Pardon my overgeneralizations, but arguably there are two kinds of people in the world; gutsy and non-gusty. There are individuals who jump out of twenty story buildings. We hear about and watch people skydive and bungee jump off bridges. There are alligator hunters and snake charmers. There are deep sea divers and rock climbers. There are people who have climbed Everest. The list is continuous and cannot be stopped.
Personally I am not the most gutsy and bold person in the world. I know this about myself and cannot hide such blatant traits. However, technically speaking, I want to gallop and jump big jumps.
Can slightly less bold individuals tackle such a sport as eventing, or do we throw in the cards and walk out the door now? Even if we are nervous from time to time, does that mean we are not meant to participate in all the action and join in on the fun to be had in the eventing world? I would have to argue that non-gutsy individuals should be able to tackle whatever sport they want to conquer.
Here comes the ultimate challenge coming from a slightly less bold individual. How do we eliminate such obvious question marks that are lingering in our heads? In other words, how do we boldly gallop towards jumps that we feel slight question marks about, even though we really DO want to jump those jumps? Or, how do we ride boldly on xc even though we are really concerned about number 8, the giant table at the bottom of a hill?
I have a gut feeling people are going to chime in here and say the following: If you are scared or nervous…why the heck are you competing, or galloping, or jumping? To answer my fictitious counterpart, I would have to say that just because WE are nervous, or worried about something from time to time does not mean that we cannot handle the sport.
For those who are deathly afraid….well, thats a whole different ballgame. Returning to my original question: How do we trick our brains into thinking something is not scary when we are positive it is scary?
Skybreaker
One of my biggest challenges, probably because I have a history of riding some challenging horses who have slammed on the brakes one too many times, is riding boldly to a fence and deciding way before that fence that we WILL (no if and’s or but’s) jump that jump and land on the other side.
This doesn’t happen all the time, but on an occasion, I’ll be cantering, or galloping towards some obstacle without deciding that we WILL jump that jump. Several things can happen when I have entered into this indecisive mind set: 1) my horse will pick up on my indecisive energy and either jump the jump because he or she is incredibly bold, or 2) the horse will stop.
Something I have learned over the years as far as eliminating question marks goes, is watching other really good riders ride. I am such a visual learner that watching a really talented rider frequently make good decisions while jumping, helps put me in the right mindset. I also find that talking to other professionals, or peers about your concerns or issues also helps tremendously.
If you can pinpoint your question marks, it becomes exponentially easier to manage your question marks. Lastly, riding reliable, trustworthy, safe and sane horses will also help reduce the number of question marks in your head. The more successful rides you have, the more confident you will feel over time. The more confident you feel over time will help reduce or even eliminate those pesky question marks nagging your subconscious.
I hate to bring up the sore subject of winter when flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and ducks are happily bobbing around the pond. Yet, such cynicism happens to be engrained in me and this darkness is rooted deep in my soul. So, on a beautiful day such as today, I am reminded of winter and here’s why.
I did gymnastics with Skybreaker this afternoon and everything seemed to be going quite well, until I made a tiny bid with my upper body. Denny reminded me quickly that pushing me body at Skybreaker, even a minute amount, will never in a million years translate into a driving aid. He reminded me to get Skybreaker to the first jump and basically do nothing (more or less) once I got into the line in order to allow the horse to figure out the footwork and the rest. I was permitted to focus on my position and stay out of the horse’s way, but ultimately the horse has to do the jumping, not the rider. This is precisely when he said, LESS IS MORE!
Back to winter wonderland. Have you ever driven through a quaint little village during Christmas time and seen seriously over the top and gaudy decorations? I’m talking about the singing reindeer in the front yard. The fifteen wreaths hanging on a single door. The neon green and red lights turning on and off every five seconds. The life size candy canes. You get the picture.
Perhaps you are one of these individuals who insists on over the top decorations for the holidays, and if you are, you can personally write me some hate mail later! Personally, I find that kind of decorating very tacky and overwhelming at the same time. Last Christmas, I specifically recall placing a single wreath on our front door as our “Holiday Décor” and that seemed to be pushing it.
The point is, regardless of your personal style, or your idea of what constitutes as sufficient decoration, the bottom line remains the same…less is more. We see this all the time in the ‘real world,’ if such a world exists. Parents tell their kids to eat in moderation. Instead of eating three apples, try eating one.
We see this in presentations in the classrooms, and we see this in artwork, and with websites. We see this concept everywhere. I would argue that many of us can see this in the ring, on the xc course, etc. The riders that we idolize, or we attempt to embody, have mastered the art of doing less to achieve more. In theory this seems attainable, but in actuality, I find this concept fairly difficult to grasp onto.
I find this concept specifically challenging when I am jumping. I want so badly to help me horse get to and over the jump. Nobody wants to crash and burn, am I right? The reason why many of us are desperate to help our horses by throwing our bodies, or pumping our arms is because we are afraid of the what if, and we are not trusting our horses, or our ability as riders.
Consequently, these driving aids that we are certain will help our horses jump the jumps in front of them are actually not beneficial at all. Conquering the art of doing less while in the saddle will be a life long mission and goal of mine, though focus and repetition will play in my favor.
Daryl Kinney and Rosie's Girl Take home the blue in the Training Horse division. Rosie's Girl Owned by Denny Emerson. These two are AWESOME! (photo taken by Flatlandsfoto)
What an awesome weekend for eventing! GMHA held it’s annual June H.T. this past weekend and with over 200 entries from Beginner Novice through Prelim, the atmosphere was exhilarating for little Area 1! The sun was shining, the footing was delightful and everyone seemed especially cheerful! I tried very hard to get some good pictures, but nothing amazing came out…but luckily Joan Davis was covering the event! So, without further ado, here are a few more winners from GMHA, courtesy of Flatlandsfoto! Also, a big shout out to GMHA for hosting, yet again, another lovely event. Thank you volunteers as well!
Winner of the Beginner Novice Rider division was Caitlin Brown riding Elite Valentine Cruise!
One of my buddies, Bekki Read, was the Winner of the Novice Horse A division riding this adorable mare Caledonia Blitzen, owned by Sofie Van Olmen.
And last but certainly not least is the Winner of the Preliminary Rider division: Megan Tardiff and Cabana Boy!
I did manage to creep on Tom Davis and King Dingaling’s lovely show jump round in the Open Prelim division (they ended up 4th)!
John Bourgoin and Fernhill Ballinaboola looking flawless in show jumping warmup.
What a perfect weekend for an event! GMHA hosted its annual June horse trails this Saturday and Sunday, and everything appeared to go swimmingly. The weather was nearly perfect at 70 degrees and mostly sunny — hardly any bugs and the footing was perfect. GMHA ran Beginner Novice through Prelim, and there seemed to be quite a lot of spectators, vendors, dogs and a lot of action in general, which was awesome. I’m not sure if it was just me, but this particular event seemed more built up this year than in years past.
Random stats from this weekend:
There were approximately 210 competitors this weekend
Lowest score from the weekend: 20.5, Erin Renfroe riding Porter Creek in Open Training
The majority of each division jumped around cross country with no problems
Most adorable pony sightings
In general, the show jumping courses ran fairly smoothly, despite a few problems in the Prelim divisions, and the cross country courses seemed very appropriate for this time of the year. Thank you, GMHA and volunteers, for putting on another lovely event!
