riders to over think and give overly complex answers to.
Dave and his mare Serendipity working on their dressage work with Eric.
He challenges the knowledge you think you know, and even more so he challenges the pop culture riding terms used in everyday lessons. For instance, “What is impulsion?” Seems like a simple question that you know the answer to. But Eric asks, “What is impulsion in two words?” which is normally followed by silence as riders try to take all the terms we normally associate with impulsion and make it just two words.
Samantha Bilodeau riding Rep in a dressage lesson with Eric. Photo courtesy of Lola Cake.
Eric pushes you to not just sit up on your horse and be along for the ride but to be an active participant — using your mind along with your body to hold fast to the correct ways of going. He brings into play how to improve your rides one movement at a time from the judge’s point of view. Being a competitor and judge brings two unique views to help riders develop confidence in the dressage ring.
Meghan Perry, an accomplished upper-level eventer and very regular student of Eric’s, said, “On the flat you have to feel what is right to get the best results from your ride and your horse. To feel is to do the right thing at the right time. Sometimes you learn feel by doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and not getting the desired response. And that is OK; you will learn what the right thing is.”
Eric’s hands in use.
Eric uses every moment of your ride to help you improve, whether your doing it right or you are learning from doing it wrong. He helps you understand the “feel” so you can reproduce the correct results again and again. There are times when he will demonstrate what the correct feel is by taking your reins and being your hands.
The statement was made that someone just needed Eric’s hands attached to their arms, to which he replied, “My hands are available at Costco!” Who knew — Costco would make a killing if this were true.
Getting ready to jump.
Day two
At the beginning, after you have had a chance to warm up, Eric often asked the rider what their goal was for the lesson or what had been a sticking point in their jump rounds. Most of the jump lessons are small groups, and I for one am not a fan of group lessons. I love being the only one that the instructor is focused on, which makes me feel like I get more out of the lesson. But this was not the case with Eric at the helm.
When you are riding in a group with Eric, he uses each rider as part of the lesson — asking the idle riders about what they have witnessed and what could have been done better differently and why. I have never ridden with someone who was able to teach three individual lessons at the same time.
No rider was left behind or felt that they were beyond the group. In a group that had riders or horses that span the Training level (one just thinking about going Training, one had competed Training and one that was starting to think Prelim), Eric made it work and work well.
He is one of the only clinicians I’ve seen that can teach riders of any level. No one is beneath him nor is anyone walking away wishing they had done more. Eric has a way of breaking things down to a super simplistic way that helps anyone, even the auditor, understand how to improve their riding.
Meghan Perry on Elton in her jump lesson with Eric.
He helps riders reduce the micro management most of us get carried away with. The rider also learns to pass certain responsibilities back to the horse. It is ingrained into your way of thinking that your horse has a job in this partnership in the jump ring and to not take away from what your horse is responsible for.
The one thing I heard over and over again from riders in the stadium ring was, “I could not believe I jumped that!” Eric has an uncanny ability to instill an ultimate confidence in each rider with their horse. He give riders the gentle push to go a little farther than their comfort level may have allowed when the lesson begun.
Day three
The third day was by far the most fun. We were lucky enough to be invited to Waredaca and allowed to school with Eric on their cross country course. Even with all the portable jumps still in storage, Waredaca had more then enough to challenge any rider and horse that participated in the third day of the clinic.
Eric passionately discussing the next exercise
The lessons all started with warming your horse up, getting them forward and ready. Starting over small logs, Eric would quickly increase the challenge by working on accuracy — using small targets placed on the top of the jump, having the participants aim for those spots, and then asking each rider if they believed they were accurate and how they would improve their next go.
It is with this active mental questioning that each rider didn’t just jump random cross country jumps but learned how to improve with each jump. A lot of the same thinking from the stadium course would play into these lessons. As the schooling progressed through out the course, there was a different lesson to be learned at each obstacle.
Liz Schroeder in her cross country lesson at Waredaca as Eric looks on.
Riding with Eric on the cross country course showed the miles upon miles of cross country Eric has ridden over the years. Between stories of Burghley and lessons he taught the week prior to riding with his mentors, Eric is an encyclopedia of eventing knowledge. But this knowledge is delivered in such a simplistic manor that no rider has questions of what he meant.
What’s next
There is no a single eventer I know that would not benefit from a lesson with Eric. I believe Eric is an untapped resource in the eventing world. He has a way of teaching that shows two individuals how to work together for one common goal, and that’s the way to really look at this. We are partners with our horses; we can’t go it alone, nor can they.
