Lila Gendal

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Looking Back and Ahead!

By Lila Gendal on Dec 31, 2013 1:00 pm -

Skybreaker fall 2013!

Its negative eight degrees in Strafford VT, and I’m sitting by the fireplace on New Year’s Eve wishing it were a warm sunny day! I’m also thinking about how New Year’s revolves around resolutions, and what people plan on doing in the following year differently. Perhaps you made mistakes in 2013, or have bad habits you are trying to kick, or maybe you have particular goals you want to meet in 2014. Whatever the changes, the goals, or the mistakes, this time of the year is a special one for several reasons. For me, instead of honing in on all the mistakes, the misfortunes, the agony, and the losses, I want to remember 2013 in a positive light and look towards the future as inspiration and motivation!

2013 was a summer of firsts and discoveries. The picture above shows the first time I jumped 4’9” on Skybreaker, a horse I never thought I would be lucky enough to ride, or compete. This summer I began my own business that I created from nothing, LG Equine Media. I never thought it would be possible to do what I love doing from home. All those emails, those phone calls, and those interviews finally paid off. This summer I learned how to jump my mare Valonia. I have been jumping her since 2009, but only this summer did I REALLY discover how she wants to be ridden, which has only opened up an exciting new avenue towards communication and a better a relationship.

Valonia Aug Huntington Training

In 2013, Skybreaker and I came to an understanding in dressage, mostly because his fitness hit an all-time high. I also learned a lot more about conditioning a horse, and I did my very first ten, and fifteen mile competitive trail ride on a horse I never thought could walk and trot that far. Earlier this winter, after the entire farm packed up and left, I began really thinking about and tweaking my ride on Valonia. This summer I struggled with her flatwork and her strength, but now all of a sudden, I have a whole new horse on the flat and couldn’t be more excited about her future.

I am so excited for 2014 and here’s why:

-More competitions next year at Training level, with a goal of tackling a Prelim in the fall.

– LOTS of jumper shows and even a dressage show or two!

– improve my jumping eye

– hone in on my inner aggression before leaving the start box

– improve my ability to ride on the flat

-spend more time with my friends and family

-improve our home, landscaping, gardening, etc

-set aside time to relax and enjoy the summer

-spend time at Sunnyside

-teach lessons

Our First Ten Mile CTR

So…what are you looking forward to in 2014?!

Does The Thrill Subside?

By Lila Gendal on Dec 29, 2013 9:00 am -

Skybreaker stepping over the last fence at Huntington 2012

Considering we are currently in the crux of the Holiday season, materialism, consumerism, and instant gratification come to mind. The thought of receiving and purchasing an unlimited amount of gifts, only to forget about, lose, or misplace those items twenty-four, to forty-eight hours after the 25^th of December isn’t exactly conducive to bettering human kind. Rather, this gift giving extravaganza routine has become more about quantity, and maxing out your credit cards, than it is about celebrating life.

Don’t get me wrong, Christmas happens to be one of my favorite holidays, but these are the reasons why: time spent with my family; thoughtful cooking; the smell of Christmas trees; wreath making parties, music and so much more. Gifts and spending money are my least favorite things about the holidays. Perhaps this idea of instant gratification is the reason why Christmas has a brief shelf life, and is forgotten about shortly after. Once the 26^th, or the 27^th rolls around, people are back to their desks and life resumes. Trees are burned, or dropped off in the backyard, ornaments, and other holiday trinkets are placed into the “Christmas Box,” and stored away until the next go around. Life as you knew it continues after the brief and expensive holiday week.

This sport called eventing that we all have come to know and love, doesn’t seem to have a shelf life at all. In other words, there’s some instant gratification within this sport, but there’s also an extreme amount of waiting and pursuing, which must account for some of its appeal. Of course there’s the childhood dreams of riding and owning your own pony. There’s the avid competitors who cannot wait until the next event. There’s the work ethic, the dedication, the love, the mental and physical devotion, and more. But there’s something to be said about the delayed gratification that corresponds with eventing.

valonia at Stoneleigh Burnham 2013

I never really understood those girls I grew up with that seemed like die hard event riders. They were at the barn seven days a week. They mucked stalls, took lessons, and competed every other weekend. They seemed as addicted as I was. Time passed, and some stuck with it, while others dropped off the face of the sport. For some, I suppose the thrill subsided, or there was a lack of funding, or real life interrupted their addiction. In other words, college redirected their focus, or husbands and babies became the focal point, or they quite simply lost interest, or never had the real interest to begin with. Whatever the reasons, some girls I grew up with are not at the stables, the events, hanging out by the trailers, or walking their courses anymore.

From my perspective, I cannot imagine leaving this world behind, for anything. This is the world I know, am familiar with and have worked so hard for. I may only be going Novice and Training, but I never gave up and never stopped, mostly because this sport has a way of hooking you in, and leaving you every day wanting more. I feel as though I have so much to learn still. I feel like I have an immense amount of practicing to do and there are competitions that I cannot wait to attend. There are literally years that have been put into my two horses, and I am just now starting to reap the benefits of my training and their fitness. If this sport were solely based on instant gratification, perhaps there would be fewer followers, competitors and the entire eventing world would drastically shrink. For me, the thrill and the challenges that correlate with this sport will never subside.

Christmas is a Time to Reflect

By Lila Gendal on Dec 25, 2013 10:30 am -

My niece and I baking cookies at my mom's house! (photo taken by Anya Gendal)

As I stood fully garbed in my Carhartt winter suit this morning, while mucking my stalls, I got to thinking about the holidays and what Christmas really means to me. When you’re a small child, Christmas means one thing: GIFTS and MORE GIFTS. I remember scavenging around the house as a kid desperately looking for my parent’s secret hiding place. Of course, once my sisters and I found that forbidden location, we would compare not only the size of each of our gifts, but the quantity of presents as well.

None of us girls could ever sleep on Christmas eve from the sheer thought of the surprises and excitement that the following morning would bring. Finally, 5 or 6 a.m. would roll around, and we would hurl ourselves out of bed and sprint downstairs, only to find no parents waiting. One of us would start the coffee maker while the other abruptly woke our up our parents.

Christmas has evolved with age. Time changes the way you see the world and how you digest different meanings. For me, the holidays are about giving, remembering and being incredibly appreciative. I have a tremendous amount to be thankful for this year, as I do every year. It’s so easy to get caught up in the minuscule world of eventing, where you and your horse are the only ones and only things that really matter.

But, there’s so much more to life than the start box, your ability to see a distance and the timing of your half halt. Of course I adore, appreciate and wouldn’t change my life for anything, but at the end of the day, it’s about your life and all the moments leading up to now that make you who you are. Happy Holidays, and remember to think about what it is about this time of the year that you truly cherish and why!

Confessions From An Obsessive Compulsive Over Analyzer

By Lila Gendal on Dec 23, 2013 9:00 am -

Valonia at Pirouette Farm (photo taken by May Emerson)

Why would I throw away perfectly good money on therapy when I can divulge my inner most thoughts with all you die hard Eventing Nation followers? I must confess, I come from generations of border line obsessive compulsive and overly analytical folks, therefore I was doomed from the get-go. Although, this mental state is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact, several members in my family, including yours truly, have actually embraced this state of being.

There are a considerable number of benefits that accompany this mental state. For starters, whoever suffers from OCOA (obsessive compulsive over analyzer) will appreciate the fact that we are all incredibly organized. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am the queen of To Do lists. I leave ink reminders on my hand. I leave sticky notes everywhere, and I send myself email reminders so I don’t forget to do something. Call is crazy, call it organized, call it whatever you may like, but this girl would never have graduated from college if it weren’t for those don’t forget to do…today notes. We also pay close attention to details. We lose sleep at night thinking about important tasks, and about our loved ones (obviously horses included). The list goes on and on.