June GMHA cross country
Don’t forget that the Festival Of Eventing is coming soon!
Two whole weeks of eventing — what more could you want in life?! There will be the Novice/Training three-day July 28-31; a clinic with Bobby Costello, Bonnie Moser, Jon Holling and Peter Gray Aug. 4-6; and Beginner Novice through Intermediate horse trials PLUS a CIC* Aug. 8-10. Note that opening dates are as follows: N/T Three-Day is June 3, and the regular horse trials opens June 24th.
Cross country courses designed by Tremaine Cooper and Janine McCalin with brand new jumps at for all levels.
Valonia and I competing at Hitching Post yesterday
Even though I was born in the mid-eighties, I grew up watching serious oldies, thanks to my mom. My two sisters and I have fond memories of being cuddled together on our family couch watching movies like, “Meet Me In St. Louis,” “Singing In The Rain,” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Most of our friends and significant others think we are bizarre for not only watching and owning these classics, but for getting together frequently and watching oldies marathons. Because I know these movies inside and out, I can tell you that the 1946 classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, was one of the most popular and uplifting films of its time. The main character George Bailey (James Stewart) ultimately recognizes his life as magnificent, even in its monotonous and drab nature.
Because this particular movie has been a staple in my life, I frequently revisit the charming actors and actresses and the meaning behind the films. Yesterday I competed at a schooling show at Hitching Post Farm and while I was cooling my horse off after a really fun xc course, I paused and thought about my life. I do this on an occasion, and in hindsight I should think about this more often. I am incredibly lucky to be able to do what I am doing right now.
I wake up every morning and ride horses, and then I get to write about riding my horses. I am able to go on long trail rides up beautiful mountains, trails and fields. I can practice my flat work in a large arena with perfect footing. I am able to jump as much as I need to, and I have amazing mentors and friends I can learn from. Getting bogged down in the drama, the chaos and the constant disappointments are common occurrences. We tend to get so caught up in the NOW, that we forget to look at the big picture.
Whether you work in an office from 9-5 and ride before or after work, or you wake up and ride all day and that is your job, perhaps we should pause from time to time and realize how incredibly lucky and fortunate we are. We are able to ride, compete, gallop, jump and so on. We are doing what we love to do, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it. In the midst of the lame horses, the vet bills, the falls, and the bad scores, we should remember that this is a pretty amazing life we have, and we ought to be thankful.
When I start weighing and analyzing the value of numbers, specifically scores, in the sport of eventing, I can’t help but think about Shakespeare’s infamous line from Romeo and Juliet: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet argues that a name is simply a name, and holds no other value. In other words, if Juliet had a different last name, she could have theoretically lived happily ever after with her one true love. You must be thinking what in the heck does Shakespeare and eventing have in common? Welcome to the inside of my brain!
Let me ask the question in a more current manner: What’s in a name? A name can hold tremendous meaning and yet a name can also hold no value at all. For instance, if someone says that they are a Rockefeller descendant that automatically means something. But why should it mean something? Or why does it have to mean everything? To a degree the same can be said about your dressage scores at a recognized show, or a schooling three phase. For me, dressage scores mean everything and almost nothing at the same time. When you get to a certain level in your riding and you basically understand what the judge is looking for when you go down centerline, you should neither be shocked nor upset when you see your scores. You either rode a beautiful and accurate test, or you did the opposite. Of course there are a plethora of different judges out there who are going to score at different ends of the spectrum. But in general, when you reach a certain point in your riding career, you almost become numb to scoring.
HPF H.T May 2014. Valonia
Even though I am quite competitive and I enjoy doing “well” at a show, I still have to hold my ground, and stay true to myself. I try to be very realistic when it comes to scoring. In my mind, if I had a less than ideal test, and my scores reflect the opposite, I am not automatically ecstatic. Similarly, if I thought I had a flawless test, but the scores show that the judge was not on the same page as I was, then I am not going to throw a hissy fit. Yes, I might be confused from time to time, thinking I should have scored higher, or lower at certain venues. But when all is said and done, you have to look at your ride from a more critical and personal point of view. You either were happy with your ride or you were not.
True story. Hitching Post H.T. was last weekend. I took my mare novice. In my mind, I rode a decent test. She was on the aids, obedient and the test felt very accurate with no major hiccups. I came out of the ring feeling content and pleased. A little while later, I notice that I am in 10th place and close to the end of the pack. I was surprised because I thought my test was good considering how much my dressage trainer and I have raised the bar. Even though I was perplexed by my score, I didn’t let that number effect my day, or my upcoming rides.
HPF H.T. Valonia SJ
What did bother me was the fact that random people came up to me, who never even saw my test, or took the time to watch my test, and made quick judgments based on a number they spotted on a score sheet. Lila has a big fancy warmblood who should be winning everything. Or, I beat Lila and Valonia by 5 points. You get the picture. Again, these are just numbers. If you had a mediocre test and felt indifferent about your ride until you saw you were in first place, what sense does that make? Similarly if you has a gorgeous test and scored below average, and felt crushed after you saw your scores, what sense does that make?
I am not here to point fingers at anyone. We all make mistakes at events. Instead of making sweeping generalizations about someone’s ride based on an almost arbitrary number, that you didn’t even bother to watch, perhaps you should just say nothing. Don’t tell someone that you are sorry they scored poorly. Don’t make fun of other people’s scores. We all have our own struggles, and we all have a different partnership with our own horse. Not one single horse and rider at an event is alike. We have to respect each other and support one another. Like I said, even though I am fairly competitive, I don’t think that you can summarize a competitors outing based solely on a number. Again, what’s in a number?
After crawling out of that dark, frigid and lonely indoor this winter, I am starting to get back into the swing of things. Tamarack has officially returned home and I could not be more thrilled about 1) being able to jump outside again, and 2) having other human beings around to interact with. And yet, amidst this overwhelming excitement that the life I have become familiar with has finally resumed, I cannot help but feel the creaky riding, the bad habits resurfacing, and the inevitable layer of rust that built up over the past seven months.
The recent picture taken above might lead you to believe that I am back in the game and that I haven’t missed a beat. Well, that could not be further from the truth. This picture was taken last Friday. This was my first jump school on Skybreaker since Denny returned from Southern Pines. After jumping teeny tiny jumps once a week all winter in about a 30 meter indoor, to say I felt prepared to jump anything over 3 feet would be a massive lie. The lesson started off a bit shaky, but ended up feeling amazing in the end. However, in the beginning of my ride I was questioning the height of the jumps, my ability to get the canter I desired, and my ability to see a distance. I never once questioned Skybreaker’s innate ability to lope over massive jumps. But, I was nervous and feeling completely off my game.
Since I have been getting back into the swing of things, I have been feeling extremely rusty. I watch other riders quietly and effortlessly jump 3’9” courses, and think how can I get back to that place? Or, when I am going to feel like I am IN IT again? Why can’t I ride on my own all winter and come out ahead of the game? What am I doing with my life? Who ever said I could ride? I can’t ride….and so on and so forth. Anyone want to join the pity party?
….and then we landed!