Eric in his element.
Eric has become a staple in my riding and training regimen. He has been the catalyst for Meghan Perry’s entire eventing career. He is a regular contributor to many three- and four-star professionals as well as amateurs at the lower levels. Eric finds a way to improve the way every horse goes and how each rider rides no matter their level of expertise.
After a ride with Eric, you will believe in yourself, your horse and your riding. His passion for spreading his knowledge is only bolstered by the confidence and happiness each rider exudes after their ride.
Eric will be visiting us again at Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms in Woodbine, Maryland, on June 19-21. I encourage all of you that are in Area II or those willing to travel to contact Beth Sokohl at [email protected] for a spot in the clinic. You will not be disappointed and, like me, you will become a regular in his clinics in the future.
One other piece of great news is that Eric is going to be the head clinician at Waredaca’s Novice/Training three day in October. This is also a great opportunity to dip your toes into the vast pool of knowledge that is Eric Smiley.
I also want to thank Nancy Seybold, Chris Arthur, Meghan Perry and Beth Sokohl for your input in writing this blog.
As I’ve said several times, in the grand scheme of things I’m relatively new to eventing. I have been showing recognized for less then a year at this point. This past year has been filled with many experiences that when I started this journey I would not have expected.
This past week, I finally received my disk of photos of Serendipity (aka Beans) and I at Paradise Farm Horse Trials. I anxiously opened the disk drive on my laptop to load the photos. To my surprise was the disk from my first recognized horse trials at Surefire was still in the drive (the term CD ROM seems so 90s).
At this point, you can easily guess I loaded the new and old photos for a very clear look at what has changed in the past year. To my amazement it looks like a different horse and rider. I don’t feel like that much has changed between June 2014 and February 2015, but it seems we have made leaps and bounds.
In fact last week in my lesson with Kristin Bachman, we had been discussing the progress Serendipity and I have made. The progress is to the point we are discussing our Prelim debut. It feels amazing to hear from your trainer that she believes you are ready to make that leap from Training to Prelim.
But to really appreciate where you are headed you need to take a glance back and see where you have been.
Rewind
In June of 2014, I competed in my first recognized horse trials at Surefire Farm. Nerves were in full effect as I mounted and warmed up for dressage. Now, being around upper lever and international equestrians is nothing new to me but when you warming up next to the likes of Phillip, Kim, Sally, and Marilyn for the first time, it’s a bit unnerving.
Photo Courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography
We had an okay dressage test for a 40.5. The ride made it evident Beans needed more experience around the scary white chain and trucks with people in them. Stadium had me slightly nervous due to a day and a half of jump rounds on a rain soaked grass ring. Not to mention the rails well falling left and right.
With two rails down I proceeded to cross country, which today I still feel totally confident with. It’s simple to me, it makes sense in my head. Seeing the lines and the strides comes second nature. We rocked the course almost getting speed faults. And not because we were out of control but because Beans was laughing at everything.
Photo Courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography
We ended the day finishing sixth out of 14 entered. I knew right then that Beans and I had started a long journey together doing something we both loved and trusted each other in.
Fast Forward
Last month I wrote a blog about my first time going to Aiken. In that blog, I went through my entire journey from Maryland to Aiken and back — discussing what there is to do in Aiken, the facilities, the people, and even the food. What I failed to portray was this: I have taken my eventing career so seriously that I drove nine hours for a single horse trials.
Photo Courtesy of Barry Koster Photography
When you step back and look at it that way, it paints a whole new picture. Yes, Aiken is a wonderful winter eventing oasis, but its not a cheep venture to take off work, travel 500 plus miles, show, and traverse back home all in one weekend. Going to Aiken with goals in mind brought to light my passion and drive for success in this sport.
Last June, Aiken hadn’t crossed my mind, and right before my next horse trials at CDCTA next weekend I’m already planning the rest of my summer, fall and Aiken next winter. But I digress. The photos from Paradise really do bring to light the changes Beans and I have made. The undeniable progress was picked out of thin air and presented to me in photo form.
Photo Courtesy of Barry Koster Photography
Seeing these changes mixed with a plan for the future really settles me into the thought of prelim and possibly my first 1* by the end of 2015. Which when I stop to really think about it now brings back those butterflies I had before going to my first event last June. Oh how this feeling in my gut gets me giddy and questioning all at the same time.
