Lila Gendal

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Fall Ahead, Spring Back?

By Lila Gendal on Nov 3, 2014 2:00 pm -

Lila and Skybreaker 2014

Every year whether we like it or not, clocks are set an hour ahead or an hour back, depending on which end of winter we are sitting on. Even though Vermont winters are not exactly my cup of tea, gaining an extra hour of sleep last night felt awfully refreshing after spending the previous day picking up leaves by the thousands in the freezing cold rain.

The weather has officially turned for the worse in New England. The beautiful horse farm is starting to look rather bleak with its almost bare trees, feisty and furry horses hiding out in their sheds, and minimal human interactions. The cold air has arrived and winter is looming.

Even though the saying is, fall back, spring ahead, when it comes to daylight savings, I can’t help but think from an event rider’s point of view, who basically lives in the snowy tundra year round, that the saying out to be re-worded: fall ahead, spring back.

Every year, everyone at Tamarack Hill Farm says the summers fly by. Well, this year really did slip away through our finger tips. One minute we are gearing up for our first event in Area 1, and the next we preparing for the annual GMHA team jumper challenge, and then all of a sudden the September GMHA horse trials has come and gone.

Personally, I absolutely love and detest the end of the year. There’s one part of me who feels like I am riding the best I ever have, and that my horses are all going exceptionally well. We all feel “in it,” and at the top of our game. Every fall, I feel like I am actually ahead and prepared!

This summer was incredible. I finally reached my goal of going Prelim on Vinnie. I tackled the hardest cross country course I have ever seen at the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy.

I jumped Skybreaker nearly five feet several weeks ago. My three stride eye seems to be more reliable and more consistent than ever before. My skills on the flat have improved, and I feel like Im ready for more challenges, more competitions and tons more jumping.

However, those wishes and those thoughts will be forced to stew on the back burner. The season has concluded and the horses need down time.

Staying motivated and doing my winter homework seems daunting, lonely, uninspiring, and at times, extremely challenging. With nobody in the area, or at the barn this winter, I am forced to keep ticking. This is not a pity party, but reality for so many of us.

How do we all stay focused this winter? How do we maintain our riding and keep our horses ticking? How do we carry over the confidence we gained in 2014 and transfer that self-assurance for 2015? How do we come out of the cold indoor, or off the winter trails feeling prepared? How frustrating and exciting it is to feel so amazing at the end of the year and so pathetic the following spring.

How do I survive during the grey winter months? I make goals and I stick to them. I also try to be very realistic. If the weather is unbearable I don’t make myself feel guilty about not riding. I know the horses appreciates not being ridden when it’s a grueling negative ten below. I like to keep riding as long as I can, until the temperatures are too unkind. I also try and go to indoor jumper shows which are extremely fun and help give you specific homework every month. I like to partake in other winter sports to stay fit and enjoy the snow. So….how will you survive this winter if you are a fellow northerner?!

Realistic Goals: How To Event When You’re NOT A Pro?

By Lila Gendal on Oct 26, 2014 12:51 pm -

Lila and Theatre Royal July Huntington HT 2014

I will never forget the day. I was about fourteen years old and experiencing Groton House Farm Horse Trials for the first time ever, located in Hamilton MA. I wasn’t riding, but tagged along with the Hitching Post crew as we cheered on our friend.

Day three was show jumping and David O’Connor and Custom Made were running the Advanced, back when Groton House ran through the upper levels. I sat there in utter amazement. They jumped a clear round to win the Advanced division.

I had never witnessed this level of expertise ridden right before my eyes. I had never seen a horse as stunning as Custom Made. I was like a child in a candy store with wide eyes and an unwavering expression that screamed this is my dream!

That event had really sealed the deal for me. At the time, I thought why would anyone not want to make this their goal? Going Advanced became a fixation of mine and reaching that goal was of tremendous importance to me. I had all the posters in my room. I watched and re-watched every Badminton and Rolex video I could get my hands on. I was completely enamored with the thought of becoming an upper level rider someday.

So here I am. Twenty eight years old and just went Preliminary for the first time ever this year. I ride a few horses a day and teach riding lessons mostly to kids in the area. I love my life and wouldn’t change any of it for anything. One important lesson (of many) that Denny has drilled is that riders need to be realistic in all facets of our lives.

We need to be realistic about what we really want to accomplish with our riding. We need to be realistic about what we feel comfortable doing with horses. We need to be realistic about the horse we are sitting on. We need to be realistic about our goals. While it’s perfectly acceptable to dream, it’s extremely important to be a realistic individual by making attainable short term goals and realistic long term goals.

Quite honestly my goals have changed immensely since sitting there outside of the show jumping ring at Groton House. Would I love to do one Advanced horse trials someday? Of course I would. Am I going to be the next Jennie Brannigan or Allison Springer? Absolutely not.

I am not the girl with six sponsors and four horses from Ireland waiting to be imported. Would I want that life? Perhaps…but that life is so far removed from my real life that imagining that world almost seems unfathomable. For now, my goal is to become the best rider I can become and to gain experience and mileage at the Preliminary level next summer. I also want to teach more lessons, and become a better dressage and show jumper.

Skybreaker clearing the five foot standards this fall, 2014!

Another dimension to this puzzle revolves around the professionals. How does someone like me, or someone with one horse competing at Prelim or above have a chance at succeeding at the upper levels in this sport? I know there are countless riders campaigning one horse that absolutely can play the game. I know that you don’t have to have a string of nine or ten horses all competing at the one star level and above to play this game. But if you ARE one of these individuals I am describing…how do you do it?

However, I am curious how one makes it to the top of the sport of eventing when you’re not one of the “big guys?” I have to preface this by saying, I am NOT arguing that the one girl and her one horse can’t make it to Rolex. I am not putting this sport down. I have no hidden agendas here, but rather would like to start an open dialogue.

I would specifically love to hear from that one individual who has their one superstar horse and ask them how they have been able to manage and handle the pressures and difficulties that the upper levels present them with?

I have even more questions, if you can imagine? How does someone who has only ever gone Preliminary, but would love to move up the levels compete with the riders who have seven horses in the OI divisions as an example? How does someone with limited experience at the upper levels, but who is interesting in competing at that level handle the truth about how many riders made it around Fair Hill last weekend in the CCI3* division, for example?

How can we fathom making it around a two-star or three-star course someday on our ONE horse, if professionals who have been at this for fifteen years and compete sometimes five or more horses in one division can’t make it around some of these courses? Is it unrealistic to think that you can go to Rolex someday on your one horse that you started from scratch and actually survive and complete the event?

With everything we know about modern day eventing, is there a place for riders who have limited experience at the upper levels, who don’t have the sponsors, the imported horses, and the tremendous funds to support their goals, but who still have ambitions of competing at the upper levels with their one or two horses?

Obviously these riders do exist….and I’d love to hear from them about how they got there, what their horse is like, if they have non horse related jobs, what their goals are, and how they feel about competing against the “big boys?”

Let It Go!

By Lila Gendal on Oct 22, 2014 11:07 am -

Skybreaker 2014

For the past month I have been obsessively listening to Walt Disney’s “Let It Go,” the version by Alex Boye (Africanized Tribal Cover) One Voice Children’s Choir. I got hooked one day when my niece made me watch the movie Frozen. Look it up on YouTube if you feel so inclined.

While five of you, or five hundred of you, depending on who actually cares to read my blog, might be laughing right now, or rolling their eyes at the sheer thought of an adult listening to an over played kids song, I could care less. Mostly I could care less because I grew up watching classic musicals, and Broadway shows and have been ridiculed for most of my life for enjoying such classics. As a kid, I fell asleep listening to Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn. I love music, all shades of it, and this is who I am.

Back to “Let It Go”…recently I started thinking about the end of the season. How could I not? My last event was the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy last weekend, and my season could not have ended on a more positive note, which I feel incredibly fortunate about.

I also had a very interesting jump school several days ago, where Denny said “You are riding really well…this is a new Lila Gendal.” I almost fell over when those words came out of his mouth. Of course he asked me how this happened and I sat there on Skybreaker completely stunned like a deer in the headlights.

Part of me was ecstatic for having such an awesome last event of the year and for finally riding well in front of the one and only Denny Emerson. The other part of me was incredibly disappointed in myself for not riding better for the past eight years. Some people are naturals, and although I think I have come a long way, I am most certainly not a natural. Everything that I have done, and all the skills I have acquired have been drilled, practiced and totally manufactured.

I find it incredibly fascinating that the biggest compliment of my life had me twisting and turning all night. The fact that I am riding pretty well now means that I was not riding very well in the past and that notion alone was crushing. I know Denny was not intending on crushing my confidence and as a man, he was probably not looking at double meanings, or hidden connotations, though unfortunately for me and my genetic makeup, I found a way to twist a compliment into a rather large insult.