Denny has taught me more than I can articulate. One crucial factoid that has made an everlasting impression revolves around not giving up. So riding horses can be tough at times. So I spent an entire winter alone and miserable…so what? So we can’t all see our distances 100% of the time, so what? So we made a mistake on xc, or we really blew it in that show jump round. We have to learn from our mistakes and move forward.
This is where you have be able to fight for yourself. If YOU don’t think you can do something, or you don’t believe you can do something, then why should anyone else have faith in you? We have to roll with the punches. We have to take criticism, or advice and learn how to progress. I am feeling especially rusty right now, but I have officially made it my goal to prove others wrong. I can do this. I will do this, and there’s nothing anyone can say that will change my mind. If I can figure out how to get back into the game after not competing, or having lessons, or riding outside for seven months, then so can everyone else!
Normally when I am competing, I don’t hear random songs playing in my head. Although today, after competing at Hitching Post Farm, the Beach Boys, Wouldn’t It Be Nice…starting playing in the background of my mind. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice if we all had horses who went down centerline perfectly, and jumped each jump on cross country without hesitation, and proceeded by following up with a lovely stadium round, all the while riding to the best of our ability? Insert hysterical laughter HERE. I always come back to this inevitable reality: even though we are addicted and mentally driven event riders, nobody ever said that eventing was as easy as pie…if it were, everyone would be tied for first place.
I spoke with several buddies today at Hitching Post. One girl said that her horse struggles in dressage, but loves to jump. I spoke with a prelim rider who had a run out on xc. I spoke with a training rider who said she crawled over the last in and out in show jumping. In other words, we all have our off days. We try and we try and we try. We work from sun up until sun down. We do our homework, we practice diligently, and just when we think we have the secret formula, we find something new in our ride that requires tweaking, or altering. This process of rearranging our puzzle pieces can be simultaneously infuriating and alluring.
Again, wouldn’t it be nice to have a perfect ride in all THREE phases? Perhaps this does occur for some competitors. Or perhaps this is a rare occurrence for anyone other than William Fox Pitt? Regardless, we win some and we lose some. If I am going to be perfectly honest here, most of us are not going to win every single event that we enter. Obviously competing does not revolve around blue ribbons, nor should it. A blue ribbon should act as icing on the cake, IF you were happy with how you and your horse performed as a team. Similarly, if you won, but felt like your ride was horrific, what use is the color blue in this instance, other than providing short lived psychological satisfaction?
Valonia…last jump school before HPF
In my opinion, learning how to cope with losing, or coming out in the bottom is far more critical than being a good winner. Learning how to be a good loser is equally as important, because at one time or another, we will all fall under this category. Competing today was a bag of mixed emotions for me. I was pleased, confused, exhausted, excited and slightly bummed out. However, feeling and/or looking completely miserable and being totally unapproachable are not desirable traits.
Even though being a sore loser seems easier at times, at the end of the day, if you and your horse are still alive, walking around, breathing and are generally in normal functioning condition, we/I/you have nothing to be that upset about. There are always more competitions and there are always going to be more opportunities. In theory, eventing offers a slew of possibilities, with more doors at every corner. On the other hand, your attitude, or general demeanor after a less than perfect outing WILL be remembered and might actually start slamming doors that lead towards opportunities. I am not pointing fingers here, but rather speaking out loud, in hopes that my own advice will resonate internally, and that others who have been in similar situations can relate and move forward!
I was thrilled to finally receive my Ride Safe bracelet in the mail; however, figuring out how to actually put the darn thing on was another dilemma I wasn’t prepared for. I thought to myself, “This isn’t brain surgery … One should be able to assemble a simple bracelet!”
I studied the thing for hours. I thought deeply about the mechanics of it. I asked friends and family members, and I even asked an architect — and nothing. This is precisely when I turned my focus over to Facebook. I find that in times of desperation, or utter confusion, there’s likely somebody, somewhere online who has shared a similar experiece.
So, for those of you who are lost and are searching for a “how to put on and assemble your Ride Safe bracelet video” — here ya go!Brought to you by David Wilson! Thanks, David!
Lisa Saabye and Ebella won the Open Preliminary A division. Photo courtesy of Flatlandsfoto.
King Oak held its annual spring horse trials in Southampton, Mass., this past weekend, running divisions from Beginner Novice through Preliminary, with Tremaine Cooper as the mastermind behind the cross-country course. There were some difficulties at the first fence on course — at least for Preliminary and Novice, and some Prelim riders had difficulties at the water — but overall the courses rode well and competitors seemed very happy. I spoke with several competitors, and most were all smiles!
Eliza Eddy and Tuck Everlasting won the Open Training B division. Photo courtesy of Flatlandsfoto.
I don’t know exactly how Saturday went, but Sunday could not have been more ideal for an event — 70 degrees, a slight breeze, and maybe a cloud or two in the sky — what more could you want? The footing could not have been better, both on the trails and in the fields. Everyone seemed especially cheerful for finally being able to gallop and jump in comfortable spring temperatures!
Amie Loring and Marvin Road won the Open Novice D division. Photo courtesy of Flatlandsfoto.
I took my mare Valonia in the Novice division, and after not galloping and jumping cross country for over seven months, she was quite good once we got ticking. Show jumping and dressage felt good, but cross country felt a bit rusty on both our parts. But getting out there and competing felt amazing. King Oak is one of my favorite venues in Area 1 because of the friendly atmosphere, and, above all, the cross-country course offers such a nice blend of fields and trails, and the length of the course encourages horses to really gallop and get into that awesome rhythm that we all know and love.
Hannah O’Brien and Paddington won Beginner Novice Rider B division. Photo courtesy of Flatlandsfoto.
All photos of the blue ribbon holders in this post are courtesy of Joan Davis at Flatlandsfoto. Thank you to King Oak, the secretary, fence judges, volunteers, judges and anyone who helped make the event a huge success. What a fabulous event, and I cannot wait to compete there again.
And, as always, EN’s good friend Thehorsepesterer has a full playlist of videos up on his YouTube Channel. Click here to see the full playlist, and check out Susan Berrill and Young Man on the Preliminary cross-country course in the video below. Go King Oak!
Guess what? GMHA is hosting the Young/Future/New Event Horse Program!
Where: South Woodstock, Vt. If you’ve never been, you’ll want to check it out. This place is GORGEOUS! Historic buildings. Museums. Farms. Moutains. Rivers. Charming in every way … and lots of horse activities at GMHA!
When: June 21, 2014 at the newly restored facility in South Woodstock, Vt.
Why: Come show off and introduce your young horses to the eventing community at GMHA’s low-stress environment. Divisions: yearlings through 5-year-olds, as well as a new category defined by United States Eventing Association called New Event Horse. Yearlings through 3-year-olds will be shown in hand and judged on conformation and gait. The 4- and 5-year-olds and the New Event Horses will be judged in hand for conformation, in a dressage test and over a jumping course, which includes stadium and cross-country jumps. Judges’ comments on the horse’s strengths will help owners understand the horse’s suitability for eventing. The event is open for entries now until June 3, 2014.
