Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot “William” are part of the entire US Pan American Games squad preparing at Morven this week at the training sessions and mandatory outing later this weekend. Hannah is a long time EN blogger and has kindly agreed to keep us posted on her weekend. Thanks for writing this Hannah and thank you for reading.
—-
From Hannah:
This is actually happening…
I’ve always dreamed of being on a US Team but now that I find myself in this honorable position, I can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s almost like my mind will not let me completely believe it. Just like Jon Holling, it really hit me when I received my USA badges and Pinque coat. Karen came in to the office holding them the other day and it was a really cool moment.
Ever since they announced the Team, I’ve been focusing on my day to day duties, taking the best possible care of my horses and trying to keep my head in the game. While there’s a possibility that William has been getting a little extra attention…he wears every type of boot + blankets + fly mask etc. that we own and if he even picks his head up in the field he is rushed inside to safety…I’m trying to act very normal about the whole situation. Luckily, William has been loving the extra attention and cookies and shows up for work everyday. I am so blessed to have him to ride on my first team experience, he has such a good work ethic and is the same horse, day in and day out. I can always count on William. I think this is why I haven’t been as, let’s say, INTENSE as I usually get when there’s a big 3-day coming up. I have only had one day that I felt panicky. Yup, you guessed it…the day the Pinque coat arrived!
This week is the start of the big adventure and although I’m a bit apprehensive, I really can’t wait to get with the rest of the Team and prepare together to kick some serious butt in Guadalajara. I had a gallop on Tuesday, we do dressage with the Captain Wednesday and a jump Thursday then it’s Morven Friday, Saturday and Sunday. William will run in the Intermediate and I’m hoping for a good, confidence building weekend. I’m also really excited because Sara McKenna is here from Ireland and and has known William since he was a baby and will be taking care of him (and keeping me laughing) through the Pan Ams.
I have had such great support from friends and family getting to this point and I can’t thank everyone enough, but I’m going to try. Big thanks to Ms. Mars, the O’Connor’s, my family, everyone at the barn taking care of my other horses while I’m away, my wonderful friends supporting me, my sponsors, Sara McKenna for coming from Ireland to look after William, Dr. Ober and Randy Pawlak keeping him sound (knock on wood!!). I’m so excited and honored to ride for the USA and I’ll do my best to represent this great country well. Hope to see you at Morven!
-HS