The only reason why that jump school was partially upsetting was because I am desperate to become a great rider. I practice and I work REALLY hard at this sport. Riding, competing, and training is literally all I think about day in and day out. I think about how I need to finesse my position over fences. I think about how my timing on the flat needs improving. I think about my fitness and my horses fitness. I think about it all. I care so much about my horses and this sport, that it almost blinds me at times. In fact, I probably am my own worst enemy….just ask my mentors!

Time to “Let It Go.” Because I have a predisposition to obsessive compulsive behavior, letting things go is not exactly in my vocabulary. I belabor on certain points, I become fixated and almost blind sighted at times and getting a grip is easier said than done. For instance, a “bad” jump school leads to days of frustration. Getting yelled at or being picked apart in a lesson and I feel like the lowest layer of dirt imaginable. I’m sure there are others out there who carry the world on their shoulders like myself, where slight disappointment has a long lasting effect.

I actually recall this coming up in conversation recently with a fellow eventing peer. We were discussing the importance of thinking about something a lot, particularly cross country, and the fact that this phase requires thoughtful decisions and thoughtful riding, which means that a fair amount of planning and decision making must go into the equation before executing.

On the other hand, we can’t belabor this phase to the point of diminishing return. In fact, in some ways, we need to think extensively about xc, and we also need to not think about it all. At a certain point, we have to shut up, kick on and go jump the jumps! There needs to be a happy medium.

Even though I literally put everything I have into this life and my horses, I am trying really hard to Let It Go. I think the ability to let it go at times will only make me a better rider, trainer and competitor. One of the hardest pieces to this mind boggling puzzle is first recognizing that you do take life too literally at times, and need to step back and chill out in a matter of speaking.

We can plan, we can analyze and we harp on certain subjects, but sometimes we need to relax and press reboot. Sometimes we just need to Let It Go!

Small Fish, Big Pond: Welcome To Loch Moy!

By Lila Gendal on Oct 14, 2014 1:30 pm -

In the wee hours on Friday morning, October 10, my friend and I made the lengthy journey to The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy. Looking back at my decision to enter this event, I might have been slightly naïve assuming I could tackle this level of eventing in Area 2 after only completing two Preliminary events EVER in my life. Though time passed by the opening date and my confidence on Theatre Royal, combined with several successful outings had shifted my initial trepidations.

We arrived at Loch Moy that afternoon. We drove up the serious mountain of a driveway that actually made my jaw drop only to see the most massive show jumping course I have ever seen at an event. I was thinking to myself, “That’s set for Intermediate – what will Prelim look like?”

After gasping over the height and spreads seen in the show jump ring, we were almost instantaneously greeted by the super handy man named Rex who helped us park and find our way around. He was unbelievably cheery, accommodating, and quite honestly, this single man in many ways helped set the tone for the weekend.

He made sure we were comfortable. He made sure to tell us daily that if we needed anything, anything at all, that all we needed to do was ask and we shall receive! In fact, all of the staff at Loch Moy were enthusiastic and over the top helpful, which made our weekend and our experience that much more pleasant.

Day 1: Saturday revolved around my friend who was competing Intermediate. I didn’t compete until Sunday which couldn’t have worked out better for the two of us. I had loads of time to become familiar with my surroundings and both my show jumping and cross country courses. I watched several Intermediate riders jump several jumps that were very similar to some of the jumps on my course. This day helped prepare and settle my nerves. I actually walked my cross country course FIVE times total!

Day 2: I rode dressage at 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning and didn’t jump until 10:44. Vinnie and I made our way down to the dressage warm up. First of all I have to mention this warm up arena. Wow, was I thoroughly impressed, not only by the immense size, but the glorious footing underneath me.

How could you not feel like a million bucks riding around in this ring? Even though the atmosphere was so unfamiliar to me, I felt the energy and the intensity and was feeding off of it. I never ride around a ring with people like Will Coleman and Phillip Dutton, but there I was. Little me, who nobody knows and I felt like I was playing with the big boys…and I was!

The energy exuding from that ring must have served Vinnie and me accordingly, because we trotted down centerline and ended in second in a large Prelim division, which was extremely exciting for me.

After that was over, I felt myself going over and over in my head what I needed to do in both phases, which were back to back. I kept hitting pause and replay in my head, as if I were some computer. Even though I was reasonably nervous, I never once felt like any of this was outside the realm of possibilities for us.

I knew the tables were enormous, and the water would be tricky considering how many horses were balking at the in part of the question. I knew the technical questions would be tricky if I didn’t hold my lines and push for the distances to happen. I knew I couldn’t gallop out of the box feeling shy or insecure. I had to take on this course with confidence and decisiveness.

I warmed up for show jumping and Vinnie felt on it. I went in the ring shortly after and got slightly deep to the first two jumps but quickly picked up the pace and jumped around clean and fast. At this point, unbeknownst to me, I was sitting in first place after showjumping. Holy cow!

After completing the biggest show jumping course of my career, I headed over to cross country warm up where I jumped a single roll top. Vinnie soared over the roll top and felt extra pumped as he knew what was coming. I had a little trouble getting Vin to go in the box as he was ecstatic to get on course. “TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE….HEART POUNDING, FOUR, THREE, TWO….OH MY GOD I’M GOING TO DO THIS….ONE, GO. GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN! GULP!”

Galloping at GMHA 2014

I have never had so much fun in my entire life on cross country. What a trip! This horse knows what he’s doing and is so straightforward. He gives me wings and together I feel like anything is possible. I came off cross country on a serious adrenaline rush and can honestly say I am still riding that wave of excitement and sense of accomplishment.

As for this event, I would HIGHLY recommend this event for anyone looking for a harder venue. The course had an amazing flow to it and really encouraged you to keep coming and galloping. The technical questions were tough but appropriate. The big galloping fences were just that. There was nothing small on this course. It was the real deal, particularly for someone who has limited experience competing in Area 2.

Thank you Loch Moy for being so unbelievably accommodating and cheery. Thank you so much to all those who volunteered….you guys rock! What an incredibly beautiful and awesome venue!

Learning to Fly

By Lila Gendal on Oct 7, 2014 10:25 am -

Weeeeeeee!

When I was a kindergartener, I used to loathe every snack time. The thought of eating and hanging out with other kids who were supposed to be my friends was beyond daunting. Every day like clockwork, I would unobtrusively ask permission to use the ladies room in order to eat my snack in silence. I would actually sit in the shower, with a closed curtain, while guarding my food as if wild animals were hunting for me. I’m not sure what a therapist would have uncovered from this abnormal behavior, but I like to title these as the “I’m painfully shy, please don’t talk to me, and don’t ask me to talk to others” years.

I am not exactly a risk taker, nor am I innately bold in any way shape or form. However, a few days ago, I reached another milestone in my riding career: I jumped 4’10” on Skybreaker and could have done it 50 more times! Even though Skybreaker and I will not be heading to Rolex anytime soon, I am beyond grateful for the skills and confidence I have acquired over time on this particular horse. He is a jumper through and through. This is what he was bred to do, and loping over 5-foot standards seems like second nature for this talented hunk. Not to mention he has allowed me to gain confidence jumping anything over Preliminary height, which is pretty incredible.

Back to the other day. I have to preface this by saying I did not just willy nilly canter down to that gigantic oxer. Denny had me set a two-stride line consisting of a small vertical, about 35 to 36 feet to an oxer. So, all I had to do was get him in right to the vertical; the rest was easy and basically set us up for success. Regardless of the set distance, I still managed to jump basically 5 feet without feeling too overwhelmed or even that scared. In fact, I felt sort of how Skybreaker felt … pretty damn relaxed. Great horses have a way of transferring positive energy to their rider.

Skybreaker coming in from a landing!

The feeling was incredible. I actually felt as if we were in a movie where some random person controlling the remote actually had control over us. The whole thing felt as if it were in slow motion. We jumped in, then ONE, TWO, PAUSE FOR A NANOSECOND, THEN OFF THE GROUND HE LEVITATES … WE START CLIMBING UP A MOUNTAIN, THEN JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE PEAKED, A SURGE OF ENERGY AND POWER COMES THROUGH HIS BACK AS HE BASCULES. I almost felt speechless after that jump!

Gaining confidence takes a serious amount time, as does learning how to ride. Am I content with my level of confidence? Oh, heck no … so much to gain still! Have I learned all there is to learn? Yeah, right! I didn’t just wake up one morning to answer a phone call from Denny saying, “Today, Lila, you will jump a big ass jump.” No, this did not just randomly happen. I have been learning and jumping and riding and learning and jumping and riding with Denny for EIGHT years now! Nothing happened immediately. In fact, I probably went 20 steps back when I started riding with Denny before I could even fathom taking five steps forward.