Photo courtesy of Flatlandsfoto
Join the fun! A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available for this program! Sponsorship is a great way to support eventing in Vermont while gaining exposure for your business. For details, please contact the Green Mountain Horse Association’s Molly Hutchins at 802-457 1509, ext. 219 or [email protected]. Find information at www.gmhainc.org
Apparently I can only go to a jumper show when the temperatures are less than ideal and it’s raining bucket loads! Yesterday I had a similar experience to my first outing of the year. The weather was disgusting, so I willed myself to make the journey over to GMHA for a casual jumper show. Of course I was punctual as usual, with plenty of time to get situated and learn my course. Apparently I gave myself too much time. I drove into GMHA feeling and looking perplexed, as the parking lot was completely vacant. I thought to myself, stupid me, I probably got the date wrong…IDIOT. I walked into the office and the ladies looked back at me like I had 3 eyeballs. The Ladies: What are YOU doing here? I responded, Um….isn’t there a jumper show this afternoon? The ladies chuckled, we didn’t think anyone would ACTUALLY show up!
As I started gearing up, unloading Valonia, and getting myself situated, I could hear Denny Emerson’s voice in the back of my head saying, people NEED to go to more jumper shows…they need to get in the ring, go jump a round, sit around and wait, then go in and jump another round, and so on and so forth. So despite the pathetic turnout, and despite the low key atmosphere, I was thrilled to jump “away from home.” Here are THREE reasons why $40 bought me more than I bargained for!
Valonia schooling last summer
1) Pressure. Okay, maybe you cannot compare the pressure and anxiety I was feeling to the pressure that Lauren Kieffer, or William Fox Pitt were recently under when they went into show jumping at Rolex, but nevertheless, I was notriding at home, therefore there was a degree of stress. If I can put myself under pressure more often, I will become a better rider and competitor. Not to mention, these shows are perfect for event horses because you can enter as many classes as you desire. At an event, you are given ONE chance in show jumping and that’s it. We need to learn how to ride well and not crumble under pressure. What better way to accomplish this than a local jumper show?
2) Inexpensive. I understand that not every event rider has access to a trailer, or a nearby show, but for those of you who do have access to such availabilities, then the answer is simple. I drove about TWO hours total and spent FORTY DOLLARS and jumped THREE courses, which was equivalent to about thirty plus jumping efforts. Translation: I was given about thirty plus chances to get the canter I wanted and find my distance to any given jump. If that’s not a great deal, I don’t know what is.
3) Determination. GMHA has no clue that they gave me so much more than I paid for, but they did. Here’s why. I have been struggling with locating my inner demon, or my aggressive/pro-active self. This alter ego is the perfect match for my powerful and opinionated mare. She responds extremely well to decisive riding and abhors wishy washy riding. I have been stewing over how to perfect my ride on her all winter and this outing gave me the opportunity to ride like I meant it.
I used to be confused why Denny was so adamant about jumper shows, and now I understand better than ever. Especially schooling jumper shows. Obviously the big fancy recognized hunter/jumper shows and real jumper shows can get pricy. But these small schooling shows are awesome for countless reasons. You get the chance to practice in front of people without having it really count towards anything. You get to ride under a degree of pressure. You can go in the ring as many times as you want. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot…AND IT’S FUN! For all you Area 1ers, check out what other great shows and events GMHA has to offer!
Typical Valonia expression after a fun day at the GMHA mix and match show!
This may seem like an insignificant achievement when compared to the challenges and obstacles that all the Rolex riders experienced this weekend, but nevertheless, Valonia and I made our first 2014 public appearance yesterday at the GMHA mix and match show. You have to start somewhere, right?
Let me set the stage. Friday evening I come home from the barn after finishing up my chores. The trailer is packed and the mare is about as clean as I could hope for under the circumstances. No running water yet because we live in frozenville, combined with a half furry creature translates into: we’ll do the best that we can! I pass out from pure exhaustion around 10 pm only to wake up a few hours later to the sound of torrential rain pounding on our roof. I sat up in my bed, and thought to myself, pouring rain and mid to upper 30’s tomorrow…..am I insane, or am I event rider?
I got to the barn the following morning, only to find even more rain. I told a few people the night before that there was no way I was heading out the driveway in the morning with chilly temperatures and rain. But then that pesky and adrenaline driven voice in the back of my head said, you are SUCH a wimp. Buck up! Get your butt out there and ride. You waited all winter to compete…don’t be such a loser. So that’s what I did.
I was shocked at how many die hard riders were at this little show. There were dressage tests in the large arena, eventing tests in the regular arena, the annual GMHA 15 mile mud ride was going on, and jumper rounds too! The footing, even though semi deep and mucky, was not slippery at all. I entered one dressage test and two jump rounds and could not have had more fun.
The first outing of the year can be daunting for so many reasons, regardless of the level you are at. It’s comforting to know that you are not alone. I spoke with several riders yesterday who said this was their first outing this year. Some said they were happy they stayed in the ring. Others said they were happy they didn’t fall off. Others were happy just to be riding in public. We all have to start somewhere, and I could not have been more pleased with what GMHA had to offer us on a cold, rainy and seemingly miserable day. Thank you GMHA and all the awesome volunteers who stood out in the rain in order to make this show possible!
I traveled to India and Bhutan in 2008 with a group of college students. This picture was taken during one of our hikes in the foothills of the Himalayas. To be able to say that I have hiked in the Himalayas is something I will never, for one second, take for granted. Our group consisted of students from various colleges all over Vermont. We were in Asia for one month and we were studying Buddhist art and religion.
I recall sitting in one of the most breathtaking monasteries one morning after a fulfilling cup of fresh squeezed orange juice and a vegetable omelette. None of us were attempting to become Buddhists overnight, though we were there to learn and embrace the culture. That morning we were all going to meditate as a group. We were sitting in a circle, cross legged on the ground and we were supposed to be incredibly quiet and relaxed. Of course my mind was buzzing. I couldn’t stay focused for more than 30 seconds at a time. Complete relaxation of the mind, combined with an intense amount of focus is something that is very difficult to achieve.
This idea of relaxation combined with a level of hyperfocus recently came to mind. Lindle, or she who makes dressage fun, has returned from her winter in Florida. Translation: Dressage boot camp has officially commenced! I have only had a few lessons so far, but the amount of concentration, relaxation and fitness that is required leaves me completely wiped out at the end of the day. That in addition to shoveling six months’ worth of hay and horse manure. Regardless, when I come in at the end of the day after having ONLY TWO dressage lessons, I am about as useful as a pair of flip flops in the winter.
Riding used to be simple in so many ways. I would get to Hitching Post Farm, hang out with my friends all afternoon, grab my horse and go for a ride. I would proceed by grabbing another horse and riding again. It didn’t matter if I was jumping, doing dressage or just hacking. The amount of deep concentration was relatively speaking nonexistent, at least for a fifteen year old. Of course I had some understanding of what I was doing, but basically I was riding lots of horses and having fun. I don’t recall losing sleep at night, or even experiencing competition jitters. Ignorance is bliss, am I right?
How to get in right to 4’9″…FOCUS!
This is not to say that riding horses isn’t fun anymore. If it weren’t fun, or exciting I would have followed a different path in life. But here I am. I am an open book, waiting to learn more and become a better rider. Once you open the door to knowledge and you accept the fact that you need to gain the appropriate amount of skills in order to move forward in your training, riding all of a sudden becomes exponentially more challenging. I would also argue that one of the most challenging aspects of riding well revolves around the amount of focus that is required. Regardless of what level you are at, or what discipline you associate with, when the inevitable bar has been raised, so has the amount of focus. In other words, raising the level of difficulty in your riding and the amount of focus that is required to achieve a greater level of riding are synonymous.