Unfortunately, OCOA comes with a list of baggage as well. As an avid event rider, my OCOA gets in the way frequently. Let’s say I have a horrific lesson (true story). I cannot see a distance to save my life, while others are cantering circles around me. Ultimately, the lesson ends with a fight and I replay the events over and over again, until my internal remote practically freezes from over use. I become enraged and every thought is consumed by the lesson I had two days ago. Where did I go wrong? Why can’t I figure this horse out? What am I missing? What am I doing with my life? Am I supposed to be a rider? I really don’t know how to ride….maybe I should find something else to do.

Skybreaker xc schooling this summer (photo taken by May Emerson)

Raise your hand if you’ve ever lost sleep over a ride, a lesson, or a competition, or asked yourself if you should really be riding at all? Reassure me that I am not the only rider who questions herself, while replaying her thoughts, decisions and training repeatedly? Selling your soul to eventing, or coming close to selling your life to this sport can be simultaneously amazing and dangerous. Yes, we have all consented, and signed on the dotted line below. We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we chose this way of life, or at least we thought we did. And yet, did we remember to factor in the rage, the seemingly unattainable goals, the headaches, mind aches, body aches, and the never-ending questions about our horses? Before we signed the arbitrary document, did we contemplate the hardships, and the long lost nights of sleep? Of course we didn’t think about the side effects when we signed up for this life because we were under the event riders spell, and lured in by gorgeous horses, and thrill seeking competitions.

A wise Professor in college once told me, “we don’t choose our paths, our careers, and our lives, instead those paths, those careers, and those ways of life choose us.” I have no idea if this philosophical statement is valid or not, but the concept is perplexing nevertheless. Regardless of my Professors insight, life spent on a horse farm seems to have countless more pro’s, than it has con’s. Yes, I have lost sleep at night thinking about and obsessing over my cross country course for the following day, or why my horse seems unsound, or why I can’t ride better. These are common fears and thoughts. Perhaps I am not the only victim suffering from OCOA, perhaps you cannot own, ride and compete a horse without having a drop of OCOA in your blood?

She Who Makes Dressage Fun

By Lila Gendal on Dec 19, 2013 9:00 am -

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at Olympia. Photo by Kit Houghton/FEI, used with permission from the FEI Photo Database.

Everywhere you look online, people are covering, sharing, tweeting and “liking” the news on this unstoppable and remarkable pair. For those of you who haven’t heard, a couple days ago, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (the 2002 gelding sired by the legendary KWPN stallion Negro) won the Grand Prix at the FEI World Cup Dressage leg at Olympia. The Grand Prix results determined which riders would go through to the following day’s Grand Prix Freestyle final. Of course, Charlotte and Valegro showed up the next day, and not only won the Freestyle, but broke the record with a score of 93.975% which demolished the 91.8% record that was set by Edward Gal at Olympia in 2010.

To be perfectly honest, dressage was never at the top of my “fun things to do today” list. I have always been drawn to extreme adventures and that feeling of adrenaline pumping and rushing through my veins. Downhill ski racing, taking a tube to the top of an icy and steep hill and sledding down, galloping and jumping on cross country, and I have always wondered what it would be like to drive a race car once around a track? Perhaps I was too ignorant, or maybe I was too young to appreciate the beauty and the art of dressage, or perhaps I never sat on a truly schooled and spectacular dressage horse in my earlier years. Truth is, my total lack of interest in dressage did a 360 in 2006.

I remember the first time I heard the contagious laughter coming from the outdoor ring. I was sweeping, or pretending to look like a productive working student when I heard Lindle Sutton (a former grand prix dressage rider) laughing with the barn manager, who at the time was Tory Emerson. I couldn’t help but start laughing, even though I had no idea what was going on. I also knew I had to immediately sign up for a lesson, because whoever makes dressage that much fun and interesting deserves an award.

It didn’t take long for me to get in on the fun. One of the first lessons I had was on Lindle’s gorgeous big bay Hanoverian gelding, “Buddy.” She told all of us girls at Tamarack that we could each have a lesson on him. Why she thought any of us could ride him was beyond me, but I was not about to question her motives. If she wanted us to ride her amazing horse, I was game! I think he was at least a 4^th level horse, but I can’t quite remember. What I do remember was barely being able to sit his trot. I remember he was the fanciest, biggest moving, and smartest horse I ever sat on. I was still a fairly green rider at the time and didn’t know what to expect. I tried turning him right and he went left. I tried asking for the canter and he walked. I asked for a medium trot and he took off down the long side. It was hilarious and unforgettable.

Skybreaker inspiring me in dressage!

I have been working with Lindle for over seven years now. She has not only changed my riding, but my entire attitude towards dressage. She pushes, motivates, inspires, and supports me. I never thought I would meet anyone that could make dressage as exciting as she does. She is very honest and no matter what makes me laugh every time I see her. I could be having the worst ride of my life; I could have my horse walk backwards and almost fall into the pond, or have my horse take out a jump standard while attempting a 10 meter circle, and like magic, she will have my tumbling over laughing within 30 seconds. I want to thank she who makes dressage fun for helping me become a better rider, trainer and person in the last seven years!

So Much About Physics

By Lila Gendal on Dec 16, 2013 9:00 am -

A trebuchet. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

When I was in 10th grade in high school, my physics teacher gave us all a very challenging but fun final exam. We were going to team up in groups of four and build a trebuchet. A trebuchet is a siege engine that was originally used in the Middle Ages. It’s also referred to as a “counterweight trebuchet” because the whole thing works by using the energy of a raised counterweight to throw a projectile.

In order to get an “A” in the class, our trebuchets had to be able to hurl a cabbage 100 feet. Your grade went down a letter for every ten feet under 100. My team was comprised of four girls, and we were not expected to do very well because females apparently cannot build anything. Ha! Well, not only was our trebuchet solidly put together, but we threw the second furthest in our entire physics class and received an A.

I got to thinking about how horses and riding revolves heavily around physics. Lindle and Denny are constantly saying things like “It’s just physics … think about it.” Which brings me to my very first dressage lesson with Denny … a memorable one. Not only was I completely terrified, but I had no idea what to expect, as this was my very first lesson with him ever. The first five minutes were humiliating to say the least. My position was all wrong. I was staring down at my horse’s neck. My stirrups were the wrong length. My hands were too wide apart. I couldn’t get my horse on the bit to save my life. The list goes on and on.

Within the first 10 minutes, Denny got on my mare while I stood on the ground watching. He was explaining to me that horses and riding horses is so much about physics. He would ask me a question, such as: What is her inside hind leg doing right now? I would pause and think to myself … um, well … I think. Denny would stop me and say: The inside hind leg is the weight-bearing leg. She has to sit and lift. Literally, she has to squat down and lift her own weight. She has trouble doing this. You do it. I responded: Huh? Denny asked me to squat while I was walking. He told me to squat lower. Finally, I realized what was going on.

Valonia coiling before a jump.

Denny has this amazing way of explaining a concept so that anyone can understand it. He asks and quizzes you on daily basis, which makes it impossible to not learn. I never realized how much of what we do and what we are trying to do revolves around physics. A horse that can sit, and lift, and carry himself or herself is going to have a much easier time in dressage and jumping compared to a horse that tries to hurl himself on his forehand every day.

Of course, there’s a great deal of other factors that go into our horses and our riding, but when stripped down to the lowest common denominator, horses can be looked at and thought of in a mechanical way. How are things put together on this horse? Why can this horse jump the way she does and this horse can’t? Why is it easier to jump when my horse’s head is the highest body part? Why can’t I attempt flying lead changes in this strung out canter? All these questions can be answered when you examine them from a mechanical point of view. It’s so much about physics, really.

Self-Doubt?