Some riders are more timid and more afraid than other riders. This fact is set in stone and seems unwavering. Although, just because you are not innately bold and confident does not mean you cannot succeed and reach tremendous accomplishments. I used to cry when I fell off various ponies when I was a kid. I use to think Training level in eventing was my be all end all. I used to get made fun of when I would not get in right and jump up my horse’s neck. I use to be called the scared and timid little rider.

But now I am so much more because I made something happen. I was determined to reach certain goals, and I am adamant about continuing my search. Whether you want to be a 2nd level dressage rider, an endurance rider or a grand prix jumper, you can do anything you set your mind to. You can prove others wrong left and right if you put in the time and make the effort. Don’t sit around waiting for a phone call — go tackle your dreams and believe in yourself along the way.

The Horse That Goes and Jumps the Jumps: From Prelim To Grasshopper

By Lila Gendal on Sep 29, 2014 10:15 am -

Vinnie at the THF Jumper Show.

Two weeks ago I completed my second Preliminary event at the September GMHA Horse Trials on Theatre Royal, owned by Gayle Davis. “Vinnie” has been a treat, to say the least. What an incredible horse. I am having such an amazing time getting to know this horse, and our relationship has evolved over the course of four months. I am starting to ask more of Vinnie now that I know him much better, and he is so unbelievably consistent; it makes me feel like a million bucks every time I ride him.

Vinnie is an event horse through and through. Quite simply put, he sees a jump and goes and jumps it. Isn’t that what we long for in an event horse? Don’t we desire a horse who goes and jumps the jump, no back peddling, no spooking, no bolting, no kicking out …but just a horse that goes and jumps the jumps? Perhaps tons of event riders experience this willingness and easiness, though I have had limited experience with this particular type of horse.

Back to GMHA. I walked my cross-country course three or four times total before I went out of the start box Sunday morning. I was definitely excited, but slightly anxious about the size of the jumps on course. My big move up to this level at the August Huntington Horse Trials was perfect, though the course didn’t quite compare to the questions and size of the course at GMHA. Luckily, I have tremendous confidence in this horse, and I trust him and know he can do just about anything. He takes me to the jumps on cross country and seems completely cool about any and all questions we have tackled together.

Vinnie!

Sunday morning arrived. Very chilly temperatures and rain the night before made for some slippery conditions. I tacked up and walked Vinnie from where the trailers were parked all the way over to cross-country warm up. I felt ready, though pretty damn nervous at the same time. I am totally green at this level but knew once I jumped my first warm up fence I would feel much better. I recall walking past Denny and other familiar faces in warm up, and I’m pretty sure my face had turned into a pasty shade of green and white. “How do you feel?” asked Denny. “I think I might puke … but other than that, I’m fine.” Everyone started laughing and told me I’d be great!

“You have two minutes, OK, Lila?” My heart was pounding. I was sure you could see it through my long sleeve shirt, my vest and my air vest. Vinnie was cool as a cucumber, patiently but understandably waiting his turn. Soon after I started my watch and got the official count down from 10. As soon as the starter said, “GO … GOOD LUCK,” I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t see anything beyond each jump in front of us. The only thing I could hear and feel was Vinnie and me.

He soared over the first fence, and I felt super confident. The second fence I was most concerned about, which was a giant table, I ended up getting Vinnie a little deep to, but he jumped it like it was two feet. After the second jump, I knew we were good to go. My fear and my concerns had instantaneously disappeared and had been replaced by an overwhelming sense of security and confidence. I didn’t think we had it in the bag because we had about 18 more jumps ahead of us, but I knew we could do this! We ended up jumping around clean with a bunch of time, but it was an incredible feeling.

Fast forward a couple weeks and I’m taking my teeny tiny and adorable pony “Chai” to her first event at Hitching Post Farm. I entered senior grasshopper. I hadn’t competed at that level in several years. Quite honestly, I had a blast. Was I concerned or nervous? Not in the least. Was it a challenging outing? Absolutely not. However, I wanted to test my pony and see what she was like in a show atmosphere. I wanted to see how she would handle dressage, which was down a steep hill away from all the other horses. I also wanted to see if she would go jump the jumps — and she did!

Chai waiting to go xc yesterday at HPF. Good 5 y.o. pony!

Chai waiting to go cross country yesterday at HPF. Good 5-year-old pony!

It’s becoming excruciatingly clear what makes an event horse. I have been through tons of horses and very few have had what it takes. They have to be quiet and sane enough to handle the various pressures this sport puts them under. Yet they HAVE to want to go to the jumps. They HAVE to have an automatic forward button. They have to be bold, and they have to be willing. The list goes on and on, but without these qualities, I cannot imagine going out of the start box.

Diving Right In

By Lila Gendal on Sep 24, 2014 2:51 pm -

This past weekend I did something outside the norm, I actually left the farm for several days. And, no, I didn’t travel south of Tamarack to South Strafford, Vt. I actually left the state altogether! We went to Rhode Island for a wedding. We departed on a Friday morning and came home early Sunday evening. It was a quick, but relaxing vacation. And yes, 48 hours does constitute a vacation.

In fact, anything beyond two days and I become anxious, and the thought of lounging around for an undetermined amount of time seems daunting. Not to mention, the words “vacation” and “appetite” are synonymous. In other words, one cannot vacation accordingly without stuffing ones face, which is another reason why vacations are tedious and less appealing after a while.

Back to my vacation. Rett and I woke up early Saturday morning to enjoy a cup of coffee outside out hotel, which was located right on the beach. The sun was rising. There was not a person or cloud in sight. The waves were rolling in, and the atmosphere was perfection. We sat there in silence while being hypnotized by the infinite blanket of water right in front of us.

There’s something so captivating about the tranquility yet eeriness that the ocean embodies. In the midst of my ocean coma, I looked up for a second and saw a single man walk straight towards the ocean. Evidently he was on a mission, and I was not going to stop watching him for one moment. “He’s actually going to do it,” I thought to myself. “I cannot believe it … it’s FREEZING out …there’s no way he’s going to actually jump right … YES, he’s going swimming.”

The man who walked straight towards the ocean and without one single bat of an eye dove right in made an impression on me. I thought about how if you’re going to do something, sometimes you just have to dive right in and do it. And at times, even, just shut up and do it! Obviously this got me thinking about our sport and how there are countless unknown variables which make eventing daunting, dangerous and downright frightening at times. There are risks, deaths, hardships and yet we volunteer ourselves because why?

I am a rider because I absolutely love horses and cannot imagine my life any other way. It’s just the way I am wired; it’s in my soul. I have been riding for the majority of my life, and this is the sport that I latched into. Of course I understand the risk involved and acknowledge and accept these risks.

I know that I could die the next time I leave the start box. I also know that I could die from going on a trail ride at home. I don’t lose sleep about dying every single day because I wouldn’t be able to function. But, yes, at the end of the day, this is a high risk sport we are partaking in.

I think one of the hardest things for me in eventing is trusting myself as a rider and my abilities, and trusting my horse all in one instance. There’s always that what if factor looming like low clouds in the horizon, but if we are prepared and feel confident enough then we ought to be able to jump right in and trust ourselves and our horses. What if I miss my distance and my horse stops? What if we both flip over that table? What if I can’t get him back before that combination? What if, what if, what if?

These unknown variables are always going to be a constant. The risk factors are unavoidable even for the best riders in the world. Something either has happened to someone and their horse, or it will happen to someone and their horse. Being prepared and gaining confidence over several years helps ease my thoughts towards these unknown variables. Will something horrible happen to me or a horse I am riding at some point in time?

Undoubtedly so, but becoming fixated on such a question is not productive. If you could stare into a glass ball only to read your future and the date of your death, would you want to see that information, and if so, why would you? For me, right now in this moment in time, I would like to just dive right in. Eventing is what I want to be doing and risks aside, we either have to jump in and give it a whirl or sit on the sidelines and forever wonder. For me, it’s a no-brainer!

GMHA Wraps Up the Year with Another Great Event

By Lila Gendal on Sep 16, 2014 3:00 pm -

Winners of the Training Rider division: Kay Slater and Tornada, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Fall in New England has officially arrived: leaves are changing colors, frost has appeared and pumpkins are the primary ingredient in any drink or food item. With the changing of the season comes our favorite fall event at GMHA: The September Horse Trials this past weekend. The event ran Beginner Novice through Preliminary and the event ran very smoothly.

Even though finger tips were freezing and down jackets were seen everywhere, competitors, spectators and volunteers seemed as cheery as ever. Tough Area 1 riders are never afraid of a little frost and freezing temperatures, in fact we embrace natures challenges and push forward. I mean, who doesn’t want to go jump cross country any day, anytime, any temperature?

