EN guest blogger Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch recently won the Advanced division at Millbrook, their first run at the level since finishing fifth in the Fair Hill CCI3* last fall. Now Laine and Al are preparing to tackle Richland next week before heading to Texas for the American Eventing Championships and then crossing the pond for Pau. Many thanks to Laine for blogging!
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch show off their blue ribbon from Millbrook. Photo courtesy of Laine Ashker.
From Laine:
Behind every person is a pivotal moment in his or her life that becomes the motivation that drives him or her on a daily basis. That moment for me happened on a hot August Saturday afternoon in 1996. There I was, this little wide-eyed horse crazy girl who stood smack-dab in the middle of the ominous Olympic cross country course in Conyers, Ga., with one hand affixed to my mother’s and the other waving an American flag adorned with pins of represented countries that I was busily collecting. Mom had landed a volunteer job for the Atlanta Olympic Games working in the barns and directing riders and their grooms to their proper stations.
Although I was very happy to walk around the cross country with my loving father, describing to him the elements and how they compared to my training-going-on-four-star level courses that I had conquered earlier in the summer, I was elated that mom got that afternoon off to watch the riders navigate the challenging course the rolling hills of Georgia had to offer. As the last of the riders set out on course,, my attention turned solely to Bruce Davidson riding Heyday who was the American anchor rider and someone who I had only seen in magazines and posters that I quite ornately organized in my room back in northern California.
It was in that very moment that Bruce was riding directly toward me and jumped through a keyhole that would change my life forever. It was that look on his face, the grimace of sheer determination, the fact that the weight of every American’s hope rested atop his angular shoulders, and yet the grace and solemn poise he demonstrated as he and “Johnny” galloped through the finish lines without fault. Bruce’s unforgettable facial expression as he whizzed past my mother and I in the galloping lane will remain emblazoned in my mind forever: that was the true definition of warrior mentality. It was on that very very hot summer afternoon that my dream to ride in the Olympics and beyond was born.
Now by all means winning Millbrook is but a small piece of the dream, but hey, it’s a step in the right direction! Truth be told, as I clumsily navigated my way to New York (with the help of my drunken Garmin), my intentions were far less competitive with what the results would read come that Sunday afternoon. And who knows? Perhaps my newest secret to success is not planning for success at all. Regardless of my intentions whilst in New York, Al fulfilled all my hopes of coming home with a smile and a sound pony.
True to his name, Anthony Patch was his typical spooky self in the sandbox, but with Kim Severson’s tutelage in my mind and a little flexion away from the judge’s box every time we passed C, we were able to finish the dressage phase in third place amongst a very competitive and seasoned advanced class. Since I had given Al so much time off from competition this spring, I have been able to really focus on the flatwork, which I do believe has improved our scores, placings and overall relaxation immensely. It’s amazing how good you get when you practice something over and over and over again. Oh, the wonders of repetition!
One thing I haven’t yet had the chance to practice since the Fair Hill CCI3* last October, however, was jumping some big ass cross-country fences. Being that the highest level I have ridden this whole year is prelim, the blue numbers were looking unsettlingly larger than normal as I walked around the course for the first time at Millbrook. Once I had the opportunity to walk with my coach (who also happens to be the son of my Olympic muse Bruce Davidson), the course seemed well within Al’s and my reach! As I set out on course, my mind wasn’t set on the crowds, the dressage placings or the earlier riders’ problems at the water. It was set on my plan that I had carefully orchestrated and envisioned in my mind’s eye earlier that morning in my final course walk — a plan that consisted of aggressive riding, steadfast and clear decisions, and lots and lots of pats on the neck for encouragement.
I was even more tickled that my plan turned out to be a carbon copy of my previous (somewhat nervous) visualization and the fact that it landed me on top of the leader board was icing on the proverbial cake (or lack thereof, thanks to my newfound Paleo diet). As I laid my exhausted starch-deprived body down that Saturday evening, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and pride to have my “mane” man back in action amongst the best of the best, which is where he belongs.
That sense of relief was but a temporary euphoria as the clock slowly reached the early hours of the afternoon and it was time for Al and I to finish what we started. Not only was AI final horse to show jump in the Advanced class, but Al was the final horse to show jump in the whole entire show, so as every minute passed by leading closer to my round, the pressure eagerly amplified. Under the watchful eyes of my long-time coach Buck Davidson, my adoring mother and my right-hand woman Lauren Sherrill, it was time for Al and I to meet our maker.
At this stage in the game, I will humbly admit that I am not Phillip Dutton, Karen O’Connor or Buck Davidson. Although I have been in pressure cooking positions going into show jumping before, it’s a rare occurrence for me to enter the ring already in the top spot. My main goal was to breathe deeply, trust my instincts, and to let Al do what he does best and rather effortlessly and cleanly. And wouldn’t you know it, I actually won! For the first time in a very long time, I was able to remain focused under pressure and not let myself down. I don’t know if it was all of the work, the lessons with Buck and Kim, the tedious hours on the road with mom as we made the drive from California to Virginia the week prior (I’ll save that for a later story), or that all the stars were aligned, but Al and I came out as the 2013 Millbrook Advanced champions, and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for world.
Still, as I type this blog I am reeling off of the excitement from winning Millbrook aboard my Al. It wasn’t just a blue ribbon to add the the bag but an added pep in my step that gives me a boost of confidence going into Richland Horse Trials next week. I hope to keep the success going as we bounce from Michigan to Texas, where Al and I will finish up his season at the AECs to improve upon our second-place finish from last year’s championships in Georgia. And who knows? We might even bring home a pretty blue ribbon, some cash money, and prizes, and if we’re really lucky … a cowboy? Until then folks, chin up, chest out and suck it in — there’s a new sheriff in town!