But this time I know Beans and I will be more then ready for the challenge ahead. We will get our final NQR at Training level and move up sometime this summer. I will get myself mentally ready for what is next and execute with extreme prejudice. In a year from now I will look back again to this point with pride and astonishment on how far we have come.
Photo Courtesy of Barry Koster Photography
Lastly I know I want to thank all of those that have taken part in my journey this past year. All of the following have done more for my riding then I can even imagine. Nicki Carson (wife and built in dressage trainer), Kristin Bachman (jump trainer), Britta Johnston (dressage trainer), Heath Ryan, Eric Smiley, and Boyd Martin, the one’s who have been there, done that, and believe I have the ability to do it as well.
Side note: Yes I did get yelled at several times by a multitude of people including all my trainers for my actions taken in the featured image.
The view over Full Gallop Farm. Photo courtesy of Lara Anderson.
I feel that this time of year most East Coast eventers surrender themselves to the constant beating from winter and ride inside. Most use this time in a smaller, crowded arena to work on their dressage or stadium, ironing out our technique and accuracy for better dressage scores or working the ever popular grids to prepare our mounts for what lies ahead in spring.
But its not easy to motivate yourself, or your horse for that matter, to ride on a daily basis when winter hits you in the face as soon as you walk outside your front door. So, this past fall, I made a plan to meet winter head on.
This winter it was my goal to aim for Aiken and compete in two horse trials before the spring season started up in Area II. This would be my first time traveling south, so I was champing at the bit for an adventure. After looking at the USEA omnibus about 80 times and going over my wife’s and my show schedule another 80 times, I picked the two shows I would enter.
Preparing for our journey
As this was my first time traveling to Aiken, I quickly had a mile-long list of questions about everything. Having finally chosen my first show, Paradise Farm Horse Trials (Feb. 13-15), the search began for a place to stable our horses, as well as a place to stay. I believe I asked well over 30 people for their advice and finally decided we would be stabling and staying at Full Gallop Farm. It seemed far too easy to have both us and our horses in the same location.
Plans for my first trip south were falling into place. I had arranged to take a fellow boarder here at Sunset Hill and her horse Rocco to Aiken as well, so we would be able to share the fuel cost. I also had alerted family that lives in Atlanta that we were within a reasonable drive if they wanted to experience their first horse trials.
The last final step was to make sure Serendipity (Beans) and I were well prepared for the show ring. I scheduled a few back to back jump lessons with Kristen Bachman, schooled dressage with my built-in dressage trainer of a wife, Nicki, and rode every day before we departed. A true feeling of preparedness overcame me as Nicki and I packed the trailer with everything we might need.
Ready to hit the road.
Heading south
The drive to Aiken would be a 560-mile trek that, if you could drive straight through, would take about 8 hours and 40 minutes. So we planned to head down the road no later then 4 a.m. to beat rush hour traffic both around Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia.
We loaded the three horses (Beans, Rocco and Nicki’s dressage mount Deliza) and made our departure from Maryland. With Nicki and I taking turns driving (as we are not very good at preparing ourselves for a trip and typically are up until midnight getting packed therefore not getting more the two hours of sleep), we made it to the “America’s favorite highway oasis & gateway to the southeast,” more affectionately known as “South of the Border.”
South of the Border!
South of the Border is a rest stop and road side attraction originally built in the late 1940s. You are teased by bright colored humorous signs for miles prior to entering North Carolina and can see the signature, for lack of better terms, Eiffel Sombrero well before the exit. After South of the Border, there are only another 165 miles left in the journey to Aiken, which seem to crawl by but are totally manageable.
Taking time to settle in
We arrived in Aiken by 3 p.m. to awesomely mild temps in the high 50s, which, after temps struggling to get out of the 30s at home, was a true blessing and all the fuel we needed to unpack and settle the horses into their new temporary housing. Full Gallop Farm is owned by Lara and Dan Anderson andconsists of five barns, 20 paddocks and a giant cross country course. They plan to host a total eight USEA recognized horse trials this year, so they exude professionalism and calmness despite any issue that may arise.
After Beans and Deliza settled into their stalls, we got our living space set up in the trailer, which we were instructed to park next to the barn. I then walked around the barns and took stock of the more permanent winter inhabitants of Full Gallop. We shared a barn with upper-level eventers Tracey Bienemann, Beau Guimond and Dr. Stephanie Davis of Team Ride Safe, among others that I hadn’t had time to meet yet.