By Lila Gendal on Dec 10, 2013 4:30 pm -

Valonia 2012 Huntington

When I was in kindergarten, I remember every single day I would dread snack time or lunch time. The thought of eating with all the other boys and girls made me incredibly anxious and terrified. I’m not entirely sure where this fear originated from, but nevertheless I couldn’t bear the thought of breaking bread with another child. Perhaps it was my deep-rooted phobia of human interaction, or perhaps I had social or psychological issues that needed attention. Maybe I was just an extremely timid little girl. Anyways, I have vivid memories of me asking my teacher if I could to the girl’s locker room every day during lunch. I would quietly grab my lunch box and head down the hallway. I pulled the shower curtain open, crawled inside and opened my lunchbox and ate in silence.

From as far back as I can remember, I have dealt with self-doubt, alongside a shaky amount of confidence. I had a wonderful childhood, and my two sisters and my parents were amazing. Perhaps it was impossible for three out of the three girls to be confident and extroverts. Perhaps there had to be one shy one to even out the family dynamics. People have also suggested that the middle child tends to be the thinker, the inquisitive one and the introvert. I don’t know if this theory holds any validity for all middle children or just in my family.

Eventually, I grew up and my utter shyness and my total insecurities transformed into dry sarcasm and a somewhat cynical personality. Wow, I bet I am going to get hundreds of people to “like” me on Facebook after reading this article … NOT! Truth is, no matter how amazing a rider you are, we all have self-doubt from time to time, am I right? It’s impossible for equestrians to not doubt their riding, their training, or their decisions from time to time.

Valonia GMHA 2012

What really got me thinking about these insecurities and these moments of self-doubt is the fact that I am about to have the farm completely to myself. The Emersons are heading south in a couple of days, and Lindle, my dressage trainer extraordinaire, just left for Florida a couple days ago. Part of me enjoys having some down time and less chaos to deal with, and part of me can’t stand it, mostly because I doubt my riding and my abilities. Am I asking my horse to do this correctly? Or, was I right to be more demanding in that moment, or was I too hard on him? Or, what if I am teaching my horse bad habits, or what if I am not pushing myself or my horses hard enough this winter? Or, what if I can’t see a distance to save my life? WHAT IF, WHAT IF, WHAT IF … ?

At some point, we all need to trust in ourselves and be confident in what we know and what we have learned. If we have questions, there must be others who are willing and are available who might be able to answer those questions. I personally have about four people I can always count on when I am unsure or doubting my riding in these winter months. I find that most riders can relate and are open to discussing or talking through various horse topics. That’s the beauty of horse people; we all go through similar spells in our riding and our training at one point or another.

Self-doubt is an obnoxious state of mind. Questioning our motives, our decisions, and our abilities can be a good thing sometimes, but can also be detrimental. I think it’s important to question our riding and our training frequently so that we can gain more knowledge and depth, but not to the point of diminishing our every move. Yes, I once ate lunch in a girl’s locker room every day because I doubted my ability to make friends. Yes, I have doubted my decisions as a rider and a trainer. Eventually, we have to learn from our insecurities and decide whether or not we want to fall victim to our own minds or not. So, how often do you doubt your abilities as a rider and a trainer?

My Very First Indoor Jumper Show!

By Lila Gendal on Dec 8, 2013 3:30 pm -

sorry no pics from the show-too busy learning my classes

I’m not sure how I survived the last fifteen winters without ever attending an indoor jumper show? Maybe I didn’t have a horse at the time. Perhaps I stopped riding in the winters when I was young and had no body fat. There were all those years when I was in school. I probably didn’t have access to a trailer. The list goes on and on. Regardless, I sure was missing out big time!

Yesterday was my very first indoor jumper show, at Stoneleigh-Burnham School. Thousands of things could have gone wrong, which explains why I am always in panic mode before going to a show. Even though I have trailered horses plenty of times, I still to this day have a pain in my stomach when I think about how I am completely responsible for the lives of whatever horses I am hauling. Perhaps that feeling goes away after some time….but it still makes me anxious and overly cautious. Other things that could have gone wrong…one of my horses could have kicked the other one. I could have forgotten some of my tack. I could have had a flat tire. There are always things that can go wrong, and yet this trip, to my surprise, was smooth sailing.

So my friend and I show up around 1:30 in the afternoon at Stoneleigh. We walk inside to the viewing area and try and learn our courses. Jumper shows, and horse shows are totally different worlds from our little eventing world. People are yelling at each other where to go, and which jump to jump next. There are divisions, and classes, and jump offs, and power and speed rounds, and so much more. Furthermore, I noticed all the riders seemed to know exactly where they were going, and what they were supposed to do.

Valonia this summer

Luckily everyone was incredibly nice and helpful. At one point, I walked right in the ring as someone was finishing their round. I assumed she was done and it was my turn, so I picked up a canter. Only, she had a jump off to do still. Woops-sorry! This is new for me! She responded, no worries! Like I said, everyone was really nice and patient with the event rider who was out of her comfort zone.

I sort of thought this show was going to be very low key, with minimal pressure and very few people watching. HA! That was the not the case. Not only was I frantically trying to learn all of my courses, and jump offs, my heart was pounding. I was pretty nervous. There were several riders, all jumper riders from what it looked like, and plenty of people viewing from inside the office. The pressure was on. I did two classes on each of my horses, and my very first round I felt like a deer in the headlights. Crap, where am I going? Shoot, that was a long spot. ERG, I almost missed number 8-wait, yes I did miss number 8. DANG IT. Luckily the second round on each horse went more smoothly, and I learned from my mistakes.

Overall, the jumper show was an amazing experience and I totally understand why Denny tells us all that we need to go to more of these. For starters:

It’s great to get in and out of the ring.
It’s important to ride under pressure and out of your comfort zone.
It’s good for your horses to jump a round, and hang out and wait to jump another round.
It’s good to find out where you are at in your riding and training.
It’s good to leave the farm from time to time.
It’s good to jump more courses than you’re use to.
It’s good to memorize several different courses all at once.
It’s fun to have something to look forward to this time of the year!

There are hundreds of reasons why jumper shows are valuable experiences, and these are just a few. Can’t wait for the next show!

A Tale of Two Horses

By Lila Gendal on Dec 4, 2013 3:00 pm -

Sarah Huebner and the amazing Newsbeat!

It’s hard to know where to begin. I don’t know how many event riders have sat on, owned, leased or borrowed a horse that changed their riding careers. I don’t know how I got so incredibly lucky, but I have a story to tell about two amazing horses. Even though I didn’t own either horse, and even though I only competed each horse for one competition season, both these horses changed my life, and for that I am forever grateful.

It all began in 2009. It was my third summer at Tamarack Hill Farm, and one of the working students from Colorado had returned for another summer of fun. Sarah Huebner and I quickly became friends, and before I knew it, she had offered me her 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Newbeat, better known as Duke. Sarah had competed Duke through Intermediate and had learned everything she could possibly learn from him and knew it was time for him to teach someone else. That someone else was me, and I could not have been more excited!

More of the Super Duke!

Truth be told, the first time I got on Duke and attempted some flat work, I was a little concerned. He was slightly unorthodox in some ways, and I could barely get him on the bit. How the hell am I going to ride this horse? Duke had had some time off and needed to get fit and in the groove again. It didn’t take long before we were on the same page. Denny and Sarah helped me a ton and encouraged me all along the way. Duke was unbelievable to jump — pretty much point and fire away. He knew his job and was such a great teacher. If you messed up and buried him into a large oxer, he would try his heart out, but if you kept riding him poorly jump after jump, he would eventually run out. When rode correctly, he did whatever you wanted.

I only was able to take him to two events that summer. I’ll never forget when I went into dressage at GMHA and nailed it. Went it show jumping and nailed it. I found out I was in second place after show jumping, and cross country was the next day. I went clean on cross country and stayed in second place place. I had never experienced this kind of horse on cross country. He knew what his job was, and he was a cross-country machine. That fall, the amazing TB went south with Sarah. He was briefly leased to another young event rider and unfortunately has now passed away. His memory still lives on. That was most certainly a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Ask Sarah, ask me or ask anyone who saw him.