I was beyond thrilled to take the cheeky chestnut, aka “Vinnie” to our second prelim this weekend. He was star, as always, jumping around that LARGE Prelim course like it was nothing! The second jump on our course was probably the biggest and widest fence on course, followed shortly after by a fairly massive brush which rode really well. Two trakenhers (one fun sized and one REAL DEAL sized), several skinny/wedge/brush fences, and a decent drop into water were also on course.

All in all, the course rode really well and I was ecstatic about my ride…what an amazing horse! We were definitely slow on cross country, but clean which was my goal. Thank you GMHA and volunteers for putting on an awesome last event for 2014!

Of course the most amazing, most friendly, most upbeat photographer in Area 1 was there to catch all the excitement. Thanks Joan! Here are some of the winners:

Winners of the Preliminary Horse Division were Randy Ward and Solilquy. Used with permission, Flatlandsfoto

Winners of the Training Rider division: Kay Slater and Tornada, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Winners of the Novice Rider division was Kelly Lattin and Grandpa’s Gift. Used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Winners of the Jr Beginner Novice were Rachel Hoar and Hazen. Used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Our favorite Horse Pesterer was also hanging out at GMHA this weekend and caught my friend Daryl Kinney and Rosie’s Girl (owned by Denny Emerson) on their second Prelim course together. The pair finished third in their division. Rosie’s Girl’s sire is by Deputy Minister out of a Secretariat mare, and her dam, a full sister of Courageous Comet, is by a son of Fappiano, with Bold Ruler on the bottom.

Congratulations to the King Oak H.T. Winners

By Lila Gendal on Sep 11, 2014 10:17 am -

Madeline Foley and Avoca Bravado, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

The fall King Oak horse trials has come and gone. Unfortunately I was unable to ride in this event, however I heard besides the sweltering heat, the event was a blast! King Oak is one of my favorite venues. Their cross country course is a blast with inviting but challenging questions and the atmosphere is perfection.

Always a very welcoming and accommodating crew, friendly volunteers make this just a really fun event. As always, thank you King Oak for continuing to run awesome events every summer…we really appreciate it, and of course we always appreciate all the hard work that goes into making these events possible and to all the volunteers…you guys ROCK!

Even though I wasn’t at the event, our favorite photographer in Area 1 was able to capture all the brilliance! Joan Davis thanks for all these awesome winning shots!

Megan Tardiff and Cabana Boy, winners of the Open Prelim A!:

Megan Tardiff and Cabana Boy, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Madeline Foley and Avoca Bravado, winners of the Open Training A:

Madeline Foley and Avoca Bravado, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Darragh Looney and CoCo Chanel, winners of the Open Novice C:

Darragh Looney and CoCo Chanel, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

and last but certainly not least is Thomas Davis and Little Miss Tennessee, winners of the Open Beg. Novice:

Thomas Davis and Little Miss Tennessee, used with permission Flatlandsfoto

Nobody Said It Would Be Easy

By Lila Gendal on Sep 7, 2014 12:00 pm -

PRACTICING!

I have vivid memories of downhill ski practice in high school. Cold afternoons, frozen fingers and toes, and definitely some good old fashion agony! We would practice on the slopes at Dartmouth Ski way some of the time which was what I really looked forward to. However, for the remainder of the week, or during the pre-snow period, we participated in what my coach called “dryland training,” or fitness and strength training.

This particular training was fairly brutal. I actually thought to myself on several occasions, and why did I volunteer myself to participate in this hell? We lifted weights, we sprinted indoors, and we did all sorts of agility exercises. We jumped in and out of giant tires, we jumped up and down stairs, and we gave our teammates piggybacks up steep driveways, and I might add that my teammates were not petite individuals either. Even though the training was painful and even miserable at times, we became real athletes and became better skiers and I would not change a second of it I could rewind time.

A few days ago, several barn girls, including myself moved about 500 bales of hay, which is pretty routine. Towards the last truck load, one girl noticed how swiftly and determined another girl was moving hay. The girl responded, this work is tough and sucks at times but you just have to suck it up, push through and get it done.

Huntington Farm H.T.

This hay moving experience got me thinking about becoming a better rider and how I wouldn’t be in the position I am currently in if I had never worked really hard on a regular basis. Nobody ever handed anything to me on a silver platter.

I was definitely NOT a check of the month girl, like so many students I see come and go. In addition to having little to no money, I also was never a naturally gifted rider. I had everything working against me for such a long time, but I never once threw in the towel. I have wanted to be an event rider for as long as I can remember. Nothing else seemed to matter and my sights were set high.

After spending my umpteenth summer on a horse farm, one thing I knew to be true: if you are serious about becoming a better athlete and a better rider, you have to work hard at it. Nobody can make you a better rider. Of course, we can seek advice and we can receive help from other riders and trainers, but at the end of the day, it’s up to YOU to make something happen.

You want to learn how to have a great seat…PRACTICE and set yourself short term and long term goals. You want to start nailing your distances…PRACTICE. You want to have an Ingrid Klimke, a William Fox-Pitt or a Charlotte Dujardin position…PRACTICE! Nobody ever said riding horses was easy, but having a very good work ethic will take you further than you ever deemed possible!

When Positive Energy Is Transferred

By Lila Gendal on Sep 1, 2014 3:30 pm -

Theatre Royal Open Prelim! Taken by May Emerson

Last Sunday was quite the day for me. I have been dreaming about going Prelim for years now. I can honestly say I thought I would have moved up at a much younger age, though the timing, my skills, and the “right” horse were not in alignment for some time. I am twenty eight years old and I finally reached my goal at Huntington Farm last weekend on Theatre Royal.

Even though I have only been riding “Vinnie” since the middle of June, I feel like I can do anything on this horse. He sure knows his job and he enjoys it too! What a treat for me. Vinnie tackles any and all obstacles without a bat of an eye.

He gladly accepts any challenge and assures me that everything will be alright. I am not naturally the most gutsy or overly confident rider that ever walked the earth. I am calculated and I tend to stress about things out of my control. Yet, this horse makes my fears dissipate instantly, like watching a pill dissolve in a liquid. He is truly an exceptional horse and I am beyond lucky to be in the situation I am currently in.

Theatre Royal OP Huntington. Taken by May Emerson

The lead up to this particular event was interesting. I began my official countdown to my move up about two weeks in advance. Well, when you start counting down fourteen days ahead of time you become acutely aware of your surroundings, your horse, and all the things that could go wrong that you would like prevent from going wrong.

What if I trip and roll my ankle? True story….I tripped and hurt my ankle stupidly running down stone steps in clogs. What if I accidentally lose my horse while cleaning his paddock? Again, true story. Vinnie saw a window of opportunity as I opened his paddock gate one morning. He went galloping out and started grazing. After about twenty failed attempts at catching the cheeky 15 year old Irish Sport Horse, I decided I needed to outsmart the smart horse.

Fortunately I felt extremely prepared after jumping a 3’6” jumper round at Tamarack days before the event. I thought if this goes really badly, Im not going to feel very confident about moving up. Luckily all went smoothly and Vinnie was a rockstar, as usual!

The night before I competed, I tossed and I turned and my mind was buzzing a million times per second. I literally dreamt that the Prelim drop into water at Huntington was similar to the drop into water that the main character from “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” had to tackle.

I was second guessing my abilities as a rider. I was worried about having enough time to walk my course again. I was a mess. I barely slept a wink and then I was freaking out that if I finally did fall asleep that I wouldn’t be able to wake up for my 4am alarm. Ahh!

Sunday finally arrived and I was a bit on edge. Excited? Extremely. Nervous? Heck yeah, I was nervous. Dressage was okay, although it definitely could have been better. I also had moved Skybreaker up to Training at this event too. I had two horses competing in a one day and rode six times between 8 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Thank God I had my family and friends there, otherwise I would have been a mess.

Theatre Royal OP Huntginton, taken by May Emerson

Prelim cross country was about to start and my heart was pounding and naturally I felt slightly nauseous. I saw my friend before I headed out. She said, “Good luck, how do you feel?” I said, “I think Im going to puke…” She said, “SUCK IT UP!” So, that’s what I did.

I sucked it up and went over to warm up. Everything went really well and the second I left the start box I felt a wave of power, concentration and confidence blanket over me. This is precisely how Vinnie makes me feels at every outing. It doesn’t matter if I’m jumping 20 inches, or 4 feet, he always makes me feel like a million bucks!

Of course I was on a high after my first successful Prelim cross country course. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone and anyone how awesome it was. In the midst of this adrenaline rush, I almost forgot that Skybreaker had never gone Training before and I almost forgot that Skybreaker had had some issues in the past with ditches, and that this particular course had three ditches on it. The only thing I could focus on was the successful cross country course I just ran around! Now I can accomplish something else. We can do this Skybreaker…I know we can!