The lst thing we did was find a place to eat. I received several suggestions for places I needed to visit for a gastronomic experience from Aiken alum. Dave’s Grill and Grocery, known for its burgers and fries, is a small roadside gas station just down the road from Full Gallop with a small convenience store-sized building that houses this diamond in the rough.
Maria’s Mexican Restaurant is the local eventer watering hole where many upper-level eventers can be seen talking business; planning show schedules; or treating themselves, their clients and their staff to a well-deserved margarita. And, finally, the most Aiken famous Takosushi, where “far east meats southwest,” which, admittedly, we did not get the time to eat at on this trip but will be the first place we dine at upon our return.
Maria’s!
No matter where you eat in Aiken, it seems likely you will run into a face you recognize. Sitting down to dinner, you may see Kate Chadderton, Doug Payne, Dom and Jimmie Schramm, Kim Severson, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton or Sally Cousins. The amount of eventing elite that make a winter home in Aiken is incredible and feels a bit like living in a version of Eventing USA magazine. Prepare yourself to be slightly star struck when hanging out in Aiken.
Why Aiken?
One of the best things about Aiken is the awesome footing everywhere you walk. The ground down in Aiken is a soft, sandy clay with no stones, which screams to be ridden on. The area was originally made “horsey” in the 1890s when the wealthiest of wealthy yanks would bring their horses south to keep them working year-round. And this rings true even today.
When it’s cold the footing remains workable, as the sand doesn’t hold moisture, so it doesn’t freeze solid. Because of this, we could ride everyday at Full Gallop and most days twice. Whether schooling in the ring, doing trot sets around the property or hitting the cross country course, the footing was always consistent.
Now keep in mind I’m from the Maryland, where the ground typically is one of the following: soaking wet and muddy, desert dry and hard as rock, or frozen, so having decent footing everywhere I went was awesome. Also, as I mentioned, being in Aiken made it possible for some of my non-horsey family to come visit and see what eventing is all about.
I was more than honored when my Aunt Beth, her grandson James, and my Grandmother Erla were able to make the two-hour drive east to watch and learn. So the pressure was truly on to have a good round.
The family learns what eventing is all about.
Lastly, the weather while we were there was amazing. Highs in the upper 50s, sunny and just perfect when you have been dealing with a cold winter at home. It was warm enough for both of our horses to get a bath, which hasn’t happened in over a month. Besides riding, we spent most of the time just sitting outside hanging with the ponies, watching others ride, and hanging with old and new friends. This trip was a true winter oasis vacation for both Nicki and I and a welcome slowdown in our normal busy lives.
Enjoying the sunshine.
Show time
Not only was this my first Aiken trip, it was my first two-day horse trials. Being able to focus on each phase more independently than the typical horse trial took a bit of getting used to. My nerves still get to me a little bit on show day, but being able to focus solely on each individual phase helps keep the mind focused on the job at hand. Paradise Farm is just over a mile down the road from Full Gallop, making preparations for the show extremely easy.
Saturday was dressage and stadium with my ride times starting at 10:15 a.m. and finishing up around noon. It was a pleasant enough day but a touch windy, which had the dust and sand flying around. Beans was originally dealing with the excitement well, staying cool calm and engaged, until the caution tape on the rope separating the warm up form the rest of field flapped. We recovered and entered our ring and put in a decent test that could have shown more difference in the lengthenings, but was a decent enough test for a 30.7.
Next was stadium, which looked to be a challenging course. The topography was rolling with lots of ups and downs. On top of that, the wind had picked up even more, and planks were starting to be blown off the standards. I watched a handful of riders before my go, with most of them going clear. Then it was my turn; we had a decent round, taking a rail at the first jump but going clear after that.
Sunday was cross country, which I was more then ready for. Beans is a quality three-phase horse, but going cross country is where she excels. The course had some fairly advanced questions considering this was our first cross-country round since November. But, regardless, we jumped around like seasoned professionals with a just a few odd spots but nothing we didn’t handle well.
We completed the course double clear and feeling great, while Beans was ready to keep going. Our main goal for this entire weekend was to get another training NQR to compete Prelim later this year. We finished 13th out of 29 and got another NQR, so this was a successful event all the way around.
Heading for home
After cross country, we packed up the rig, loaded the horses, cleaned our stalls and headed back north. Our time in Aiken was over far too quickly. Five days had flown by, and our return home was made even more painful in that we were heading back to Maryland, which while we were gone had moved further north into the Arctic Circle.