Loftus Fox 2010 GMHA (Training)

Then there was the summer of 2010 with Loftus Fox, Denny’s imported Irish Sport Horse gelding that had competed (very successfully) through Prelim. One summer afternoon, I remember Denny asked me if I wanted to start hacking Lofty. I of course said YES! Weeks later, Denny asked if I wanted to start doing some flatwork on him? My answer … YES! Again, some weeks passed by, and he asked if I wanted to jump Lofty. My answer … ARE YOU SERIOUS? HELL YEAH! I jumped Lofty and felt as though I was on cloud nine. What a great horse and teacher. Shortly after I started jumping him, I entered a couple events. Same deal as with Duke. I took Lofty to Huntington and actually won. I remember standing outside the show jumping ring with a friend, and she asked me, “How the hell did you get the ride on Lofty?” I said, “I have no idea, but this horse is seriously amazing.”

I took Lofty to GMHA in August at Training Level and was second. He was unbelievable, and I thought how often does a girl get to ride a horse like Duke one summer, and then a horse like Lofty the next summer? I had never sat on a more schooled horse in my life. Lofty was always enthusiastic about working and always tried really hard. Lofty unfortunately is not with us anymore, but he was one special horse. He really had it all. He was a lovely mover; he was scopey and careful in show jumping; and he was also a cross-country machine. He wanted to jump, and he was really good at it. What an amazing and unforgettable horse!

Lofty over the skinny GMHA 2010

To Sarah Huebner and Denny Emerson, thank you so much. Both these horses taught me more than you will ever know. I am one lucky girl and will never let go of these memories and lessons learned.

Making Every Foot Count

By Lila Gendal on Dec 2, 2013 1:30 pm -

Dressage indoors at July Stoneleigh-Burnham with the beast.

As the weather progressively gets worse, the size of our indoor becomes increasingly smaller … quite literally. Currently, there resides two tractors, one bumper pull two-horse trailer, a skid steer and an enormous dually farm truck. I think that might be it, although I may be forgetting something. The equipment has been jam packed in there like sardines. I have put standards and rails in front of the equipment just to be on the safe side and to give myself a visual for corners and straight lines along the short side.

Everyone always asks me, “How much of the indoor do you get this year?” I usually respond with the following: “As much as Rett will let me have!” In other words, I get what I get and am thankful I can even ride indoors! Would it be nice to have a full indoor to myself all winter? Most definitely. It would also be nice to have a heated indoor twice the size with rubber footing, but that’s wishful thinking! Unfortunately ,there are not enough covered buildings for the amount of machinery that the farm requires. Every shed and every building on the farm is currently occupied, which leaves the indoor for some open space. Instead of harping on the fact that I have less than three-quarters of the ring, I want to focus on the silver lining and realize that this situation has several benefits.

THF indoor as of Dec. 1. Sorry about the lighting.

For starters, my horses better be broke (come this spring) as far as my dressage work is concerned. I don’t have a ton of space, which translates to: EVERY FOOT COUNTS! Instead of riding 20-meter circles, which would be easier and less taxing, I am starting to make 15- and 10-meter circles. Instead of a “normal” serpentine of three loops, I am attempting a serpentine of three loops with a quarter less space to do it in. Instead of going all the way around the ring to the left and to the right, I am all of a sudden forced to be more creative with the space I have. Going around the ring as it stands would be equivalent to riding a very large 30-meter circle, which would get rather boring after a few times around.

Jumping time! My horses better be able to turn, sit and lift come spring as well! I can’t gallop my horses in a ring that size to any jump, and there would be no point in attempting that. Even though I am not jumping mountains in the winter, I do still jump a couple times a week and can really hone in on, oh, what’s that called again? Oh yeah … RIDE-A-BILITY! I have lots of time, under a minimal amount of stress, in a small area, so what else is there to do but work on really filling in any previously glossed over holes in my training?

Bottom line, I am in a unique situation with only myself as my motivator. Nobody is around asking when I am going to ride or if I want to hack with them. My training, my fitness and my horse’s training and fitness is completely in my hands. Sort of daunting, but also exciting at the same time. If I am able to sneak away for a couple weeks this spring and make the haul to Southern Pines, I would be overjoyed if anyone (and by anyone I am specifically referring to Denny) noticed how my horses are starting to get “really broke!”

For me, doing my homework from November through February or March and receiving affirmation or a “good” evaluation when all is said and done would mean the world. This would mean I DID accomplish great things in a tiny area. This would mean I wasn’t a bum sitting on my couch eating cake all winter. This would mean I can be left to my own devices and come out ahead at the other end. This is precisely where I look in order to find motivation! Where do you find your winter motivation?

Stuck Between Ice And A Hard Place

By Lila Gendal on Nov 26, 2013 9:00 am -

Jan 1st 2012-my bday skiing party last winter

My family and I use to live in an old farm house right up the road from Tamarack. I will never forget one freezing cold night, my mom took my two sisters and I out to dinner, and maybe a show. We were all very young at the time. We all had adorable little dresses on, leggings, slip on shoes, and looked as cute as buttons. On our way home, naturally our car broke down about two or so miles from our house. It was one of those blizzard nights where there were huge snow drifts and wind whipping so hard your eyes teared up. It might have only been a coupe miles to our house, but I recall the hike felt like we were attempting base camp at Mount Everest.

Living in New England in the winter, at times, feels as though someone is taking a long, jaggedly-pointed stick and constantly poking and prodding you. Of course there are worse climates, and worse conditions, though there is definitely a reason why most people around here keep to themselves and have a somewhat cynical personality to follow. I may be biased, but I would have to argue that Vermonters are tough folk. Or they learn to become tough over time.

Conveniently, I have more spare time in the winter to spend with my brewing thoughts. I go over to the barn, trudge through the snow, wrestle with frozen buckets, continue with my daily chores, and pretend like life is just hunky-dory, when really all I want is to recline in one of those beach chairs, sipping on a drink with an umbrella, while enjoying my tropical vacation…but who doesn’t?

No matter how awful the mornings, the slipping on ice, the frozen fingertips, or the immense amount of shoveling that needs doing, I try and relate this agony to something more positive. For instance, how does suffering in the cold, wind, and ice help me become a better rider and competitor? How does this misery help me grow as a person? Why I am supposed to be here, right now, in this state, in this town, and in these conditions? There must be a silver lining…right??

For starters, hard work always gets you ahead. No matter what, if you are a hard and diligent worker, good things will follow in your direction. Having a strong work ethic is something to be proud of, and appreciate.

Secondly, coping with these (at times) wretched conditions really makes you appreciate the galloping, the xc schooling, and the warm summer day hacks. If you always had days where it was 70 degrees with a slight breeze and you were able to jump, hack and ride outside at your heart’s content, would you be as appreciative? I am not sure because I am only really accustomed to this one particular way of life. But I would like to think I am incredibly appreciative of springtime and readily available running water.

Already daydreaming about running and jumping again! (skybreaker this summer)

As much as I complain and dread this time of the year, I have a tremendous To Do list, as far as my horses and my riding is concerned. I want to be able to come out of the indoor this spring having accomplished great things. I want to accomplish the following and this is the exact time of year to hone in on these To Do’s…

1) Have all my horses more consistently, and more readily forward

2) To improve my eye – as it relates to seeing a distance to a jump

3) To remain calm, cool and collected even when serious challenges present themselves

4) Improve all my horses’ canters

5) Get a stronger center

6) Sit the trot for longer periods of time

7) Maintain, and add to my horses’ fitness

8) Maintain, and add to my own fitness

9) Challenge myself and my horses to the best of my ability

10) Go to some winter jumper shows

For all of you suffering up north this winter…what would you like to accomplish?!