In recent years, I have found myself becoming incredibly agitated when my ride wasn’t working out, or going as planned. I would get mad because I always expect more from myself and my riding abilities. Come to think of it now, I wasn’t mad because I was exhausted or my horse was being difficult, I was mad because I wasn’t able to maintain that level of hyperfocus. I would float in and out of a place of total conscious awareness, leaving me bobbing like a buoy with no clear direction. Evidently, being able to concentrate 100% on what you’re trying to accomplish is serious work. When you are aware of what you need to do, but cannot tell your body to do what your brain is telling you to do is beyond frustrating. Right now I am more aware than ever of the focus that is required to ride at the level I am riding at. This will only become harder as the bar is raised, but I am fascinated and lured in by the ultimate challenge. If I can start channeling my focus, so can you!
April 18th 2014 will be jotted down as a spectacular day on my riding calendar for several reasons. Today marks the first day this year that THF’s infamous one tree hill was ready for use. I took the beast up the hill this afternoon and we both could not have been happier to get out and about! I walked slowly up to the top of the hill and trotted along the ridge. Once I reached the picturesque tree I stopped and stood still. I glanced down the edge of the mountain and noticed how beautiful the farm looked. How confused I felt in that moment. Literally days ago I had Four Reasons Why Vermont’s Fifth Season Is Disgusting, and yet here I am days after the fact, looking down at what appeared to be a lovely, well-kept farm. How could something appear so daunting when examined up close, look simultaneously attainable and manageable from a distance?
Of course this got the wheels turning and I began thinking about my horses and their training. Both Skybreaker and Valonia are coming nine this year. When I look at them and I sit on them, sometimes all I feel are the holes. I feel something that needs to be fixed, that needs to get stronger and that needs to feel more broke. I feel the errors and the mistakes and I become fixated on what they cannot do. Hiking up that hill FINALLY after months and months of feeling trapped and buried under an endless amount of snow, ultimately shifted my perspective.
Of course there’s a great deal of work to be done on the farm. The fencing needs to be replaced. The paddocks and fields require serious daily attention. There are more sticks on the ground than on tress. And there’s just a ton of work that needs doing. Every time I start cleaning up, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that still needs to be done. And yet, standing with my horse on the top of the hill, I didn’t see an enormous mess and chaos. I saw jumps, the pond, the beautiful old Green Barn, and so much more. I saw potential and I saw what could be done.
I need to start looking at my horses like I was looking at the farm. Yes, there are projects and a ton of work to be done. Nobody ever said working on a horse farm was a piece of cake. But, there are serious improvements that have been made. Similarly, both my horses are going better than they have ever gone. I am starting to envision their success, and I am thrilled with where this is heading. Sometimes we need to step back, leave the farm, go to another country, take a trip, or do something we normally don’t do in order to see the potential and to see and appreciate the progress that has already been made.
The beast at Stoneleigh-Burnham a couple years ago
This was my baby beast competing at Stoneleigh-Burnham several years ago. Take a close look at the slop I’m competing in. Of course event riders compete in rain, shine, mud, sleet, etc. Nobody would ever blame an event on the conditions that Mother Nature dictates. However, I chose this picture because this is precisely what Tamarack Farm looks like right now. There’s basically mud everywhere with more mud right around every corner. Obviously these conditions are not unique to THF, every neighboring farm has a similar appearance. New Englanders actually joke around that we have five seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter and mud season.
Here are FOUR reasons why Mud Season is not conducive for stress free days:
1. Spring Cleaning. In the real world, spring cleaning has a rather different connotation. Spring cleaning for normal people consists of scrubbing windows, cleaning the house from top to bottom and doing some yard work. For horse owners, or anyone living/working on a horse farm understands that spring cleaning requires a great deal more than a little windex and spot remover. Currently I am hauling heavy and sloppy manure and hay that has been accumulating over the course of six months. Every time I think I am getting closer to finishing, I take a look around and feel like I am attempting to dig myself out of a 40 foot tunnel comprised solely of horse crap!
2. Everything looks disgusting. I can’t even take a picture of the farm right now because it’s embarrassing and it’s not how I want the farm to be seen. In the meantime it will be hiding behind rows of trees and maintaining a low profile until the NC crew returns. It’s not just the mud, branches, and slop, but the horses look pathetic too. Their coats are half way gone which makes them look like unidentifiable woodland creatures. All in all, the conditions are border line revolting. I would not recommend any sightseeing this time of the year.
3. Pulling shoes and muddy legs. Oh does Mud Season have its perks! Horses are pulling shoes left and right. Some of us want our horses out as much as possible, and yet we need to get these paddocks and fields dry at the same time. It’s definitely a catch 22. Leave ‘em in, or turn ‘em out? Not only is a muddy horse gross to look at, but mud caked on our horses legs is not beneficial in any way. I am constantly vacuuming and brushing my horses off and attempting to keep their legs clean and dry.
4. Competition Anxiety. For all those upper level riders who have gone to 5 or 6 events so far, you can stop reading now. For those of us who are digging out our show clothes, and scrubbing our tack in anticipation of our first event, keep reading. I have entered two sanctioned events so far and am seriously stressing out over not being prepared enough. It’s one thing to have a month or so before the event to hack, and jump outdoors, but it’s another thing to have your first outside jump school the day of your first event. Not to mention, the snow has JUST started to disappear, but the fields are too wet for any trotting or cantering.
I have more than four reasons why the fifth season is stressing me out … but you get the picture! Can anyone relate with this ultimate state of grossness?
Ariel and Leah at Millbrook last summer. Photo credit to Brant Gamma.
You may know her as the winner of the Carolina International CIC Two Star, or you may have heard about her placing 3rd in the CIC Two Star at the Fork, or you might have heard about her making the 2014 Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program. Ariel Grald has been steadily climbing the ladder in the eventing world and she’s not close to finishing or topping out anytime soon. She has immense goals and tremendous ambition, and with a horse like hers, the sky is literally the limit. Without further ado…
Lila: How old are you and where are you originally from?
Ariel :“I’m 25. I was born in Minnesota, but my parents moved to New Hampshire when I was two so I spent most of my childhood there.”
Lila:How old where you when you first started riding, and how old were you when you first started eventing?
Ariel:“My mother rode horses so I was placed on a horse’s back before I could walk. I was fortunate to have a neighbor’s Shetland pony live at our farm in Minnesota, so I started riding very young. I began eventing at age 8.”
Lila: What was your first event horse, or pony? Describe him or her.
Ariel:“My first event pony was a Welsh Pony/Quarter horse cross gelding named Pinocchio. He was very naughty, and could buck just about anyone off. But he loved to jump! And once I learned how to stay on, we had a great time.”
Lila: What are your fondest memories as a child?
Ariel:“I’m fortunate that I grew up with horses at home. My friends and I rode from dawn until dusk. I guess living in the middle of nowhere has its perks! There were endless places to ride and trails to explore. I also spent a lot of time at Hitching Post Farm in Vermont. I was a part of a great group of girls, who spent every spare minute at the farm, mucking stalls, cleaning tack, anything to be around the horses.”