From highs in the 50s to highs barely breaking the 20s was a true insult. I kept hoping that the truck would break down right outside Aiken and we would be forced to stay even longer. But, alas, Black Beauty was as tried and true as always. We made it home just after midnight Monday morning.
We head south again at the end of next week to compete at Full Gallop and will be staying at Paradise Farm (seemed easier to stick with what we know this time). The time is flying by, especially when we spent all last week not getting above freezing, and the cherry on top was 10 inches of snow this past Saturday into Sunday.
And it appears this week will be filled with fairly similar cold temperatures and weather patterns. Oh how easy Mother Nature is making my decision to travel south to the eventing mecca — Aiken, South Carolina.
Staying positive, especially in the winter, is so much easier said then done. This is even further complicated by horses being well… horses. The most difficult part of being the steward of our equine partners is they don’t have their own voice. They are not capable of telling you when a certain something hurts and where it is coming from. It is our job to use all of our senses and knowledge to listen to what our horses are telling us with their bodies.
It became apparent to me that Ruth’s progress wasn’t excelling like she should. In fact it seemed that she just wasn’t right especially under saddle. Its not that she was off, truthfully she looked great on the lunge. She was calm and cool and forward with out rushing. No this was something that only happened when she was saddled and being ridden.
Originally I believed it was just her settling into the routine of a new farm with many distractions and tons of energy. But the more I worked with her the more it became glaringly obvious that there was something more then just a new environment. No this seems like she was guarding herself.
Ruth wasn’t finishing her meals, was becoming more and more tense with each ride, extremely busy in the mouth, and sensitive in certain parts of her barrel were my final signs to make the call. I scheduled a visit from our chiropractic vet Dr. Jim Yanchunis. Dr. Jim is the type of equine practitioner that you want to be involved with. It is his goal not only to help diagnose and treat equine pain but to educate his clientele to better support their equine partners.
Within a minute of Dr. Jim walking into Ruth’s stall he knew without a doubt that she was suffering from ulcers. It was with palpation of certain acupuncture points that solidified his diagnosis. After some chiropractic adjustments, demonstrations of valuable stretches, laser light therapy locations, and several acupuncture needles Dr. Jim handed me a sheet with the break down of his visit.
Now we know the cause of our issues, its time to treat them. We were prescribed a 30 day treatment of Ranitidine which is the more commonly knows as Zantac. Also I was instructed to buy a rear bike light which the light produced mimics the light of a class 4 laser. Yes this does seem a bit bizarre to those that have not experienced it first hand, but the results are undeniable.
The prognosis is very good with this simple maintenance and short term medication run. For the next few weeks I will be reducing the demand on Ruth. Most likely I will continue the ground work mentioned in a previous post as well as just enjoying hacking up and down the driveway which will be the extent of the mounted work. Knowing the cause gives me the ability to be positive with the situation I have found myself and and many other commonly find themselves in.
Beans Getting a Bunch of Acupuncture Needles
If you have “That Gut Feeling”, don’t wait but act on it. Make the call to help you figure out the problem. Remember you know when your horse isn’t acting like your horse.
It is no secret as Facebook has been filled with complaints and tales of woe. The temperatures in the Mid Atlantic have plummeted and Old Man Winter has finally reared his ugly head.
For most, this is really of no true consequence, but for those of us who make our livings outdoors either as professional riders or in my case running a horse farm, winter really tends to bite when it gets this cold.
When it gets this cold, the debate tends to shift toward “How many blankets does my horse need?” or “Can you really work your horse when its this cold?” In my situation, the debate is whether or not I have time to ride between all the new obstacles that have seeming appeared over night.
From frozen pipes and waterers, to plowing the driveway and putting out more round bales, my time becomes very limited to spend working my horses.
So how does one stay motivated to continue their work with their horse when the temperature is a much smaller number then your age? What do you do with your horse when your outdoor hasn’t been rideable for weeks? What can possiblly be accomplished when the pretty white stuff we all love for Christmas becomes a four letter word we don’t speak of?
I say it is much easier to stay motivated bundled up in bib overalls and a Carhartt winter jacket and get back to ground work. There is an amazing amount that can be fixed, trained, and adjusted from the ground.
Ground work isn’t just lunging a horse in a circle until you’re dizzy. Its a great set of tools that can be implemented to continue the training process when the motivation to take off those warm puffy layers and pull on your riding pants is minimal.
In my case, Ruth needed some guidance to further continue our training under saddle. We hit a road block going to the right where she would end up with her haunches curled to the inside with no control of where we were headed until we hit the fence or whatever else was set up in the arena.