Skybreaker OT Huntington, Taken by May Emerson

It’s truly amazing how positive energy can be transferred. First Vinnie’s positive energy took over my body and mind. I took that experience and gave everything I could possibly give to Skybreaker and we had the best cross country we’ve had to date. Eliminating fear and fearful horses out of my equation made the whole experience absolutely perfect.

Learning from a horse that understands his job has turned my world around. I cannot wait for our next outing together! I want to be taught from a pro like Vinnie and then I can teach slightly more green horses like Skybreaker what this game’s all about! This is what I like to call the cycle of positive energy!
My pal the Horse Pesterer was on grounds and caught some of my cross country on video! Thanks Dave!

My Prelim Move-up at Huntington Farm + Flatlandsfoto Photos

By Lila Gendal on Aug 27, 2014 2:30 pm -

Laine Metz and Hohnhorst Madeline winners of the Junior Training Division! Flatlandsfoto

The August Huntington Farm Horse Trials were run this past weekend. They usually offer Beginner Novice through a Prelim/Training division, though this year they offered a real Prelim division. This was perfect for me, as I moved up to Prelim for the very first time on Theatre Royal, and what a blast it was! Sunday was a big day for me, as I completed my first Prelim and I successfully moved Skybreaker up to Training level.

Because school has started for the kiddos and summer seems to be winding down for many, the divisions were quite small, but everyone seemed just as pumped to be out competing in Area 1. The weather was quite toasty, but the atmosphere was delightful.

The footing was perfection and the cross country course was inviting and good for galloping. This is one of my favorite events for many reasons: 1) its close proximity to home, 2) its friendly and accommodating farm owners and staff, and 3) it’s not all about carved chipmunks and million dollar water complex’s.

I must admit, I actually had nightmares about jumping into the Prelim drop into water the night before. I had convinced myself the obstacle was going to be similar to the jump into water that the girl from “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” had to tackle. Luckily for me, mister Vinnie-miester casually dropped into the water like we on a Sunday morning stroll.

Enough about nightmares, and onto some of the winning shots from this weekend taken by the one and only Joan Davis!

Susan Berrill and Jet Aer, winners of the Senior Beginner Novice Division

Susan Berrill and Jet Aer, taken by Flatlandsfoto

Ashley Cate and Heza Rainbow Mist winners of the Open Novice B division

Ashley Cate and Heza Rainbow Mist, taken by Flatlandsfoto

and last but not least…and yes, this is awkward talking about yourself…but I won the prelim division on Theatre Royal

Lila Gendal and Theatre Royal, taken by Flatlandsfoto

The Horse That Loves His Job

By Lila Gendal on Aug 14, 2014 10:00 am -

Best horse ever! Theatre Royal, owned by Gayle Davis, at GMHA Festival Of Eventing. Training Rider. Photo taken by Denny Emerson

If I have picked up anything from riding and competing horses for the better part of my life, one thing I know is true: there’s the horse that knows and loves his job, and there’s the horse that does not. Plain and simple this truth is. You can try as much hypnotherapy as you’d like, but in the end a square peg will not fit in a round hole.

Such realizations have been in the forefront of my mind the last month and a half as I acquired a borrowed ride for the summer. “Theatre Royal,” or better known as Vinnie, has given me more than I could have ever dreamed of. This fifteen year old ISH gelding has been around the block, so to speak. He has competed through the upper levels and spent countless years going around any and all Preliminary courses like it was nothing. This horse knows the routine and loves his job, and what a treat has been for me.

Galloping at GMHA 2014

As many of you know, I made the difficult decision to decide to eventually sell my mare Valonia. She was purchased in hopes of becoming my future superstar event horse. She seemed to have all the potential in the world as a four year old. She floated across the ground. She jumped with power and scope. She could gallop and she was athletic. This horse appeared to be a recipe for success, though only time would tell. I attempted to turn the big gawky four year old giraffe into a successful and powerful event horse, at least through Prelim, though such reality was not in the cards for us.

I tried and I hoped and I tried some more and I hoped some more. Maybe, she needs more time. Or, Perhaps she doesn’t quite understand what we are asking of her. Or, she’s still green and just needs to get out and compete more. Well, fast forward five years and I am still banging my head against a door. No matter what I tried, no matter how simple I made the questions, Valonia wanted little to do with the unknown elements that xc is built upon.

Even though I consider myself a fairly brave and gusty individual who lives for galloping on xc, I found myself becoming almost as afraid of the unknown as Valonia was. What if she stops at that table…what if we don’t make it over the 2^nd fence on course…WHAT IF, WHAT IF, WHAT IF? Even though I have basically raised this mare and adored her for so long, she was inadvertently crushing my confidence.

Thank god, Vinnie arrived when he did. I have only had him since the end of June, and taken him to three events, but he has done more for my confidence than any horse I have ever ridden. He assures me that xc is a blast. He reminds me to chill out when my nerves are escalating. He takes me to each jump, without any if’s and’s or but’s. He takes me to each fence and jumps everything like it’s no big deal, whether it be a coffin, or a trakenher, or a ditch and wall, he gladly and excitedly accepts the challenge.

One of my favorite Vinnie traits revolves around the start box. Holy cow is this horse cool! His owner warned me when I took over the ride, that Vinnie can get a bit charged when you point him towards the box…so be ready! I had no idea, nor had I ever felt this level of excitement from a horse going in the box. Each outing has been slightly less dramatic, but when I took him to our first outing together at the July Huntington, I went to turn on my watch at 30 seconds and was unable to even hit the button as Vinnie was leaping, trying to rear and couldn’t contain himself. He knew what was coming and he couldn’t wait. WOW…WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING!

GMHA. Photo taken by Lisa Cook

Going from a horse who sucked back and didn’t want to go, to a horse that literally cannot wait to get on course has changed my world around. Vinnie’s default answers are “sure,” “why not,” “I thought you’d never ask,” “heck yeah, lets jump that!” I feel so incredibly lucky to be riding this horse right now and what a treat it has been. Vinnie has changed my confidence overnight and he has everything I would ever want in a horse. You can try, and pray, and hope all you want, but having a horse that loves his job makes all the difference in the world!

GMHA Festival of Eventing Recap + Flatlandsfoto Photos

By Lila Gendal on Aug 13, 2014 10:00 am -

Daryl Kinney and Union Station placed 4th in OI at GMHA! (photo taken by Bekki Read)

Wow, what an exciting weekend with GMHA’s Festival of Eventing in full swing. The event ran Beginner Novice through CIC* and the weather was slightly toasty, but that’s only because I am use to -20 degrees for half the year.

Seriously, this event was a blast. I ran around my second Training with Theatre Royal and have to say, even though the cross-country course was awesome, it was definitely challenging.

Janine McClain did a great job asking questions appropriate for each level. Some of the jumps themselves were not necessarily the most difficult, but where she decided the jumps should be placed in relationship to the terrain made the questions that much more challenging. Then of course, there were tough questions.

For Training, they had it all — ditch and wall, trakehner, drop into water to a giant cheese wedge option, a coffin and much more! Overall, the courses ran pretty well. There were some problems. For instance, there were 21 entered in the Open Intermediate, and of those, only 16 made it around the course, and of the 16, only 10 made it around without any problems.

It’s also always exciting to see a big name like Buck Davidson and his string of lovely horses at a relatively “small” Area 1 event. Thank you GMHA for an awesome weekend. Thank you volunteers and everyone who helped out; we LOVE this event!

And here are some winning shots courtesy of Joan Davis:

Pamela Bolek and Well Decorated were winners of the Beginner Novice Rider division in the Friday Horse Trials.

Pamela Bolek and Well Decorated. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Alison Eastman-Lawler and Otto Rocket were winners of the Preliminary Rider divison in the weekend horse trials.

Alison Eastman-Lawler and Otto Rocket. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Marah Lueders and Palmerston North were winners of the Junior Novice division in the Friday horse trials. “Smartie,” a rescued event horse with a particularly interesting story, was saved from a bad situation and has returned to his true love of jumping and eventing. Click here to read more about how Smartie came back into the eventing world.

Marah Lueders and Palmerston North. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Kathryn Slater and Archer were winners of the Training Rider division in the weekend horse trials.

Kathryn Slater and Archer. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Go Eventing.

Interview with Robert Piro: 2014 GMHA Training Three Day Winner

By Lila Gendal on Aug 6, 2014 12:00 pm -

We were able to catch up with Robert Piro, who won the Training Three-Day division at GMHA last weekend. Robert had some wonderful things to say about his experiences. Many thanks to Robert for taking the time to chat with us!

Robert Piro and Waterview! Photo taken by Anna Loschiavo

Lila: How old are you and where are you from?