Ariel and Leah at Millbrook 2013, Brant Gamma.
Lila:I know you graduated from UVM, were you ever torn choosing between eventing, or following a different career path?
Ariel:“After graduating from high school, I wanted to take time off to ride and my mother insisted I go straight to college. At the time, I was frustrated by this, but now I’m grateful; if I had started riding full-time, I don’t think I would have gone to college at all. After graduating from UVM, I worked in a medical research lab for about a year, riding two horses on the side. Once Leah started competing and I realized how talented she is, I knew that I needed to ride and train full-time to accomplish my goals and develop her to her full potential. With undergrad behind me, it was an easy decision for me to focus on my eventing career.”
Lila: Tell me about Leah. How long have you had her? What’s her breeding? What’s your partnership like?
Ariel:“Leah was bred by Kassandra Ladd, of Ladd Brook Farm in New Hampshire. She is out of an Irish Sport Horse mare, by a full Irish Draught stallion named Cradilo. My mother picked out her as a weanling in late 2005. Since I’ve had Leah almost her entire life, I know her inside and out. We really trust each other. She’s always been spunky and opinionated; she likes things done her way. She’s grey and not fond of baths but tolerates them as along as I use hot water. She’s a very sweet mare, but is incredibly strong. She loves to run fast and jump high.”
Lila: How did you get involved with Annie Eldridge, and how has your experience been?
Ariel:“I met Annie just over two years ago through a mutual friend, Karen McCollom. I began riding and competing one horse for Annie, and over time that number has increased. I train out of her Setter’s Run Farm in Southern Pines, NC and Duxbury, MA. Riding for Annie has made so many things possible for me and I’m thankful for her support. She is incredibly kind and encouraging, and has opened up a whole new world of opportunities. She loves all of her horses and I’m lucky to ride them. I’ve gained so much experience over the last couple seasons and have become a much better rider and trainer.”
Lila: How many horses are you currently riding a day? How many are you competing, and what level are they at? Have these horses changed, or improved your riding?
Ariel: “I’m currently riding six horses a day, five of which are actively eventing. I compete two of Annie’s homebreds, SRF Reverie and SRF Full Recovery, at preliminary and training, respectively. Annie owns Wynthrop, who events at the intermediate level. I also competed Annie’s Fernhill Cove through the two-star level, but sadly he’s sidelined with an injury. I also currently compete GHF Jonah, bred and owned by Ann Getchell of Groton House Farm. These horses vary so much in their size, age, experience and competition level. I have to really think about which horse I’m on, what their individual needs are and what works best for each horse to improve and train them. It takes a lot of focus as no two are the same. This helps me work on the intricacies of riding and training.”
Lila: What are your biggest strengths as a rider/competitor?
Ariel: “I love developing trusting partnerships with the horses that I compete. I think that gives them (and me!) a lot of confidence. I truly enjoy the training process and bringing young horses along through the levels. I take as many lessons as possible and strive to be a better rider.”
Lila:What are some of your weaknesses as a rider/competitor?
Ariel:“I tend to over-analyze, particularly in the show jumping. I want to give my horses the best ride possible, but then often end up thinking too much and psyching myself out a bit. I definitely need to work on slowing my brain down and taking a deep breath. Mental focus and clarity are necessary to do well at the upper levels.”
Lila:Do you ever get scared, or anxious at an event?
Ariel:“I don’t feel afraid, but do get nervous before any phase. I’m very competitive, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to pilot my horses well. It’s not about winning, but I want to ride all the horses to their full potential. I would say I have a certain degree of performance anxiety.”
Lila:What are your goals as a rider? Is Rolex on your radar?
Ariel: “Competing at Rolex has been a lifelong goal. I hope to compete internationally at the four-star level as well. I grew up watching endless videos of Burghley, Badminton and Rolex so I’ve always dreamed of one day competing at those venues.”
Lila:If you can, describe your support system…who they are, and what they mean to you and your riding?
Ariel:“Even though she passed away suddenly last year, my mother will always be my biggest fan. She went out of her way to bring me to lessons, clinics and horse shows. She sacrificed so much so that I could pursue my goals. I will always remember the fun we had riding together and going to horse shows. My family is supportive of my goals and come to several events throughout the year. I’m incredibly lucky to have Annie and her husband, Cap Kane, as owners and sponsors. They come to every horse trials. Here in Southern Pines, I have a great network of peers and coaches that help me on a daily basis. I’m extremely thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful people.”
Welcome to Area 1: the snow kingdom! In like a lion out like a lamb? Nope. Try again. In like a lion out like a dragon. This winter will not stop at anything. It’s been relentless and non-stop agony. We are well into April and there’s still a substantial amount of white stuff blanketing the ground. In fact, the jumps out on the xc course at Tamarack Hill Farm are still buried.
Of course there are finally glimpses of spring. There are birds chirping and the snow is starting to melt. The temperatures are finally starting to warm up, well into the mid 40’s! Bye bye long underwear, hello single layer of clothing! On account of spring being fashionably late, event organizers are biting their nails and praying for normal April temperatures.
The first recognized event in Area 1 is UNH, which is meant to take place on April 26-27. I recently had the chance to catch up with the event organizer, Chris Keim, and here’s what she had to about the conditions…
“Here in Durham, we are definitely behind schedule when it comes to melting snow and ice. However, I have seen this happen in the past, and it somehow always works out. The footing on most of our course is solid and well drained, and our course designer does a great job of modifying the sections that are on grass and therefore are more touch and go. I just have to have faith that the course will be ready.
That said, our entries are very low right now– nearly down by half– and if the experience of organizing and preparing for the horse trials weren’t part of our curriculum, it is questionable that I would be as motivated as I am to make the event happen still. Many of our entrants have expressed concern about footing, not having access to XC schooling before the competition and overall not being fit/ready for their level. I think we New Englanders are just being super stubborn and really want our short show season to get started anyway!”
Valonia at Pirouette
Pirouette Farm in Norwich VT is also hoping to kick off the season with their fabulous spring schooling show on April 19th, which may or may not turn into a combined test. I usually compete there in April, but at this point, nobody knows whether or not the grounds will be ready or not for action. Also GMHA, one of my favorite venues has a spring Mix and Match show on April 26th, and their annual 15 mile Mud Ride and Drive on April 26-27. We are all desperately hoping and wishing that these events will actually happen, and of course the organizers and farm owners are also hoping this winter packs up and heads out asap!
Skybreaker looking large and handsome before an outing!
For those of you who know me, or have seen hunk number one and hunk number two, you would know that I have enormous horses. Believe it or not, I never went out of my way to find two Tyrannosaurus rex to ride, and yet these two large bays are dictating my life right now. Personally, I enjoy riding a large horse. I have nothing against a smaller horse, but the large ones lure me in. Of course, a larger, or longer horse can be challenging for obvious reasons. And yet, not until fairly recently have my horses enormous statures proven to be a challenge. All of a sudden, after years of slowly walking them up mountains, I am left with not only two T Rex, but two T Rex with an outrageous amount of strength. So now I am wondering what happens when X + Y > Z?