I also wanted to install the beginnings of new buttons, like giving to leg pressure. So when the temperature dropped below twenty degrees, I decided to take the opportunity to stay warm and work from the ground.
These sessions don’t have to last for an hour or until your horse is dripping with sweat. They can take as little at 10 to 15 minutes and have lasting effects that become the foundation for further training.
My one true piece of advice, though, is if you are unfamiliar with how to properly use certain equipment, or are not quite sure of what you are doing, look to your support system for help. Remember, you do not have to go it alone.
The other thing cold temperatures are great for is planning for the future. Why not employ that daydreamer hidden inside and put him to good use? It’s the perfect time to plan the show season, figure out what clinics you may want to attend or audit, dream of Rolex, or come up with a great show name for your new horse.
Since I’m not totally in love with Dancing Ruth as a show name, I decided to look at what speaks to me. First, my eventing colors are red, white, and black. Second, Ruth is a gorgeous red headed mare. Lastly, I am a massive hockey fan with the Washington Capitals being my team.
With all of that in mind, I figured I would honor the consistency of red in my equine life by giving Ruth the show name “Rock The Red.” I’m certain this will set the tone for our eventing career.
Until this past year, I was the type of equestrian without any true goals. I had general “Going to do a recognized horse trial this year” goal, but nothing that really challenged me or my horse.
I went through my riding career like a leaf in the wind. I went any direction that best suited the current situation I was in with the least amount of turbulence. I was like this until I had a sit down with one of the most accomplished Australian event and dressage riders known, Heath Ryan.
My wife and I were extremely lucky to play host to Heath on his only trip to the United States this past summer. After riding with Heath on three different days on my training mare Beans (which would have been more if money were no issue), Heath asked to have a sit down with me and figure out my future in eventing. When an Olympian and an Olympic coach asks to sit down with you, how do you contain your excitement?
On his last day in the States before we took him to the airport, Heath joined me at the dining room table with a pad of paper and a pen. In those next three hours, which flew by, we looked at what my goals should be for the next four years of my eventing career, from how I should continue the rest of 2014 to what horse trials I should stay away from if the stars aligned and Beans and I went all the way.
Myself and Beans, Nicki and Lizzie with Heath Ryan
It was those three hours that gave me the kick in the butt I needed. They changed the way I ride, compete, and my general outlook on life. I have found that having goals keeps me getting back on after horrible rides.
They have pushed me to ride with trainers and clinicians I never would have thought I was good enough to ride with. My goals have led me down the road to get Dancing Ruth from a incredible organization, New Vocations. And most importantly my goals make me want to help others figure out and achieve their own goals
Now I’m not talking about just those amazing goals that most riders dream of. You know: Olympics! Rolex! WEG! Pan Am Games! I break it down to a more basic level then that.
Yes, my ultimate goal would be to ride in the 2018 WEGs in Montreal, but that isn’t happening tomorrow. I’m referring to those more simplistic goals you should have for this year, this month, this week, or today’s ride.
As an example, here are my goals for Dancing Ruth:
This year, I want to get to a recognized horse trials at Beginner Novice. Additionally, there are those unstated goals that have to happen prior to achieving the ones you set. For instance what has to happen before I take Ruth recognized.
This month, I will set the goal that we will have three nice gaits going both directions. This week I will work on her ability go to the right with out falling in. And today I will want her to be able to bend both left and right at the walk.
So far, Ruth’s progress has surpassed the goals I set for us when I first had the thought of bringing her home from New Vocations. I was fully prepared to spend weeks just having a relaxed few walk steps or having her stand at the mounting block, or hacking down the driveway to the indoor or even just stepping foot in the indoor. When you set goals and you meet them, the feeling you get is amazing.
Every time I work with Ruth, I have at least one goal I want to achieve. And it can be as simple as walking one lap around the arena. Setting these smaller goals start to make the ultimate goals for the week, month or year so much easier to attain. But do not be discouraged if you fall short; pick your head up and try again tomorrow.
Henry Thoreau wrote in his book, Walden, “I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
Goals, dreams, milestones, objectives or whatever you want to label them are a vital part of being successful with our equine partners. Set them, reach them, repeat.
Do you remember the first week of your freshman year in high school? Getting used to the layout, your classes, where your locker was, making sure you were on the right bus to go home. Speaking of classes, I remember that first week was not too heavy on challenging your brain either, apart from filling out every possible form, reviewing the syllabus for the semester, and getting permission slips signed by your parents to participate in certain activities.
