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From Katellyn:
Being given the opportunity to go to Derby Cross as a groom was great in itself, but getting to go and being able to see the behind the scenes part, and the actual show was awesome!
When we first arrived to the show grounds we of course got lost, but we did get a nice tour of the hunter show barns. They were very tidy. When we finally found where we were supposed to be we got straight to work with cleaning the tack and the horses for the show. I only managed to memorize one of the horse’s names and that was Big Mama, she did keep true to her name. Once all the horses where tacked and riders were dressed, we set off to the ring.
Everything at warm up was crazy with horses everywhere you looked and riders walking in every direction. You could definitely see the difference in the riders from the ground to the warm up to the show ring. It was very much amazing. One by one the riders went in and out and you would hold your breath to hear what was going. Finally the last rider came out and we were done. I don’t think we even left the venue until around 11pm. We were tired, sweaty, and hungry. I have to say that it was just amazing to get to see all of that and be part of it. For a thank you, we got Derby Cross shirts with all the team logos on it and even a gold number one on the arm. Thank you Rebecca for the shirt.
After our time of working at Derby Cross was up, we spent the night in West Palm. The next day we decided to take a tour of Palm Beach. We saw everything from trapeze lessons to a massive meditation/yoga class. It was interesting to see that much in one place. Alas, we did have to come back and continue working with our horses. I missed him a lot. It was back to our normal schedule the next day.
As of right now, I don’t have to do any school work because I just transferred from regular high school to Penn Foster online school. So they are just waiting on all my grades to come in and send me transcripts. At the barn, I ride, clean my horse and then the tack, and then I help out with whatever needs to be done around the barn and whatever I am asked to do I will do it. Then it’s back home to eat, shower, and sleep to wake up and get started the next day and to be ready for anything.
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By Kaylin:
Last weekend, we went to Palm Beach to groom at Derby Cross for Jessica and Rebecca. It was very fun and a great experience! Everyone on the Omega Alpha team did great! They finished fourth. The polo players from the teams were fun! They galloped their courses and jumped everything really fast – 48 seconds for their rounds. If they jumped the joker fence they had 10 seconds deducted to make their round 38 seconds long. It was crazy!
Saturday we hung out around Palm Beach. We didn’t expect it to be 80 degrees when we woke up. Needless to say we were a bit over dressed. We spent the day just driving around all over Palm Beach. We saw some occupiers camping out in front of a bank. We also watched someone taking a flying trapeze lesson (which was pretty cool). I didn’t realize how big yachts were either. But they are huge! There were a lot of yacht clubs it was pretty funny. It was like everywhere you would turn there was a yacht club. During our “tour” we were trying to find a nice looking seafood restaurant. That didn’t happen so we ended up in Singer Beach, and by then we were starving. We could smell something really good and it was coming from the Two Drunken Goats. Afterwards, we went over to the beach. The water was so warm! I just wish I had brought my swim suit with me.
It was back to the grind on Sunday. I had my second no stirrup jumping lesson on Sunday. Which wasn’t too bad, it is starting to not feel so discombobulated. I’m definitely not as sore as I was the first day. I decided to run a mile the next day which really sucked! But I worked through the soreness.
We went cross country schooling last Monday at Kyle Carter’s. He has a great place. I started without stirrups which went well. Harley was such a good boy! He loves to do cross country.
I’m back to doing school again. We took a week off to just get settled in. My school hours are from 9-12 which isn’t bad. I’m in the ninth grade and I’ve been homeschooled since the 2nd grade. Being homeschooled has definitely allowed me to do more with riding and competing. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to come to Ocala if I were in a traditional school.
To answer your questions that you guys left on our last blog. I get 2-3 lessons a week. These may be with Rebecca here at the farm, a schooling lesson somewhere else, or with another upper level eventer. Rebecca and I set up Harley’s schedule at the beginning of each week, so I know exactly what I need to be working on each day, whether that’s by myself or with an instructor. I just ride Harley unless Rebecca asks me to ride another one. Last week I rode Margret on a trot set. She really hates the bugs that fly at her. It can be quite comical actually. The first week we were here we stayed after we rode. We worked from about 1-4 each day helping around the farm/barn with various things. I’m studying for my Pony Club C2 rating so everyone has been quizzing me and helping me to prep after I get my riding finished for the day.