A Horse Of A Different Color

By Lila Gendal on Nov 25, 2013 12:00 pm -

Oro

Now that winter and cool temperatures are back for good in New England, I like to do my barn chores and come back inside for my second breakfast of the day. While downing my umpteenth cup of coffee, I always like trolling around online reading about and looking for cool horse stories. This morning, I stumbled across this interesting article about a 2-year-old pure Spanish colt named “Pearl Of Peace,” or “Oro,” which means GOLD in Spanish. Oro is unique because he is a genetic rarity. This colt is the only one of this breed in Britain that has the double pearl and double black gene. What exactly does this mean, you may be wondering?

Well, according to this Horsetalk article: “Oro’s colouring is a result of the reaction of the pearl gene (a coat dilution modifier) upon a bay coat, turning it into a bright gold.” Oro is by the double pearl stallion Impetuoso Gap II, and he is out of Vega X, by Inesperada II and out of Lastur, by Gaucho III (who was a top dressage stallions in the USA and was shortlisted to compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics). This little guy is expected to turn into quite the fancy dressage horse, and he has over 200,000 followers on FB!

A short video clip of the rare colored horse Oro — seems like a cool dude!

Leaving on a Horse Van, Don’t Know When They’ll be Back Again …

By Lila Gendal on Nov 21, 2013 9:00 am -

Bateman van leaving. Photo taken by Denny Emerson.

“Leaving on a Jet Plane” was written by John Denver back in 1966. Not to get overly sentimental or anything, but I’ve been a part of the Tamarack crew now for more than seven years, and every single time the van or trailers leave this farm, I can hear the song quietly playing in my head. I know you’re thinking to yourselves, “Awww, poor little Lila!”

Everyone always asks me towards the end of the summer, “Don’t you dread when the whole farm packs up and leaves you?” Or, “Aren’t you terribly lonesome when all your friends head south for the winter?” Or, my personal favorite, “Why aren’t you going to Southern Pines? Why would you WANT to stay here in the frozen tundra?”

I have this annoying persona that tricks myself into thinking that I am tougher and more heroic than I actually am. I lead on that I have a more rigid exterior than I actually have, probably because of my dry, sarcastic and somewhat cynical personality. I usually tell people I enjoy having the whole farm to myself, and I enjoy doing my own thing, and riding my horses whenever I want.

But truth be told, this is always a very depressing time of the year for me. It doesn’t really hit me until the horse van pulls out of Tamarack’s driveway. At that exact moment, every single year I feel a little sad and a little lonely (hence the Denver song playing in the back of my mind).

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t envious of most of my friends and their horses heading to warmer climates. I would definitely be lying if I said I was not jealous that most of my horse friends are going to be jumping outside, schooling cross country and gearing up for jumper shows and events come February.

All the while I am stuck in Vermont trying to avoid frostbite and keep my horses’ water from freezing. I would also by lying if I said I am totally and completely happy to stay up north all winter, every winter. It all boils down to the fact that I have a life here in Vermont and, quite honestly, I could never afford to pack up and ship my horses south for several months. That’s the truth of it.

However, it’s time for a swift kick in the pants. Time to be a grown up and take responsibility for me life. So, here it goes …

This is the time of the year where people all over the country are starting their “I am thankful for …” list. In other words, the holidays are coming up, and while most of the country, including myself, is thinking in terms of materialistic items to be exchanged, I would rather think about what I am truly thankful for.

Link and Wedge, our two mini dachshunds roasting themselves.

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I am not going to Southern Pines, Aiken or Wellington this winter, I would like to list off the things I am incredibly thankful for. I want to focus on the good and not dwell on what I do not have, because that would be incredibly selfish of me. So here we go:

I am thankful for …

1. My loving family

2. My generous and caring boyfriend

3. The Emersons, who have given me more than they will ever know

4. A dressage trainer who consistently pushes and encourages me

5. My healthy, happy and amazing horses

6. My dogs, who always make me smile no matter what mood I am in

7. A roof over my head

8. Creating and following through with my own business

9. A support team that constantly surrounds me

10. Great friends who inspire me

So, now it’s your turn. What do you have to be thankful for right now?

Locking Into Position

By Lila Gendal on Nov 20, 2013 12:00 pm -

Locking myself into position

There are certain things in life that if not lined up perfectly simply do not work. A seatbelt. A jump cup and a pin. A truck hitching to a trailer. There are a million examples of objects in the world that must be in the exact, perfect position in order to function. Could the same be said about your lower leg when jumping?

About a month ago, Denny had me adjust the length of my stirrups at the beginning of a lesson, and by the end of my ride, he said something along the lines of, “When your lower leg is in the right spot, you are locked into a solid position.” In other words, there is a perfect spot for every rider’s lower leg that when found, or discovered, will literally lock you into position and prepare you for lift off.

I am not exaggerating in the least when I say that I had absolutely no concept of a jumping position for most of my riding career. I was always enthusiastic about jumping, and I appreciated and recognized those who clearly were gifted in the position department, but I had no idea how to replicate those riders who looked the part.

Not too long ago, I would jump up my horses’ necks. I would literally hurl my upper body toward the horse (usually resulting in me falling off quite frequently) and my lower legs had minds of their own. Whatever direction my legs wanted to flail around in, they did. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, my legs, my back, my hips … NOTHING. Quite honestly, I was pretty horrifying to watch. Of course, ignorance is bliss I suppose, but I would not have enjoyed watching me ride if I could travel back in time.

So how did I finally start to wrap my head around this whole “solid lower leg” concept, you may be wondering? Of course, a “correct jumping position,” as we all know, is a very controversial term, and I will probably have some people cheering me on today, while others will leave page-long dissertations on what the ideal or correct jumping position looks like. Regardless, I would like to hone in on what I consider to be the foundation of a solid jumping position … THE LOWER LEG!

How did I find my lower leg? Well, Denny has a way of not letting you forget the basics. He does not accept mediocre, and he does not accept lazy individuals. He will drill you until you think you cannot be drilled anymore, and when you think you have finally had enough, he will drill you again. I am incredibly grateful for this teaching mechanism because it has engrained this solid lower leg concept into my head, along with many other training aids.

I find that when my lower leg is solidly on my horse, everything else has a way of falling into place. Of course, finding the right saddle for you and your horse is a huge factor in this puzzle. Also, the appropriate stirrup length, combined with the perfect saddle for you and your horse, is a recipe for success, or at least this will lead you on the road toward success.

It has literally taken decades, but I am starting to more consistently have a solid lower leg when jumping. I don’t always have a perfect lower leg, and none of this is second nature for me yet, but I am hopeful that with time, discipline and practice, I will achieve what I once thought unachievable. If I can, anyone can!

Being Pinpointed

By Lila Gendal on Nov 13, 2013 3:00 pm -

Learning to let go with the beast!

This picture was taken last summer and represents more than what meets the eye. I remember that day down to the last detail. Boy was it humid. I remember there were two other people in the lesson. I wore my cross-country vest thinking we were going to start in the ring and then head out to cross country. I never went out to cross country, but I did learn a lot.

I recall May, Denny and a couple other people yelling at me that afternoon. “LET GO OF HER MOUTH. LIGHT AIDS. FLOAT THE REINS. I SAID FLOAT THE REINS. This mare needs freedom over the fence, or she will invert and not jump up, over and around the jumps. JUST LET GO, Lila!”

The lesson started with me micromanaging Valonia’s every move. I tried to control the speed and her frame. The more I tried to control, the worse everything got. When they all screamed at me to literally loop the reins, I finally got it. I looped the reins at the end of the lesson and the picture above was the result. Valonia said “thank you” for letting go, and she jumped the best I had ever felt her jump.

Truth be told, I am a bit of a control freak. I am borderline type-A personality and cannot stand when things are out of my control. I like routine, punctuality and consistency. So, when I showed up at Tamarack roughly seven years ago, I was in for rude awakening. How could I be told that I didn’t know how to do A, B and C. How dare he pinpoint me during a lesson. How dare he compare me to Suzy, Allie and Cathy.