I believe that our teachers knew that we were on sensory overload, and didn’t push us as hard as they could have.
I feel this is a great way to look at a horse’s first week at their new barn. Think about it: they are in a new place, with new friends and possibly a bully, they are figuring out the schedule your barn works on, and when and where recess takes place. So this is why the first week having a horse at home I take it easy on them. I allow them to get comfortable with their surroundings and the way things work. I make sure I patiently explain the rules to them in a way that is easily understood.
Why not give a horse a chance to settle in before you start quizzing them? Why not take it easy and show them around the farm from the ground? Time is on your side in this instance and I believe taking that time with a new and especially a young horse helps increase your bond with them. Taking it easy that first week seems to build that ever so important trust with a new horse. After all isn’t the goal here to have your horse trust you?
Dancing Ruth settling right in.
More than likely that person you were friends with that first week of high school was the friend you trusted for the rest of the year, possibly rest of high school, and possibly long after. That is what this first week has been for Dancing Ruth.
I have gone out of my way to spend plenty of one on one time with her. I’m not asking too much of her but am taking the time to explain the rules that horses here are expected to follow. Mostly, I’m focused on building that trusting bond between her and I.
I have truly loved watching this mare settle into her new herd, her new home, and her new life style. You could possibly say that I’m smitten with her, and you would be right, but nothing warms the heart more than when a horse lets you in.
I have not pushed Ruth hard as I know this new bond is fragile. I want to be that teacher to her like the one I still look fondly back on today. That one that took the extra time and the extra energy to see me succeed.
Ruth has taken to this new home better then I expected. She has also figured out her place in the herd rather quickly. She knows the sound of my truck already and therefore knows when feeding time is. She has learned I am not a jungle gym to be climbed on but rather I am the one she will turn to when she has questions. Ruth is smart and this will be one of her greatest traits but could also be our biggest obstacle.
I believe putting in the extra effort the first week and giving your horse the opportunity to settle will pay dividends in the near future. Take your time, relax, and allow your horse to take it all in.
It is a very odd feeling to drive over six hours, load your new horse into the trailer, drive over six hours back home, and not get to spend any time with your new horse. A feeling most likened to going to grandma’s house for Christmas, openings your gifts, and then your parents taking them away to load them in the trunk before you even know what you’ve got. Those hours driving home are way longer then the ones spent driving there.
Photo Courtesy of New Vocations
A six hour drive isn’t that bad when you really think about it. I used to drive tractor trailers for a living, when six hours was a short trip. Professionals are flocking south this time of year and are laughing at six hour trips. But these six hours (worsened by downpours and treacherous mountain passes) slowly crawled by as we drove Dancing Ruth home.
Thoughts of “What did I do? Is this right? What is she thinking? Wouldn’t it be cool if we clicked right off the bat? What if we don’t click? Whose idea was it drive this all in one shot? How long until I can ride her?” ran through my head and often exited my mouth.
Needless to say, Dancing Ruth is home safe and sound. She settled right into her stall, made herself at home, and then had a good roll. I am still more then positive at the outlook for this well put together mare.
New Vocations couldn’t have made the entire process any easier and I thank them for all the hard work they did for me and continue to do for the ex-racehorses. The question I have is “what stops other amateurs from doing this too?” I feel that most amateurs do not feel they are capable of handling a young off the track horse, which might be the case for some but not the others.
Now, more then ever, there is a push to re-home thoroughbreds after their days at the track are done. These horses do make great show horses. We have seen it time and time again; OTTBs are excelling in all disciplines of riding, especially eventing. I think that more amateurs should give an OTTB the chance simply because they deserve that second chance at a career not on the track.
As an amateur, I do lack some of the expertise most professionals have. To be honest, at times, it does worry me that I may get into a situation I’m not sure how to get out of. That is where having a good, solid support system comes into play.
Ruth at Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms
I rely on the solid support system I have built over the years to get me through the sticky situations that I have no answer for. I will use the guidance of my wife (who is a young horse trainer), my jump coach (when we get to that point), and other professionals and amateurs I surround myself with. I know that with the combined help of this vast support system, Dancing Ruth will be a good, nay a great event horse.
My suggestion to anyone following along with this that is thinking of doing the same is this: develop a support system that does not rely on one single person, become well educated in the experiences of others and use them as guidance, expect to be challenged every day, open your mind and listen to your horse, and, finally, know that it’s to ask for help.