Robert: “I’m 63 years old and currently live in Norwich, VT. I grew up on Long Island, NY spent most of my adult life in and around Boston. My wife, Mary, and I had a horse farm in Acton, MA for 14 years before moving to our farm in Norwich.”

Lila: What is your background with horses? Did you grow up riding horses?

Robert: “I started riding when I was 43. I hadn’t ridden before then. My wife had returned to a childhood passion for riding and my two daughters (then 5 & 7) had joined her soon thereafter. I would come home from work and they would be at the local barn, so I wouldn’t see them until later. I decided to join them in the insanity. Then we decided to get Mary a horse and the girls at least one pony and that led to getting our farm in Acton. Stephie Baer was our original trainer, so we naturally gravitated to eventing.”

Lila: How long have you been eventing?

Robert: “I started eventing a couple of years later, so about 18 years.”

Lila: Tell us about your current horse? Breed, age, personality…how long you have had him/her?

Robert: “My current horse is Waterview, barn name Duffy. He is a 16 year old,16.3 hand Irish Sport Horse that I got from Fernhill (Carol Gee) on a trip to Ireland 4 years ago. He collicked 6 months after I got him and had surgery so I lost a year bringing him back. He is a wonderful horse, quite sane, and very, very smart.”

Lila: Have you ever competed in a long format?

Robert: “I competed in the novice 3 day 2 years ago and came in 3rd.”

Lila: What made you decide to do the training three day this year at GMHA?

Robert: “It’s been one of my goals for a long time.”

Lila: What was it like preparing for this training three day?

Robert: “Having done it two years ago, and with advice from our trainer, Jane Hamlin, I started a conditioning program about six weeks before the event with trot sets and gallop sets around our fields. I actually enjoy that part. The toughest part was learning the special 3 day dressage test in the large arena and thinking I had to sit the trot for the whole test. We were only told of the misprint about sitting a few days before the event. Duffy has big gaits, so is not easy to sit. I could do it but I have to slow him down and lose impulsion.”

Lila: Tell us about your overall experience at the three day, from dressage to show jumping and everything in-between?

Robert: “I was pleased with my dressage – not perfect – but liked by at least one judge- especially considering the galloping and bellowing cows right next to me. On endurance day – Duffs favorite stuff- he was perfect. He has a big trot stride so he glides along on roads and tracks and easily made the time in A and C.”

“The most fun of course, is steeplechase as Duffy has a huge gallop and is very comfortable jumping the brush out of stride. Plus it’s something you don’t get to do much anymore. On cross country, he was also terrific, although a lot more subdued at the start then is typical at a regular horse trials.”

“We ran a little under pace for the first five or six jumps but then picked it up after that. We finished four seconds over optimum time and so moved into 2nd after endurance day.”

Robert and Waterview. Photo taken by Anna Loschiavo

Lila: Did you ever imagine winning this event? How excited were you at the end?

Robert: “Since we were third in the Novice Three Day and done okay at Training horse trials, I had hopes of doing well, although had doubts about my ability to hold it together through all the pieces. Duffy is certainly capable of doing it so it was really in my court. I was ecstatic when it all came together. It was really a nail biter.”

Lila: What are your eventing plans for the future? Will you try the three day again next year?

Robert: “I plan to do a couple more Training horse trials this year and might even consider a move-up Prelim event. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would be considering that! And it makes my wife crazy at the thought of my going Prelim.”

Lila: Why would you recommend this event?

Robert: “It’s a rare opportunity to compete in a different sport from a horse trials and experience all the parts. Steeplechase is particularly fun and gives you a lot of training at jumping out of stride that you still can do in parts of a horse trials cross country, but in which you may not feel confident. It also creates a much stronger bond between you and your equine partner and you develop much more of a sense of how they are feeling and responding.”

Lila: Even though the long format has nearly vanished, what skills have you and your horse acquired and what have learned overall from this experience?

Robert: “In addition to steeplechase I think I learned much more about lengthening and shortening my horse between phases. In that regard, the traditional order of dressage, cross country, and stadium is the most challenging because you need to collect, then open up your horse, and then collect them again on the third day when they can be either tired and stiff, or still fired up for more cross country.”

From Robert: “Thanks to GMHA continuing to host this fabulous event! I wish to report that the courses were beautiful and everything ran on time! Kudos to Molly and Janine! And many thanks to Bonnie, Ashley, Eileen, Fran, Jimmy, Denny, Eric, Mary H. and all of the legions of volunteers that made this possible. To all of you who ran off to Millbrook – eat your hearts out- this is a rare opportunity. I hope many of you will get to experience this next time.

I also want to thank Jane Hamlin for all her patient coaching and Lauren Mair and Anna Loschiavo for their help at the event and Cristin Roby and David Roby, too. And last but not least my long suffering and patient wife Mary. “

Videos of Robert and Waterview here, taken by David Roby!

Air Dressage…

By Lila Gendal on Jul 31, 2014 10:30 am -

Wondering what a still shot of air dressage looks like?

Humiliating? Perhaps. Hilarious? Possibly. Reality? Indeed.

How do YOU remember your dressage test? Some write it down. Others study it for days. Some ride through it days before the actual show…..and some of us do the following!

Here I am last Saturday, about to go in the ring at Stoneleigh-Burnham with Theatre Royal….though I thought nobody was watching me! I should have known better….The famous Horse Pesterer caught the whole thing on video, so without further ado, my official air dressage video is here, and I’m proud of it!

All That Went Wrong That Went Right

By Lila Gendal on Jul 28, 2014 11:00 am -

OTA, Stoneleigh-Burnham H.T. Theatre Royal (owned by Gayle Davis) one jump from home! Photo taken by David Frechette

Usually I am not a superstitious individual, though the last 48 hours leading up to Stoneleigh-Burnham Horse Trials almost convinced me otherwise. It occurred to me at one point that perhaps the event gods were telling me I should NOT compete at this event. They were nudging me and offering major warning signs, as if to back me off of something I so wanted to attend.

Day One. It all started Thursday early evening when Theatre Royal, aka “Vinnie” had a near shoeing emergency when he ripped his left hind dramatically and frantically away from the ever so patient and meticulous farrier, only to drive the clip into the sole of his hoof. What a bloody mess. We managed to clean the horse up and finally get a shoe on, although after sign #1, I was worried Vinnie would either be very sore, or abscess in the very near future. I was told to sleep on it and check the horse first thing in the morning before making any decisions regarding scratching from the event.

Day two (Friday before the event)… I check Vinnie and am pleased to find a happy and completely sound horse. Phew! I trot him in the ring to confirm his soundness. I proceed by taking him for an easy walk the day before the event.

Day three. As I am an overly prepared and slightly neurotic individual, I gave my boyfriend and myself ample time to leave in the morning in order to get to Greenfield with plenty of time to walk my course. I did not ride dressage until 12:15 and we left promptly at 8am, with a little under a two hour drive ahead of us. Not only were we in fantastic shape with our departure time, but I actually convinced he who rarely watches me ride to come and watch me compete, which was a feat in itself.

One hour into our drive…We are just about at the Bellows Falls exit when all of a sudden, our relatively new truck has ZERO power…Im talking twenty miles an hour on I91 South, four way flashers ON. Gas pedal is touching the floor and a slightly concerned look, followed by a couple expletives fall out of Rett’s mouth. Of course there’s barely any cell service which was also a delightful surprise. Sign #2 from the event gods that I should not compete at this event.

SBS’s NEW 2014 water complex…taken by David Frechette

We manage to barely make it off the exit and luckily there’s a Sunoco shortly after you get off the ramp. I had enough cell service juice to call my friend who was actually at the event and had a trailer. She came to the rescue within the hour.

At this point, I have about an hour until I am supposed to go in the ring. Heart pounding, adrenaline rushing. What about walking my course….AHHHHHH! We manage to swap all my crap and the horse in the middle of the gas station parking lot in record time. I leave my boyfriend who anxiously waits for his mom to bring a different truck. In the meantime, my friend, Vinnie and I are heading to the event with very little time to spare.

We finally arrived at Stoneleigh. Not only did I squeeze in a brief seven minute warm-up, but to my surprise, we won the dressage. I was over the moon and shocked by the series of events. I ended up RUNNING around the cross country course one and a half times and still had time to put studs in and get tacked up. We ended up winning the Open Training B division which was honestly just frosting on the cake.

This is the second time I have competed Mister Too Cool for School and I was pumped I didn’t forget my test and I that I confidently went clean around a course that I retired on the previous summer on my mare.

Cool dude!

It’s amazing how everything that could have gone wrong practically did go wrong, but it ended up all working out. I am beyond grateful and ecstatic about my borrowed ride for the summer and I am so incredibly appreciative for all those who support me and help me out when I need a hand.

The eventing community is like no other. We all struggle, and have misfortunes, but we are all there cheering each other on and lending a helping hand which makes this individual sport almost feel like a group or a team effort at times.