Of course, I’d had lessons before in my life, but never had I been told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Some people can handle the truth and others cannot. Hi, my name is Lila, and I could NOT handle the truth, nor did I appreciate ever being told I was wrong. Boy did I have a lot to learn!

And again — me learning to chill out on Sybreaker this summer.

Eventing may be incredibly exhilarating, but it’s not one of the easiest sports out there — am I right? In order to become “good” riders, we have to check our egos at the door. We have to come to a lesson with an open mind and be ready and willing to learn from those who have achieved greater things than we have. Why else would we take lessons? Denny has accomplished more than I could ever imagine achieving. How inspiring it is to have him around pushing us to the nth degree day in and day out.

For me, one of the hardest parts about riding and taking lessons is being pinpointed. Maybe students that come to the farm don’t think Daryl Kinney and I have been pinpointed. Newsflash — we have been pinpointed, probably more than most! But we are still around. So that must count for something, right? Being pinpointed is difficult. It’s not the easiest thing to sit on your horse and be told that those other riders are doing X, Y and Z correctly and that you are not. It is not easy to bite your tongue and listen to criticism. Of course, the criticism is usually constructive, but in the moment, you feel as though the criticism has only one connotation.

Learning to cope with being pinpointed will only make you a stronger rider. Like I mentioned, you need to check your ego at the door when taking a lesson and learning from others who have wisdom and talent well beyond your years. We are all going to be pinpointed at some point. Not one single rider out there is perfect. We all need to be corrected from time to time, and we all need to learn how to handle these corrections.

It has taken YEARS, but I have finally learned and come to accept the fact that I am most definitely not going to be right all the time. Not even close. I am going to make mistakes and I am going to have to learn new things. New ways of riding. New lessons. New concepts. We need to remain as open books. The second we try to close our books, we are closing our ability to become better riders and trainers.

The Multifaceted Hackamore

By Lila Gendal on Nov 12, 2013 12:00 pm -

Jumping a few weeks ago in the hackamore!

About eight weeks ago, I started riding Valonia — my main squeeze! — in a hackamore because she developed a minor sore in the crease of her mouth. Of course, I was bummed, and I thought riding her without a bit was going to put a damper on my fall. I also thought to myself there is no way in hell I am going to be able to control this 19-hand creature without a bit. To my surprise, riding in the hackamore has changed this horse and how I ride her tremendously.

This summer has been an odd one in terms of flatwork. My dressage trainer, Denny, and I have raised the bar, and by doing so, Valonia and I landed in no man’s land. We wanted to ask Valonia to sit and lift more than ever before. Being a large warmblood mare, Valonia had some opinions about this new way of going. She tried to be crooked. She tried throwing her haunches in every which direction. She tried doing strange things with her neck.

Anything Valonia could do in order to not be in self-carriage, she did. The most frustrating thing she did this summer was to be heavy on her forehand and lose impulsion. She thought to herself, Well, since this is SO VERY hard for me to do — this whole sitting, engaging and lifting bit — I think I should try and make little Lila hold me up!

My rides were very consistent this summer. The first 10 minutes were spectacular, and after about 10 minutes, she petered out and got into her dreadful middle or medium frame — as my dressage trainer and I called it — which I like to call no man’s land. She was neither deep, nor up and light. Oh, the dreaded middle frame …

Fast forward to now, and I am hacking, doing gymnastics and jumping smaller jumps without a bit. I even did some flatwork in the hackamore. She was surprisingly very good. Was she super connected? No. Was she as engaged as we would like her to be? Nope. Was she moving off my leg, going forward and not leaning on me? YEP! Now I am back to riding in a normal bridle. She is very different after eight weeks in a hackamore. She is much lighter in the contact, much softer in her neck and mouth, more forward, and she is more willing to try this whole sitting and lifting thing.

Who ever knew that getting rid of a bit would solve so many of my problems with this horse? It’s amazing how something you are dreading and not looking forward to can actually work to your advantage. Sometimes stepping far away from our “issues,” whatever those issues may be, can be a recipe for success.

If we are not riding nine horses a day and our focus is primarily on one specific horse, it can be very easy to get deeper and deeper into problem areas. We have a difficult time seeing the bigger picture, and we quickly develop muscle memory. My horse goes this way, so I am riding her this way. Well how about stepping away from the problems and examining those issues with a fresh lens? Sometimes the answers to our problems are literally right in front of us.

What Do We Have To Lose?

By Lila Gendal on Nov 8, 2013 3:00 pm -

Skybreaker this summer

I recently heard this provocative statement from a friend of mine: “Once you have something else to live for, you become a weaker competitor.” I don’t know exactly where this quote came from, but I was intrigued as soon as I heard it. We started to chat about this concept and how it applies to the eventing world. I am more or less on the fence about this statement because I can see two sides to this theory: 1) Once you have something else to live for, you become a weaker competitor, and 2) Once you have something else to live for, you become a stronger competitor. Which is it?

When I originally heard this quote, I immediately thought that once you have a family, kids, best friends and family members counting on and relying on you, that you would automatically become a weaker competitor because you have so much at risk. As this idea marinated in my mind, I thought perhaps the opposite of this statement could also hold some validity. Perhaps what drives us and what makes us better competitors are those other things we are living for. So which is it? Are we stronger or weaker competitors when we have something besides our horse to live for?

I used to have posters hanging above my bed as a young girl of Anky Van Grunsven, David O’Connor and other big-name riders. I would fall asleep at night dreaming of jumping and galloping; oh wait, I still do! The point is all I ever wanted was to become a Karen O’Connor or a Phillip Dutton. I had no other dreams and no other ambitions. All I wanted to do was become a four-star event rider. Nobody was going to change my mind and nobody was allowed to tell me I could not succeed.

The Beast

Fast forward through college, jobs and relationships, and all of a sudden I am about to turn 28, and I am starting to have those weird maternal thoughts. I never imagined myself to be tied down and have serious responsibilities other than barn chores and riding, but I do. I am at that point in my life where I would like to settle down, get married and have a family.

Some of my friends might start laughing as they read this because this concept is a fairly recent development. Life is short and we all know that the option to have children is not always available. So here I am. I don’t want to give up on my riding and my horses (and I never will), but I want those other things in life. I want to look into a glass ball and see how my two worlds could coexist.

So here’s a dilemma: How do we compete, ride full-time, start a family and not begin to worry about the repercussions of this sport? Obviously event riders are more at risk than someone playing the clarinet in an orchestra. We all know that this sport can be very dangerous. Obviously, I also am aware that you could walk across the street and die. You could be in a plane crash, or you could slip and fall on ice in the winter and break your neck.

I am aware of all this. However, eventing is dangerous, and there is more risk involved at any level. So how do we compete willingly while knowing we could fall off, break bones or even die when we have others that need us? I suppose this question might hit home for all those event riders who are still competing and are parents.

If you are a parent of three and you are about to gallop out of the start box, do you have vivid thoughts of your children, husband, wife or parents in your mind? Or, do you gallop out of the box without one single worry or hesitation? I have no idea, because I am not a parent. However, I do have a very loving family who I am desperately close with, and I have a boyfriend and good friends. So, again I ask this question: Once you have something else to live for, do you become a weaker OR stronger competitor?

A World Where Money Means Everything and Nothing

By Lila Gendal on Nov 5, 2013 6:00 pm -

The Beast at King Oak this spring.

I was about 14 years old when I had my very first horse. He was a purebred Connemara gelding named Towerhills O’Ryley, and my family and I bought him as an unbroke 2 year old. He turned out to be a pretty awesome little horse, even though at the time he was an inappropriate choice. Nevertheless, one hot summer afternoon, all of us girls at Hitching Post Farm were told that Denny Emerson was coming to the farm to teach a clinic.

We were all so eager. None of us had ridden with him before, but we certainly knew who he was and could not wait for his arrival. At the very last minute, I was informed that my Connemara was too green for this lesson, and I realized I couldn’t really afford to attend the clinic. I sort of assumed I would have the money, and I sort of assumed my horse would be ready. No such luck.

