Welcome to Eventing: No such thing as a late start

This week’s Welcome to Eventing Profile just goes to show that one is never too old or too busy to learn something completely new and foreign, if it is what they truly feel called or compelled to do. Thanks to Cathy for submitting her inspiring story about her journey into the Event world, and as always, thank you for reading. If you’d like to submit the story of your first event, or first introduction to eventing, please send it to [email protected]
Dressage with Cady.jpg

Hello Eventing Nation,
My name is Cathy and I was infected earlier this year with the Eventing Virus. As a full time nursing student, part time worker, full time single mom, what else was I to do with all of my spare time and energy but decide to take up eventing in the middle of it all. Really, I blame my dear friend Deb with her innocuous, “You should come out to the barn and visit my horses. You can hack on my mare if you want.” I had given up horses ten years earlier when faced with the choice to be a stay at home mom or keep my horse. As my stress level had built with juggling all of my responsibilities, I began to long for those days when I felt the wind in my hair and that warm sense of comfort that being covered in mud and horse smell brings.
The first time I met the mare, she turned an indifferent eye away at my lack of offering. I persisted in trying to foster a relationship with her and wisely showed up with carrots in hand the next time. She graciously allowed me to tack her up and ride her. And by ride, I mean, perch in an unstable and “oh my god its been ten years since I have been on a horse” manner on her back. When she decided to trot off, I managed to land on her neck. It was the first of many times I would land on her neck, or at her feet over the next few months. Each time she would give me a look and a sigh that said, “Again? Are you on or are you off?”
About three months after those first precarious rides, I attended Aspen Farms with Deb as her cheerleader, squire and unofficial psychologist. I walked the course with her, and calmly told her that those solid obstacles were absolutely no big deal while all the while I was screaming inside, “Oh my god she is going to die and I don’t know how to pull a trailer!”. After watching her compete that weekend, being sucked into the shared camaraderie and insanity that eventers share, and deciding that life was too short, I proposed to my dear friend that she should let me event on her mare. A little background on miss Cady- she is an eight year old paint mare who is as green as I am, more opinionated than a two year old in a candy store, and oh yes, she has never done this before either. After attending almost every event in Area VII last year though, I could not imagine what could possibly make more sense than for a green rider to take a green horse and gallop towards solid obstacles. After all, the mantra of the eventer seems to be “It’s not a big deal… just grab mane and get over it.”
Fast forward to a couple of months later… we are now schooling solidly at beginner novice level on cross country. I land less and less on her neck, and less and less on the ground! All of the “SIT UP SIT UP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SIT UP” is better than Pilates… The hard work and barely concealed amusement my trainers have poured into me has begun to pay off. I credit eventing for saving my sanity by putting the rest of my stress into perspective. The mare and I have forged a partnership and much to her mom’s chagrin, she now answers to Princess when I call to her across the field. I love every hair on her sassy little hide and I cannot wait until spring. I have two goals next year… the first is to hear “5, 4, 3, 2,1 have a good ride!” and the second is to survive long enough to get my water bottle at the end. The rest is gravy! After all, its no big deal…
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