Didn’t you know, Eventing Nation is now offering math tutoring?! Stay tuned for more on how to sign up and who will be offering their services. For now, I want to return to this equation. “X” stands for Valonia, “Y” stands for Skybreaker, and “Z” stands for yours truly. So, again, I ask, what happens when Valonia’s strength plus Skybreaker’s strength becomes exponentially greater than my strength? Answer: Time to renew, or apply for a gym membership!
Valonia, aka The Beast
Obviously, these two beasts always have been, and will continue to be stronger than I am. That’s just physics. I have been told that I am too small to ride these horses. Several people have told me to my face that I would benefit from gaining fifteen pounds. People whisper and people point, but I crave the challenge. I could care less what people think about this particular situation and whether or not little Lila can ride such gargantuan horses. What I am concerned about, or becoming more aware of is the power and strength that both horses are acquiring. I never, EVER want to say that I cannot physically handle riding Skybreaker, or Valonia because I am not strong enough, or big enough.
I have created this strength and power and now I must deal with it. I have been waiting years for these horses to get to the point where they are strong enough to sit and lift, and to be able to canter like normal horses. I have waited this long for them to be as strong as they are now, and I certainly do not want to be the reason why they cannot move forward in their training. They are becoming harder to sit to, because of the size and buoyancy of their gaits and they require a serious amount of core strength, whether I am jumping or flatting. Thirty minutes of sitting trot on either horse is equivalent to “ab-arobics.”
So, what do I need to do in order to shift this heavily unbalanced equation? I personally detest the gym, or any simulated outdoor exercising, but I do have options. I am going to start either power walking, hiking, jogging, swimming (weather permitted), or kayaking . I’ve always been seriously interested in rock climbing. I can’t wait to start biking, and I’m looking into joining a women’s soccer club!
Valonia Stonleigh-Burnham 2013, taken by the Horse Pesterer
Hands down, the best piece of advice any teacher ever gave me was to review my notes from class that same day, and every day until the end of the semester. Did I swear by this code, and never veer off the tracks towards perfect grades? Of course not. I am human after all. And yet, this advice, as simple as it may seem, holds tremendous value.
I’m guessing thousands of students at one time or another found themselves cramming to study material in one evening that essentially covered an entire semesters worth of information. I’m only guessing this, because I experienced this agony first hand. I’m also guessing at one time or another that thousands of students had wished they had studied that semester’s material all along, so that the information was readily accessible. Setting aside a little bit of time every day to practice and learn does pay off. Similarly, if you go through life skipping steps and never filling in the holes, life has a way of biting you in the rear.
I got to thinking about skipping steps recently and how it applies to riding horses. So many of us want to gallop and jump huge obstacles, or work on flying changes, but there’s a great deal of skill and practice that must go into this formula before you can start reaping the benefits. I would argue that I have skipped some steps that are starting to haunt my riding. Fortunately, for me, the winter months are solely dedicated to practice and awareness. Not a soul sets foot on the farm from December through April, therefore I have myself and my horses to think and worry about. These months may have been tiring, and trying, but they always teach me something when all is said and done.
This winter has revolved around my mare. Fast forward through Valonia’s sassy teenage years, and I’m left with a horse I truly cannot wait to ride every day. Even though she has been a treat to ride, she still has her issues. Some of her favorite games to play are as follows: the wiggle out of connection game; the I don’t need to be THAT straight game; and the Please hold me up, Im huge, therefore Im tired game. Believe it or not, the hardest gait for Valonia is the walk. We struggle in this department, and therefore have skirted around this intolerable process. When things start getting difficult in the walk, I immediately abandoned ship and go to trot, or canter, ultimately thinking our issues have disappeared.
Well, all of a sudden this winter our issues started piling up and overflowing. The problems I never faced in the walk were hurting us in the trot and the canter. Maybe if some random person came and watched me ride Valonia, they might not see such transparent issues. Like I said, my mare is sneaky and has mastered manipulating our rides on a minute level. At some point I knew the walk had to be addressed…so, here’s what I did.
A little over a month ago I dedicated an entire ride to the walk. It was challenging for both of us and took a serious amount of time and patience. I let her walk around on a loose rein, but then we got down to business. I asked that she be soft, connected, through and straight…ALL AT ONCE. Did she take this session like a champ? Heck no. She’s a large opinionated mare…duh! She tried wiggling and squirming her way out. She tried cantering when I asked for her to walk. She tried walking backwards. She did everything she could think of, until she realized I wouldn’t go away. At that point she gave in.
Dedicating that afternoon to the obvious hole that desperately needed to be filled in, ultimately changed my ride for the better. Everything I asked for in the walk, translated into the trot and the canter. Every challenging ride I had last summer seems like ancient history now. At times, skipping steps may seem like a good idea, but with horses, glossing over holes in our training is never a good idea. Approaching the issues head on seems like a much better option. So…what issues do you gloss over, or need to address?
In some ways, riding horses forces people to grow up quickly. There are endless responsibilities and major decisions that constantly need to be addressed. In my opinion, one of the most crucial components to riding revolves around learning how to become a more rational individual who reacts appropriately while in the saddle. Irrational riding never seems like a suitable option because, quite honestly, horses are not the most rational of creatures.
In other words, 1 irrational rider + 1 seemingly irrational horse does not = sane riding. Yes, we may adore our ponies, but they are reactive flight creatures. Therefore, how are we (the riders) meant to react or communicate with such animals, who may at times seem like they are responding to us in an irrational manner? Arguably, this level of rationalization is precisely what separates the mediocre riders from the best riders.
I would consider myself a fairly rational individual. However, to be perfectly honest, I spent countless years hanging out in Irrationalville — you know the town adjacent to KnowItAllTeenageVille? Learning how to react in an appropriate manner, as well as learning how to become more articulate with your riding, takes years. Some riders stumble across this realization earlier in life, but most, like myself, have to struggle through the teenage years before they can grasp this concept.
Either you were this person, you still are this person or you know this person: “My Henry HATES, and I mean HATES dressage.” Or, “Snowflake will never in a million years go near that bank.” Or, one of my favorites, “Buddy won’t do what I am asking him to do; therefore, he is being a BAD horse.” These scenarios are not arbitrary, and we know they exist because we created them. We all have our challenging days. Upper-level riders, lower-level riders, trail riders and everyone else in between experience “off” days, but learning to react in a sane and consistent manner will catapult your riding into the next sphere.
Quite honestly, half the “battles” we have with our horses are derived from not knowing the HOW or the WHAT. Again, this relates to becoming a more analytical and more insightful rider, which is a process that cannot be rushed. It takes time. However, once these issues come to light, and you can pinpoint the concerns you or your horse are experiencing as a team, you can react in a normal manner. For instance, instead of saying that “Buddy won’t do shoulder-in, therefore he is a BAD horse,”try thinking about how you can better explain or ask your questions to Buddy so that he better understands the situation.
Presumably, most of what our job as the rider entails is to set our horse up for success. We want to transfer a degree of confidence. Some horses have an unlimited amount of confidence and need less reassurance, while others need constant encouragement. In order to reassure our horses or set them up for success, we have to ask and explain to them in the clearest of manners. In other words, we can’t all of a sudden freak out and become exasperated when “Darla” is spooking, running sideways or does absolutely nothing. We have to react and respond to them in a logical manner. We have to keep our cool and, at times, show them the way. The more rational we can be with our riding, the more likely our horses will react in a positive manner.