That afternoon, I remember cleaning stalls at Hitching Post while my best friends were outside jumping and learning from one of the best. I wasn’t even able to watch the lesson. I was so angry. I was furious that my family couldn’t afford to pay for me to ride. I was furious that my trainer didn’t offer for me to ride one of the older school horses, and I was furious that once again, everyone I knew and was close with were growing as riders while I was struggling to break a horse I didn’t know how to break. I almost was too mad to cry.

At the end of the clinic, Rozo, the owner and trainer at the time, invited Denny and May to come up to the barn and visit for a minute. She dragged me out of the stalls in the indoor so I could meet Denny. I remember feeling so embarrassed. I was dripping with sweat and I was so shaken up that I could barely say hello without bursting into tears. I went back to finishing chores only to discover that Denny ended up donating all the money from the clinic that day back to Hitching Post Farm. If only I had known …

Skybreaker loping over the ditch at THF this summer

This isn’t supposed to be a pity party, but rather a wakeup call. Eventing represents one of the most expensive sports out there. I have always wanted to ride horses and nothing else. This is the world that I know, and this is the world I belong in. It’s unfortunate that the cost of living, the cost of fuel, horse feed and entries are so outrageously expensive.

It’s unfortunate that you can spend a grand total of $650 at one single event and all you could win is a measly ribbon and maybe a saddle pad. There’s barely any money in this sport, and yet we can’t stay away from it. We are obsessed with this sport, and we disregard the fact that all we do is spend and rarely receive.

I have always been that kid, that teenager and that adult that had to work inside AND outside the barn. I was a waitress for years. I used to drive an hour to Woodstock five nights a week, work until midnight and get to the barn by 7 a.m. I have catered with several different companies. I worked in sales for a local publishing company, and now I work for about six different online equestrian companies where I blog and handle social media.

I have never had the luxury of not working, and I have never regretted one second of my life. I have had to work hard to get to where I am. Nobody ever handed anything to me on a silver platter, and nobody ever had a blank checkbook waiting for me either. I want to encourage all those event riders out there who literally lose sleep at night dreaming of riding and competing who do not have much money.

I want to tell everyone who has struggled with money and horses that there will come a time where you will reap the benefits, but only if you stick with it. Don’t ever be embarrassed because you are riding a $500 Quarter Horse while your friends are riding $30,000 Irish Sport Horses. Don’t ever allow money to dictate your life or sway your dreams, but you have to keep working hard if you want results.

Thank You, Anky and Bonfire!

By Lila Gendal on Oct 31, 2013 4:30 pm -

I was about 10 or 11 when a group of us from Hitching Post Farm went to the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. There was an assortment of demonstrations, from hunter/jumpers to dressage. The whole trip was an experience I will never forget. Just being in New York City was exciting, and the fact that we got to see world-class riders and horses was icing on the cake.

I remember one of the last riders to come out was Anky van Grunsven on her amazing horse, Bonfire, that sadly passed away this week. I had never seen anything more beautiful in my life. I remember leaning so far forward in my seat that I could have fallen off and landed in the ring. My mouth was gaping open. Goosebumps ran up my arms, and I knew watching that beautiful rider on that phenomenal horse that I was hooked for real.

I had always enjoyed riding as a kid and I seemed to be drawn to these animals, but that day truly changed my life. After watching Anky ride, I never thought to myself, “I am going to be become an upper-level dressage rider,” but I thought that what just happened and what I just saw was remarkable, and right then and there I knew I wanted become a serious rider. I knew that this was going to be my life. Horses had to be in my life, and no matter what, I had to keep riding.

Life as a rider has a way of becoming narrow at times. Your perspective and your ability to look at the broader picture can also become narrowed when you live in such a tiny world comprised of horses and horse people. We get so caught up in the now and the future that we can, at times, disregard the past. It seems really important to remember why we started riding. Why do we even like to ride? Why do we like horses?

It’s crucial to recall and reflect on how it all began as a reminder to ourselves why we are doing what we are doing. We can so easily become enraged — enraged at ourselves, our riding and our horses. Have you ever walked into a barn and seen a bunch of grumpy, angry and distant people? Have you ever walked onto someone’s farm and seen a bunch of cantankerous souls and wondered “why the heck do they have any reason to be angry today? Don’t they know how lucky they are?”

Perhaps, more people should stop and think about that moment when they knew they were going to ride horses for the rest of their lives. We should think about how lucky and amazing it is that we can ride a horse every day. Yes, some of us have to go punch in and out, or hang out in a cubicle all day, but how many people can say they galloped and jumped cross country on Thursday? How many people can say they worked on tempi changes on Wednesday? And how many people can say they jumped four feet on Monday?

Think about how lucky we are, and don’t forget how we all got hooked originally. I personally want to thank Anky and Bonfire for inspiring me to become a serious rider!

Those Things We Deem Impossible

By Lila Gendal on Oct 29, 2013 11:30 am -

Skybreaker jumping 4'9" a few days ago!

I remember one of the most challenging courses I took at St. Lawrence was an Ethics class my sophomore year. I use to aggressively take notes, to the point where I would have to bring several extra pencils to class each day. I was fascinated by the subjects we discussed and was determined to get a good grade. The professor was known as someone who rarely gave out A’s. I knew I was struggling in her course, especially after the first exams were handed back to us. I couldn’t believe it, I received a failing grade. Our final grade was comprised of three exams. That’s it. Nothing else. No extra credit. No small assignments. NOTHING but three exams covering a wide range of material, and I had just flunked exam #1….OUCH.

After my first pathetic attempt at one of her exams, I received that dreaded email asking me to come sit down and discuss options. My professor was definitely not someone who sugar coated anything. She was blunt and to the point. Lila, you failed your first exam. You only have two chances to significantly bring up your grade. I would strongly suggest dropping my course. Of course, I started crying and I said NO…I will NOT drop your course. I will pass. Not only did I pass her course, but I was one of the few students who received a “B”. She must have been just as shocked as I was.

In life, often times we think we cannot accomplish certain tasks. Sometimes we convince ourselves we cannot do A, B, C, D. Sometimes we are told we cannot do A, B, C, D. There are always certain things we deem impossible. I grew up thinking that jumping was scary. I was so deathly shy when I was a kid, that I was more afraid to tell my trainer that I was scared to jump, than to actually jump. I also was told by several different trainers that I would never go beyond novice because I was too timid and scared.

Eventually I grew to love jumping and galloping, but in the back of my mind I could hear trainers say you are not a good enough rider to ever go prelim, or to even jump a big jump for that matter. They would say there is nothing wrong with never going beyond training level. I started to convince myself that this was the way it was going to be, even though I really wanted more from myself and from my horses.

A couple days ago, two girls came over for a lesson at Tamarack. I was jumping Skybreaker and we ended up jumping one of the biggest jumps I have ever jumped (about 4’9”). It was just a vertical, one stride to an oxer that kept growing as the lesson went on. Several thoughts came to me as I jumped off Skybreaker and ran my stirrups up. 1) What an absolutely incredible horse….he just jumped that oxer like it was nothing. 2) This horse gives me tremendous confidence and 3) I can do things I thought were never possible.

Thinking to myself...Good God...I just jumped that

Here I thought it was going to be an ordinary lesson. Turned out to be one of the coolest days of my life. I jumped an enormous jump, which I never thought I could do, and I am riding a horse I never dreamed I would be riding. All in all, a pretty incredible day. I think it’s really important to dream big and push yourself as much as you want. I think it’s important to not constantly doubt yourself, your capabilities, your riding, or your horse. Don’t allow others to knock you down either. I waited about twenty years to sit on a horse like Skybreaker and jump a jump that size, even though I spent the majority of my riding career jumping small jumps and being told I would probably only be a training level rider (if that). News flash-I have done and will continue to do things people deem to be impossible…so why can’t you?!