Lastly, I have to give a huge shout out to Stoneleigh-Burnham for putting on another spectacular event! Thank you, timers, announcers, judges, volunteers and scribes! To all those Area 1 members who haven’t been yet, put the September SBS event on your “must compete at” list for several reasons. One of which is their brand new and awesomely cool water complex! Thanks again for everyone who helped put on this event, and thank you everyone who helped get me to and from this event…you know who you are!!!

Also, courtesy of the amazing Horse Pesterer, here we are on xc!

Homework: Chore or Choice?

By Lila Gendal on Jul 22, 2014 11:30 am -

Huntington Farm H.T. last weekend

I have countless flaws, bad habits and life skills that require fine tuning….who doesn’t? I bite my nails, I have anomalous social skills, I detest not doing something well, and the list goes on and on.

One thing I am not is a procrastinator, at least not when it comes to things I am passionate about or extremely serious about. I might procrastinate when it comes to folding a weeks’ worth of laundry, or cleaning the bathroom, but when it comes down to practicing my sport, or studying for an exam that will determine whether or not I pass or fail a class, then I like to think of myself as a dedicated and driven individual.

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard Denny say the following again and again, ‘Whether Im teaching one rider that trucks in monthly, or I am going to a clinic, one thing remains a constant…people DO NOT PRACTICE.’

I have also witnessed this reality on countless occasions. Riders come take a lesson, and appear as though they are mentally acknowledging those skills they need to improve on, and yet, forty three days later they return for a lesson only to verbally admit to not practicing or putting in the time for a plethora of different reasons, whether it be time, money, or will power.

Obviously the idea of not practicing or doing ‘our homework’ when it comes to riding horses might be seen as an over generalization. Not all riders are content with mediocre skills and not all riders are lazy individuals who fail to take it upon themselves to practice what they yearn to want to know more.

And yet, there are large groups of riders who claim they want to be better and they claim they want to work on their horses canter, their own position, and learn how to really sit the trot, and they fail to do their homework.

If you are still reading this blog you are either going to be nodding in agreement, or your veins are popping out of your neck and your blood might be reaching its boiling point. The truth hurts and life is tough, but IF we willingly CHOOSE to be riders and we are seriously committed and ambitious about learning more and perfecting our ability to ride, THEN WHY wouldn’t we practice and do our homework?

This all seems to boil down to how serious a rider you are? How much do you care? How important are horses, riding, competing, and/or training to you? If it’s not that important, then I suppose this blog is not directed towards you.

However, if you are passionate about riding and horses are your number one priority, then you also have to ask yourself if doing your homework feels more like a monotonous chore, or does it feel like an exciting choice that you are willingly and gladly taking on?

I am not pointing fingers her. We ALL have things we need to work on with ourselves and our horses. I have an enormous amount of homework to do. Every day and every ride feels like practice and homework.

I worry that I am not I improving at a normal rate, if such a thing exists. I stress about not being able to see three strides to a jump more times than not. I am never pleased or content with my position, whether it be over jumps, or on the flat. I am annoyed by my inability to have perfect timing on the flat and to have “that perfect feel.”

The list goes on and on, but instead of curling up in the fetal position and crying my eyes out, I am going to make something happen. It might be amazing, it might be horrible, especially when there’s a major learning curve, but I would rather try something and mess up then not try at all!

Huntington Farm H.T. Recap + Flatlandsfoto Photos

By Lila Gendal on Jul 16, 2014 12:15 pm -

Me and Theatre Royal (owned by Gayle Davis) on xc! used with permission flatlandsfoto

This past weekend was Huntington Farm Horse Trials. The beautiful and tranquil horse farm, owned by Ann Kitchel, is approximately five minutes down the road from all of us here at Tamarack Hill Farm. I was beyond thrilled for this particular event because it was Theatre Royal (“Vinnie”) and my first event together. Vinnie (owned by Gayle Davis) hasn’t competed in a few summers and was extra pumped to be out galloping and jumping again! Each phase was a blast and we actually ended up placing 2^nd in a large novice division! My cheeks were tired from smiling all day long!

Huntington is one of my favorite venues for countless reasons: 1) its close proximity to home, 2) amazing terrain, 3) perfect combination of fields and trails for cross country, 3) and they always have a victory gallop after show jumping is completed…who doesn’t love a victory gallop?! I want to thank Ann for putting on another fun event, the organizer, secretary and all the volunteers who helped make this event possible! Here’s to many more events right down the road!

Of course the one and only Joan Davis was snapping shots left and right all weekend and kindly agreed to share some winning shots! So, without further ado, here come your winners…

Winners of the Jr Novice were Isabel Carey and Prescott

Winners of the Jr / YR Preliminary division were Isabella Carrara and Time To Fly

Winners of Open Beginner Novice B were Liz Grayson and Class Action

Winners of the Open Training A division were Daryl Kinney and Cabin Society

When Good Isn’t Good Enough

By Lila Gendal on Jul 9, 2014 11:45 am -

Skybreaker THF June jumper show 2014

In 2010 I remember interviewing for my first “real person” job. I met with a Publisher in a small coffee shop in NH where we discussed everything publishing and everything that I had been doing with my life up until that point, i.e. shoveling horse manure, riding horses and studying for exams. The interview went quite well, considering I left the café several hours later with a brand new job.

Before I left I recall the interviewer asking to read one of my essays from college. I knew about the essay requirement beforehand, therefore I carefully selected one of my best pieces of writing.

After about twenty minutes of excruciating silence, the interviewer set my essay down on the table and gave me a confounded look. He said, ‘do you think this is one of your best pieces of writing?’ I ignorantly and regrettably answered with the following: ‘I do, and my Professor gave me an “A.”’

The second those words stumbled out of my mouth, I instantly prayed that I could rewind time. My future boss strongly suggested that I rewrite the essay before starting my new job. So that’s exactly what I did.

This might sound incredibly cliché and dramatic, but coming to ride at Tamarack Hill Farm has been life changing. I arrived at Denny and May’s farm as pathetic as they come. I was stubborn, ignorant and had very few redeeming qualities when it came to riding a horse.

During my first month at Tamarack I thought maybe the only thing I could actually handle was trail riding. I mean, how hard is it to take a horse out for a hack, am I right?

The first two years were brutal, yet I kept coming back for more. I would argue that the first twenty four months were equivalent to boot camp. I got yelled at on a regular basis. I got laughed at. I got made fun of. I got the full initiation treatment. It was all in good fun and I would not change my experience for anything, but I have to admit, those were some tough years while I attempted to turn my engrained bad habits into actual solid basics.

Fast forward a few more years and I feel like I am actually starting to learn how to ride. I would almost dare to say I am a good rider. I would never say that I am a great rider because that would mean that I have learned, practiced, and finessed everything there is to be learned, practiced and finessed. That simply is not true and I cannot imagine a point in my riding career when that statement would become reality.

The thing about being a decent rider, or a good rider, or an above average rider, is that being good is simply not good enough here at Tamarack Hill Farm. And why should it be? If we are striving for perfection and we are setting our sights high, why should we settle for mediocre or average?

If you are happy with your abilities as a rider and you are content in life, then kudos to you! I, on the other hand am seeking greatness. I am constantly trying to become a better rider. I am so unbelievably eager to learn more and soak in as much as I possibly can, especially from someone as hardworking and as accomplished as Denny Emerson.

I cannot tell you the number of jump and flat lessons where I came to an ending point thinking to myself, wow, what a great ride….I think I am FINALLY figuring all this stuff out, only to hear from my trainers that I still really need to work on A, D, J, P, T, and Y.

Sometimes this ending point can leave me incredibly frustrated and confused, and other times I simply accept those skills I need to fine tune. Again, being pushed hard on a weekly basis can be trying and exhausting, but this is my life and these are my decisions.

Nobody tells me to ride and compete and train every day. This was a personal choice. It was also a personal decision to strive for greatness, therefore I need to expect more from myself and push myself harder if I have any hopes of ever reaching my full potential.

Dear Event Moms…

By Lila Gendal on Jul 3, 2014 1:00 pm -

Skybreaker June 2014

Recently I have started teaching kids riding lessons. I see teeny tiny boys and girls with wide eyes and eager personalities on a daily basis. They are all new to the horse world and everything they are seeing and watching seems to mesmerize them, from the simple act of catching the pony from her field, to grooming and everything in-between.

Mostly, the mothers are the ones who are coordinating the lessons. They are the ones who are picking up, dropping off and watching their sons and daughters as they latch on to a new obsession.

These mothers are reminding me of my own dedicated mom, and all the amazing mothers out there who have made little girls and boys dreams come to life. Of course there are die hard and devoted event fathers as well, and they should never be forgotten, but this one’s for the moms!

