Grace Fulton has kindly agreed to do a few guest blogs for us, featuring her experience at her first Training 3-Day at Waredaca this weekend. Thirteen-year-old Grace was recently crowned the winner of the PRO Professional Junior Young Rider Training Scholarship Program, as well as being featured in our new series, EN’s Rising Stars two weeks ago. Grace WON her first attempt at the Training Three Day level at Waredaca this weekend! Thank you to Grace for writing this, and thanks for reading. [Read Grace’s first blog]
———–
Grace & Leo after their win at Waredaca
From Grace:
As I sit here at my computer desk at the end of our efforts to try to prepare for what appears to be the end of the world as we know it- Frankenstorm style, I’m trying to come up with an inspiring blog post to give a good conclusion to a fantastic weekend at the Waredaca T3D. Ideas are sort of swimming around my head, mixing with thoughts of Sandy the Storm, Leo, and Waredaca.
I’m very happy to say that my lucky belt, braids, and new bridle number proved lucky once more this weekend. We didn’t separate at any time during the duration of the week, had a wonderful time together, and got a pretty blue ribbon to boot. I just love that feeling you get when you cross the finish line and know that you were laying down everything you had, and your horse responded in the exact way you were hoping for. That doesn’t mean Leo didn’t test out my temper in dressage warm-up, suddenly forgetting what leg yields were. That doesn’t mean we didn’t get a bit out of touch on phase B, forgetting how fast 520 mpm was. That doesn’t mean Leo didn’t leave everyone on the edge of their seats at the last fence in stadium, just checking that it was placed firmly in its cups. However, much to my delight this does mean that we got our all-time best dressage score, received a 9 (!) on our last halt, and went fault free around roads and tracks on cross country. In addition, we had one of our better show jumping rounds of the year, I got him to put his ears forward for picture time, and he didn’t take off with me in the victory gallop!
The best part of the weekend was definitely realizing we had met all of our goals that we had set at the beginning of the season. We both left Waredaca via horse trailer, I didn’t get lost too often, we had our best dressage test yet, and we had a double clear round on Saturday morning. In addition, only 14 people (I counted) asked if my 16 year old sister and I were twins – a record (!)- , I made a blogging buddy, and Leo and I were the first on course, which in turn let me get a super cool bridle number.
Remember how I said I usually have at least one humbling moment? Luckily, Leo’s random freak-out due to the other equines in the paddock next to him sufficed for the week. However, I do have a pretty good recollection of my most… nerve-racking moment. I had just finished up on phase A, and had approximately 2 and half minutes before Leo and I set out on B. I was casually chatting with my dad, the starters, the organizers, etc. when I looked out across the field. With the way that stabling was set up this year, it was right next to steeplechase, and if you walked up to the road you could see the course. Anyway, I looked across and saw a very large group of UMD students that had come to watch the first horse go before they would be busied with the 10 minute box. Wow, there were actually a couple of spectators! I panned left and saw that all of the stalls were abandoned, and nearly every single person was perched at the rail, waiting to watch the first round. Alright Leo, let’s not part ways okay? Luckily, he was a rock star and had a great time- coming in just a few seconds under the optimum time.
I do have to make a special thank you to a couple of special people. First- my family, because, simply put, they are the best. Not only are they my farrier, trainer, checkbook, transportation, (basically everything), they are also my family. My sister was the only reason I showed up on time, clean, dressed, and with a braided horse, which in turn lead to us winning the Best Turned Out Award. I gave her my prize – Sterling Silver spurs that she can probably buy a new horse with if she chooses to sell them. Thanks to Ms. Sharon White for giving me the opportunity to ride Leo, which has been truly amazing. Thanks to the Area Two Adult Riders for organizing a great show, and the entire Waredaca team for putting it all together. Lastly, thanks to everyone at Full Moon Farm who has helped Leo and I accomplish our year-end goal.
Well, that’s it for now!! Time to go back to battening down the hatches, giving out extra treats, and hoping that Woodge and I will not be forced to stay inside and live off of our stockpiled Nutella and Skittles. In addition, I just read that this is the beginning of the 2012 apocalypse that the Mayans had predicted. Say bye- bye to the East Coast!!