A Once In A Lifetime Horse

By Lila Gendal on Oct 25, 2013 6:00 pm -

Having fun with Skybreaker!

Saturday I went for a hack with a buddy of mine. All we really wanted to discuss were live scores from Fair Hill. We were desperate to know who made it around both the CCI two and three star courses. From that conversation came this notion of a once in a lifetime horse; which horses we consider to be in this category, what it takes to become one, if we had ever had one, and if you can have more than one?

Every rider must have his or her own list of criteria for what constitutes as a once in a lifetime horse. Arguably, we do not throw around this phrase lightly, nor we do attach this phrase to every horse that comes into our lives. I wonder how many riders have had, or are riding what they consider to be a once in a lifetime horse? I wonder how many, of all the Advanced riders in the country, consider the horse they are currently sitting on to be a once in a lifetime horse? Or, are they just really exceptional horses that made it to that level? What’s the difference between an exceptional horse, and once in a lifetime horse? How could a horse competing at the advanced level not be a once in a lifetime horse? All advanced riders please cast your vote now!

Now, let’s leave the upper level guys in a corner alone, and focus on the lower level riders and horses. How many amateur riders think they are sitting on a once in a lifetime horse? How many are still looking for, or hoping that someday they will have that incomparable horse? Evidently, a once in a lifetime horse can be competing at any level. An outstanding horse can be found going novice. Some people might chuckle, or roll their eyes, but a great horse is a great horse regardless of the level they are competing.

Valonia at Huntington 2012

Of course, comparing what an advanced level horse does to that of a beginner novice horse almost seems absurd in some ways. A beginner novice horse doesn’t enter at “A” in a collected canter. A beginner novice horse doesn’t have to jump an arrowhead, three strides to a massive table, to a roll top into water. But, there is no reason why a beginner novice horse couldn’t be a once in a lifetime horse to countless riders. If we are asking all event riders in the country what they consider to be a once in a lifetime horse, then we would have to clump all the levels together in order to be fair.

Because I am an event rider, and because I have goals of competing beyond training level, I have not personally had a once in a lifetime horse YET. I have sat on, and ridden many amazing horses. Do I consider myself to have extraordinary horses? I believe so. Have my horses and I achieved my personal goals as a team yet? No, we have not…but there’s still time! Do I think I might possibly be sitting on one, or two potential once in a life time horses? I do. If someone asked me to write down 10 adjectives to describe MY OWN version of a once in a lifetime horse it would be as follows:

1) Sane

2) Intelligent

3) Athletic

4) Forgiving

5) Hard-working

6) Inquisitive

7) Tolerant

8) Bold

9) Personable

10) Team-Player

…now, what would your list of adjectives consist of?

Beware The Mare?

By Lila Gendal on Oct 22, 2013 10:30 am -

Me loving on my mare. Photo by Eliza Nardone Photography.

Girls tend to be tricky. A female’s agenda and feelings can, at times, be hidden. Girls play games and can be extremely difficult to read and understand. Well, the same goes for mares. Obviously not all mares are tricky, difficult or have strong opinions. Some are very easy going and almost act like geldings. Every rider has his or her own mare story. Many riders will tell people that they will never ride, own or compete a mare. Others get along swimmingly with mares and would own nothing but a mare. What’s your preference? Have you generally had good or bad experiences with mares? Do you prefer mares over geldings, or vice versa? Why or why not?

I have ridden my share of mares. I tend to get along with mares and have owned more mares than geldings. I would never say that I’m only ever going to ride mares, or I’m only ever going to ride geldings. A nice horse is a nice horse, regardless of its gender. However, I have to be perfectly honest — mares are not always a walk in the park. But if you find a really good mare that wants to play on your team, you will be one lucky competitor. I think a mare who trusts you and is willing to work with you can offer you a lot. Sometimes a gelding will offer you the same amount and might be more consistent, whereas mare can be more inconsistent, but might give you more at the end of the day, week, year or decade.

Valonia at GMHA last year.

I don’t think I have ever owned or dealt with a more dominant mare than Valonia, aka “The Beast.” Valonia thinks very highly of herself. She basically called the shots for the first four years of her life because she lived out in a herd where she was the boss and leader, which doesn’t surprise me at all. I brought this 17-hand mare to Tamarack when she was about 4 and a half years old, and I started her in the fall of 2009. I had to be very careful with her in the beginning because she demonstrated a very strong NO. NO, I don’t want to go in the wash stall. NO, I don’t want to go in the trailer. HELL NO, you are not allowed to clip me, and you can forget about trying to put shoes on me. Valonia and I have had our normal ups and downs, but the horse I have now has all been worth the roller-coaster ride along the way.

If you have a mare who you adore and believe in, then you should not give up. Mares are tricky and some personalities are stronger and more challenging than others. Some days you will wonder why a mare does such and such one day but not the next day. There might also be days where you thought you understood your mare and thought you knew her inside and out, and you realize you actually don’t. But, I guarantee, if you are matched appropriately, a mare who will play on your team is worth the wait.

Video courtesy of Thehorsepesterer

Pressure To Move Up

By Lila Gendal on Oct 15, 2013 11:15 am -

Skybreaker this summer at Hitching Post Farm

Human begins are constantly dealing with pressure. We feel degrees of pressure in the office, at school, from our friends, families, enemies, and from that little annoying voice in our heads. How unnatural life would be without the reoccurring presence of pressure. As riders, we all feel a certain level of pressure, whether it’s internal or external. Some riders may agree, some might disagree, but there seems to be a certain amount pressure associated with moving up the levels in eventing.

Just yesterday I went to my last event of the year at Pirouette Farm in the lovely Norwich VT. This was a tiny little schooling show with less than 30 entries total. I took my dressage trainer’s horse to his very first three phase. As I was warming up for xc, a lady I know approached me and asked the following: I saw you and Skybreaker competing this summer. Why were you only going novice? I sort of responded, though not very in depth because I thought to myself, why do people care so much about moving up the levels? If I had been going training with Skybreaker, she would have asked why I wasn’t going Prelim. This happens repeatedly throughout the summers. I will have one of my horses at an event, and I swear to god, it doesn’t matter what level I am going, people are very concerned and curious why I am at the level I am at. Maybe it’s not just me, perhaps this happens to a lot of competitors.

I use to take this pressure to heart. I use to think the only thing on earth that mattered was going Prelim. Many riders I know are strangely obsessed with this level. Almost as if you are nobody, and your horse doesn’t exist unless you are competing at Prelim or above. Listen closely, because I am not suggesting that every single event rider feels this way. I am suggesting that there appears to be this lingering pressure to move up the levels and I am desperate to understand why?

Valonia schooling earlier this summer

As I said, I used to feel this pressure to move up. I used to feel pathetic and insignificant if I was going even training level. That pressure almost doesn’t exist anymore, and if it does it’s only because I put that pressure on myself. I would rather be one hell of an amazing training level rider than to be a nervous and totally freaked out upper level rider. I would rather be someone going Novice that people stop and watch because they think I actually look like I know what I am doing, than someone blindly galloping at a 3’9” corner only to prove they can compete at the upper levels. To me, the levels are just titles. The levels are almost irrelevant because I think people can absolutely be amazing riders without ever going Prelim. You could be one of the best event riders in the world, but not a single person would know that if you are not taking nine horses advanced at every event you go to.

For any rider going training level or below, you are not insignificant and should never feel insignificant. People can ask you once a day, every day for the rest of your life why you and your horse have not moved up yet. People can point fingers and talk behind your back, but at the end of the day it’s all about what YOU feel comfortable doing with YOUR horse. There are only two variables here and that’s you and your horse. Who cares if Will Coleman could take my mare intermediate? I sure don’t care. I have to feel confident in what I am doing with my horse at all times. Once fear enters the conversation, we are all doomed. The second we move up because we think that’s what we are supposed to do, we are also doomed. Always stay at the level you feel the most comfortable with and never let external, or internal pressure sway your decisions.

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