With a positive mind set, some education, and a willingness to push through the hard times, a great horse may be just around the corner.
As a typical horseman that is connected by my cell phone to social media, I find myself perusing the Facespace on the regular. Sometimes while hacking to the ring, sometimes while in the tractor mowing the fields, and then occasionally wasting time while the horses eat.
This particular time was hanging out at a schooling dressage show while my wife’s youngest student was warming up for her very first test. As I scrolled down my news feed, I noticed a post from Eventing Nation from the previous day. It was Eventing Nation’s weekly Cosequin OTTB wishlist.
There was a great picture of a Thoroughbred chestnut mare with chrome who struck my fancy. Now, I believe we all glance at these horses featured on the wishlist, pick apart their conformation, talk about how they remind us of a particular upper lever event horse or a horse from our past.
After giving it our attention for the moment, most move on to the next article with a fleeting thought of “what if?” A few others look harder; we may watch the videos posted, ogle the photos, read the mini bio, maybe even study their stats on Equibase. Even fewer actually go as far as finding that horse’s race videos in the archives.
And then there’s me; I took it to the next level. With a little encouragement from my wife, Nicki, I filled out the application, was approved, talked with the trainer, and am adopting the horse that was showcased on EN’s wishlist because I felt something in my gut that this horse may have what it takes to become a great event horse.
And that’s where I come in. I’m a 30 year old adult amateur competing in Area II. Located in Woodbine/Woodsboro Maryland, I am the facility manager of a large eventing farm, Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms, which some of you may recognize as Kate Chadderton’s base in Maryland.
Beans and myself.
This is my first year competing at the recognized levels, finishing the year off at Training level on my horse Serendipity. You may ask, “what the hell does a 30 year old AA know about training a horse?” Well, I have been working around horses since high school.
I started my equine life off as a aspiring hunter/jumper and played to my strong suits as the maintenance guy/farm help to afford my newly found addiction to horses. I worked for a few hunter barns then moved on to a few dressage barns. Then I met my to be wife (Domenique “Nicki” Carson) at the local tack shop.
Photo courtesy of Nicki Carson
She was my first introduction to the wild world of eventing. After tagging along to the AECs a few times, I had found my new calling. The only thing I was missing was a horse. After years of searching, I decided I couldn’t afford to by my next event horse, so I found an unraced Thoroughbred mare, Serendipity, aka Beans, who I picked up for free from a local breeder.
At the time she was three and my first young horse, my first mare, and the first horse I would have to train. With the guidance of Nicki, I have turned Beans into a great young event mare with loads of potential.
Fast forward to this past summer I decided to challenge myself with a Trainer’s Challenge. I applied and was accepted into the Days End Farm Horse Rescue’s 3rd Annual Trainer’s Challenge.
I was assigned a seven year old unbroke Thoroughbred mare, Jaybird, and given 90 days to train her as far as I could, and then showcase her at Days End Farm’s Fall Festival. Between these two great experiences, I not only reinforced my knowledge of how to start a horse, but I gained a true appreciation for the Thoroughbred.
Photo courtesy of New Vocations.
Dancing Ruth comes from New Vocations out of their Marysville, Ohio location. She is a 2008 mare who raced six times, with her last go-round back in the spring of 2013 at Indiana Grand Race Course where she finished sixth, her third best career finish.
She came to New Vocations after having seventeen months off at her owner’s farm. After a few weeks in training with New Vocations, she was ready to be adopted. This mare is eye catching, and that is why I believe Eventing Nation added her to their wish list.
The adoption process with New Vocations is very easy. You first apply to be an approved adopter, which is straightforward. Once accepted, you maintain your status as an approved adopter for two years, and they encourage you to take your time adopting one of their horses.
When you find a horse you like, you are instructed to contact the trainer at the location that has the particular horse to ask your most thought out questions. The trainer then figures out if you are a good fit to the horse you are inquiring about.
If everything still seems copacetic then you sign on the dotted line, transfer money, and finally figure out how the hell you are going to get this new horse home and which stall you will hide her in so no one else finds out.
So Nicki and I set out next week on our 14 hour round trip journey to Marysville with the ultimate goal to bring home Dancing Ruth which expands my equine collection (always wanted one in red; red really brings out the blue in my eyes, don’t ya think?).
My plan for this blog is to document my journey from adopting an ex-racehorse to taking her to her first event. This may take a few months or a year. Only time will tell. Please feel free to comment or ask questions as I am an open book.
Myself and Sue's Reputation schooling at Liberty Farm.