Several working students watching a cross-country school in 2012. Photo taken by Denny Emerson
The year was 2008. Denny and I were enjoying a leisurely hack on a crisp autumn morning. Knowing Denny, our conversation most likely ranged from local politics to environmental issues and land conservation. Everything seemed to be perfect. I was sitting on a horse before 9 a.m. and knew there would be more horses to ride as the day progressed. I didn’t have to be anywhere specific or check in with anyone. My responsibilities were minimal, if you were to include any other engagements outside of Tamarack Hill Farm. We were probably 30 minutes away from the barn when our conversation took an unexpected detour, which ultimately changed my life in an instant.
Denny: “Ya know, you can’t be a working student forever … So, what exactly are your plans for the future?”
I was not only completely caught off guard in that moment, but never in a million years thought I would have to answer this question, so instead of replying intelligently, I said, “Um, well … I have no idea.”
Denny: “Well, this is something you need to consider and start thinking about.”
Dun Dun DUNNNN…
The majority of my life has been spent in a classroom or on a horse. For me, education was never an option. Nobody ever asked if I wanted to finish high school or become a college graduate. The answers to these questions were always implied, which I am incredibly grateful for. Because I am a super nerd, school was never an inconvenience, but rather an exciting journey that simply broadened my narrow horse-influenced vision. Even though the thought of going to class and writing papers, at times, seemed alluring, I never once thought that I had to pick a career. In other words, I blindly walked through life assuming I wouldn’t have to choose a career because a horse career would magically fall into my lap.
Growing up as a barn rat and living the life of an aspiring young event rider shaped my life. I would not trade this life experience for anything. Yet, being young, ambitious, financially unstable, jobless and event-rider driven inevitably changed my perspective on how the world functions. Let me break it down to the lowest common denominator. In order to become a “big time event rider,” you arguably need to have one or more of the following assist you in this trying process:
Be independently wealthy
Be funded by individuals or groups
Be sponsored
Have “THE” Horse
Be an outstanding rider and competitor
Give up your “outside” interests and sell your soul to eventing (i.e. spend your summers up north, spend your winters down south and travel to all the major events on the East Coast … which, the last time I checked, tallies up to an outrageous expense.)
I would be lying if I said I am not, at times, envious of those living the “four-star life.” I dream about competing at the upper levels. I also dream about showing up at my barn in the morning with a cup of coffee in one hand and a barn full of top event horses anxiously waiting to be ridden. Is it too late for me to live this kind of life? In my opinion, it absolutely is too late because I want more out of my life than just competing, which was a difficult but necessary realization. Don’t get me wrong; a huge part of me wants the Sinead Halpin or Micheal Pollard life, but not only is this incredibly unrealistic, but it’s never been do or die for me. For a lot of competitors, it is do or die.
I want to dedicate this blog to anyone who grew up thinking they were on the road to Rolex but couldn’t support that dream and had to enter the “real world.” I also want to encourage anyone working an outside-of-the-barn job who still is an avid rider or competitor to stick with it. Obviously not all of the event riders out there are going be super-duper four-star event riders. There’s a reason why there are a select number of these individuals. This does not mean that we can’t be competitive at local events, and this certainly does not mean that we can’t dream big with our one or two horses. I said it once, and I’ll say it again — that trail ride back in 2008 changed my entire mentality and life decisions. Some people can be working students for an indefinite amount of time, but most will have to face hard cold facts at some point or another.
One of the coolest parts of my life is not knowing what horse(s) I will be riding on any given day, week, month or year. Currently I am riding four horses, and they could not be more different from one another, and yet the lessons I have learned from each horse can be transferred at any moment, on any horse.
Door # 1: Skybreaker, the coming 9 year old. Skybreaker, also referred to as the “Lump,” or “Bubbu,” has a Labrador personality. He is the epitome of low key, and casual. Nothing really ruffles his feathers. His favorite gait is the halt, and yet he is the only horse I have jumped 4’10 on. Mentally this horse has been pretty easy for me to ride. I hate to stereotype here, but he basically rides like an easy going gelding. There are no hidden agendas, or major tricks up his sleeves. He is really consistent and gives me about the same level of work and energy on a daily basis.
Physically this horse has been a challenge to say the least. My dressage trainer, Lindle (She who makes Dressage fun) would back me up on this. In the beginning, this horse was like riding a roller coaster, a giant slinky rubber band, and a two-by-four, all rolled into one horse. You got hurled forward and tossed around like a rag doll. He barely could steer and to say he was unsteady in the bridle would be a major understatement. Fast forward a couple years and this horse is starting to learn about self-carriage, a quicker high end, better overall balance, and he is mentally checked in. Skybreaker has taught me many lessons, but the most important thing I have learned from him is that this process takes time.
Valonia, OT, Hitching Post
Door #2: Valonia, also coming 9 years old. How to put this accurately? Valonia is one interesting mare. She is not mareish in the traditional sense of the word. There’s not one part on her body that’s “off limits.” She doesn’t kick, or bite humans, though she may let out a high pitched squeal to her neighbor once in a while. This horse has been challenging since day one. She has a bold personality and thinks very highly of herself. One large ego + one large mare = you’d better learn how to ride when all is said and done! “V,” as I call her, could be stereotyped in the mare riding department as she is the queen of hidden agendas, and tricks up her sleeves. Honestly, I don’t know what each ride will be like ahead of time. She is constantly throwing curveballs towards me, and only just in the last year have we started to share a mutual understanding. This horse is mentally and physically a challenge to ride, and yet she is by far the coolest horse I have ever owned, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything! Valonia has taught me more than I can say, but most importantly she has taught me how to ride more effectively, and be a more confident rider.
Chai the super pony!
Door #3: Chai, coming 5 year old. I have only had this Connemara cross since last fall. I bought her as a lesson pony. She is cute to boot! It’s a treat riding something so compact and so easily influenced by the rider. She is not mareish, and rides almost like a gelding, except she’s slightly more tuned in. She is a little sensitive like a lot of mares, but mostly she loves to work. She is super athletic and ready to go all the time. She might be my easiest horse to ride because she is mentally and physically straight forward. Her education is limited at this point, but she shows up to class everyday eager to work, which is a treat. Compact horse + super brain =she’s a keeper! This super pony has taught me to chill out and be less intense.
Suki, OTTB mare
Door #4: Suki, 7 year old. This mare is owned by a friend and neighbor, Jocelyn Thibodeau. I came about riding this mare because Jocelyn had an unlucky sliding door, finger incident. Suki is an OTTB, and has been a joy to ride, because her owner has put in the time and patience. She is sensitive, forward, smart and willing. She is very different from my other horses, except some of her mind games teeter on the edge of Valonia’s playing field. I personally have not sat on an OTTB in some time now, and Suki has reminded me what it’s like to ride a powerful and intelligent TB. At times this mare gets flustered, does not appreciate last minute change, and hates feeling trapped. She has reminded me to stay soft, while offering clear parameters. If you are fair in how you ask your questions, this mare will happily respond. If you are unclear or become agitated, forget about having any conversation. Suki has taught me to ask clear questions and give her time to respond to those questions.
How can all this be translated? Well, yours truly made a diagram…
Jumping my Conn x pony this summer