So, this letter is dedicated to all the event moms in the world who are cheering us on, driving with us to events, grooming, lending a hand and acting as a staple in our hectic and every evolving worlds.

Dear Event Moms,

Do you know how much you are appreciated? Do you know how much you are needed? Do you understand how incredible you are and without you, some of us would not be able to do what we are doing today? Years pass by and time flashes before our eyes. One minute we are falling off our Welsh Cob, and the next we are buying a shadbelly for our first FEI event. We become so caught up in the “now,” that we, at times, forget to say thank you. We forget that you helped us begin our journey. At times, we forget that you dropped us off at summer riding camp. We forget that you spent thousands of dollars on riding lessons and competition entries, and new tall boots. We forget that we HAD to have that figure eight bridle and you HAD to buy it for us or else the word might fall off its axis.

Even though we might seem distracted and we might seem unappreciative at times, we are, in fact half empty without you. You might not be able to come and watch us at every single event, but we know you are thinking of us and cheering us on, even if you are in the office or away on business. Just the feeling alone makes us feel safe and content.

You might think that we are YOUR rocks. But you are OUR anchors. You give us roots and balance. You pushed us and encouraged those first riding lessons. You were there when we fell off and you still are here when we fall off, or hit rock bottom. You rearranged your life to accommodate those jump lessons every Friday at 1:30. You did everything you could just to make us happy, and for that we are truly grateful.

When we were kids growing up, you asked us if we wanted ballet lessons, swimming lessons and/or riding lessons. You gave us this opportunity and you never let us down even when money was really tight and we could not afford lessons. You sacrificed a tremendous amount so that we could have our first pony or horse. You worked extra hours so we could buy grain and hay, and pay the vet and the farrier. You did all of this for us, because you knew it meant the world to us.

So, to all those mothers who drove thousands of hours and spent thousands of dollars, and worked extra shifts, or worked over time just to make our dreams come true, you will always be appreciated more than you’ll ever know. For those of us who are still, to this day, riding and competing, we remember those days in our childhood, and we remember how hard you worked and how hard you are still working. We are able to do what we love doing today because you are inspiring and you helped plant that initial seed that ultimately grew into a real life, so we thank you!

Love,

Your crazy, obsessed, dedicated event children!

Where One Door Closes, Another Opens…

By Lila Gendal on Jun 26, 2014 12:15 pm -

where it all began...Valonia, aka The Beast

Taking the plunge and deciding at some point in time that you are going to pursue the horse life opposed to following in the footsteps of so many fellow Americans as they lead “normal” existences, represents a massive undertaking on countless levels. Giving everything we have to this sport that we adore and to this life style that we cannot imagine otherwise devours us and eats us alive.

We are completely consumed and even if we want to think like “normal” people, we are programed and wired differently. Horses are our priorities and most of our time has to be spent with horses, riding horses, or thinking about horses, which is why when something major in your horse life comes to a crashing halt, or veers off in an undesirable direction, our life feels like a floor filled with shattered glass.

Approximately three weeks ago everything in my minute world seemed to come crashing down simultaneously. The horse I literally dreamt about and made immense goals for was telling me a different story.

No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how many hours I spent brewing over ways to figure this mare out, I realized this was the end of our journey together. After four years of attempting to make my mare Valonia into a real event horse, I realized and came to the unfortunate conclusion that this particular horse does not want to be an event horse.

The June GMHA horse trials was a tough event for me, as this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. After retiring at fence 7b, I knew this was the end. I was not upset because I retired on course.

I certainly was not upset because anyone told me to get rid of this mare. I was upset because while I was walking my horse back to the trailer I knew we had to part ways. I knew that deep down I wanted to be an event rider, and I knew deep down that this horse wanted to stay in the ring where familiarity acts as a safety blanket.

Valonia means the world to me and I never have connected with a horse like I did with this mare. She has taught me more than I can articulate and she made me a better rider. She made me problem solve and she made me become a more sensitive rider who is more in tuned with my horse’s needs.

I wanted so badly for this horse to be “the one,” but unfortunately it was not in the cards for us. I tried as long as I could, and I gave her a fair shot. I have no interest in convincing or coercing this horse into the eventing life. I want to focus on what she can do, rather than what she cannot do. Therefore, at some point, we will be parting ways.

Valonia Stonleigh-Burnham 2013, taken by the Horse Pesterer

Several days after several melt downs and feeling like the lowest layer of dirt imaginable, I found out that I was offered an amazing horse to lease for the summer. I was astounded and blown away by such generosity and the timing could not have been more perfect.

Not only was I speechless, but this particular horse I had grown up watching and admiring from a distance, never once thinking I would ever get the opportunity to ride such an outstanding horse.

Quite honestly, after having my horse quit at countless jumps on cross country, I wasn’t feeling like the most confident rider in the world, but then my luck, in an instant, began to change. Looking forward to and becoming excited about a new ride has shifted my perspective from being sad and depressed to thinking in a more positive way.

Instead of feeling like this is the end of all ends, I am trying to look at my time with Valonia as a valuable and cherished experience that nobody can take away from me. I don’t want to get stuck in the past, but I don’t want to forget the past. Im ready to move forward.

Like I said, this sport is tough and draining at times. Not allowing your emotions to sneak up seems almost unavoidable. I’ve spent several years with this horse, and developed a natural relationship over time, and I would be lying if I said I was not heartbroken at the mere thought of letting my horse go, but I know it’s the right decision for both of us.

I’m ready and excited for someone else to enjoy her as much as I have. I know everything there is to know about this horse. I know what body parts are off limits. I know where her favorite scratching zones are. I know when she wants to play games. I know if I look at her a certain way, she won’t be caught. I know she knows my voice. I know she trusts me and that I trust her.

I know that we are friends and saying goodbye to a friend is difficult to say the least. I will never consider my time with this horse wasted, and I have never once taken her for granted. I want to use the skills and qualities she gave me and grew with them.

Keep Pluggin’ Away

By Lila Gendal on Jun 19, 2014 3:00 pm -

Skybreaker spring jumper show at GMHA 2014

For those of you who have recently visited Tamarack Hill Farm, you might have noticed the gorgeous stone walls that provide intricate and luring mazes all over the farm. I have been a part of the Tamarack team since 2006 and I don’t recall very many stone walls during my initiation eight years ago.

However, as the years have come and gone Denny has slowly but steadily been building these captivating little masterpieces all over the farm. I truly find it amazing how the simple configuration of stones strategically placed around a house, or encompassing a bed of flowers can be so extraordinary. These walls did not magically or conveniently appear over night, but rather they have been the result of assiduousness.

Eventing can be a tough sport in many ways. The hours we spend plugging away and working tirelessly can be trying. Sometimes we can see the progress with our riding and our horses, and other times we feel like we are literally taking fifteen steps in the opposite direction.

What keeps us motivated? How do we keep going when we think we are stuck and not improving? We have all had rides, or jump schools, or lessons where we felt like the lowest layer of dirt imaginable, where we obsess and frantically spend hours thinking about how we can become better riders…am I right?

I am 28 years old and I grew up thinking and hoping that someday I would be an upper level event rider, traveling and competing all over the world. Even though my wish did not come true and I have not even competed at the Preliminary level yet, I have not for one second given up. I have felt pathetic, useless and humiliated.

I have also become use to the fact that most event riders and clients do not take you seriously unless you are competing at prelim or above, even if you are not a gifted rider. I have cried. I have lost sleep and I have broken several bones, but I have never thrown in the towel.

Skybreaker again

At times I feel like I am in a boxing match in a large arena with tons of spectators, and the other guy just keeps throwing punches at me. Every time I think I can regroup and get a hit in, the other guy hits me again and I land smack on the ground. This sport and this passion for horses and competing makes you dig deep inside yourself in order to see what you’re made of. This sport is humbling, at times not very forgiving, but incredibly addicting!

Whenever a new working student arrives and tells me about a horrible ride, or a humiliating lesson and asks for advice, the only thing I can ever say is that you will never get better if you stop now. In other words, we have all felt as if we have hit rock bottom.

Perhaps you have lost your confidence because your horse has started to stop at jumps. Or perhaps you cannot see your distance to a fence if your life depended on it, or perhaps you struggle at sitting the trot.

Whatever you’re struggling with and no matter how low and horrible you feel, you have to remember that stone walls are not built over night. They have been thought about, and they have been developing into real substantial pieces of art over a great deal of time.

Don’t ever get stuck on the future so much that it blurs your current life. If I became obsessively fixated on my goals to compete at the upper levels I would probably not be riding horses today. Instead I like to help keep myself motivated by perfecting my skill sets now and learning what I can learn every single day.

No matter what, if you keep plugging away, you will become a better rider because practice makes perfect over time.

Eventing Nation

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About Lila Gendal