Skybreaker GMHA Team Jumper Challenge 2012

Imagine fresh lobsters, friends, families, dogs, horses and a beautifully manicured jump course set up and ready to be jumped! Last night was one of my favorite events of the year — GMHA’s (Green Mountain Horse Association) annual Team Jumper Challenge! GMHA, located in the breathtaking mountains in South Woodstock, Vt., is a non-profit organization that hosts a variety of different equestrian events all summer long, from hunter/jumper shows to derbies to dressage shows to recognized horse trials to competitive trail rides, and so much more. GMHA is an amazing facility run by a dedicated and welcoming community.

Back to the coolest event ever … Last night, a bunch of us from Tamarack Hill Farm headed over for an afternoon of festivities. We had a 3′ team and a 3’6″ team. I was on the 3’6″ team with Daryl Kinney, Sue Berrill and Suzi Gornall. There were 2’6 teams, 3′ teams, and 3’6″ teams that came from all over the area. The teams that put in the fastest times won a gigantic blue ribbon and some very generous prize money.

The course was twisty and turny and never let up. Almost every single fence had a “faster” option, meaning you could either make an inside turn or take a little extra time and make an outside turn around a fence.  There’s always a “joker” fence, or option jump. It’s usually a trickier fence. Some years it’s a liverpool, and this year is was a slightly skinny and airy vertical. You could jump the joker fence at any time and if you jumped it clean then you got 15 seconds taken off your time. If you knocked a rail on the joker fence then 15 seconds got added to your time.

We all put in a great round last night, and we all had a blast. Our 3’6″ team came in 3rd, and we were all very pleased with our horses!

From an event riders perspective, I noticed those horses and riders who had the best rounds had the following qualities:

1) they were riding really GOOD jumpers

2) they made tighter and quicker turns

3) they had horses that were allergic to wood

4) their horse’s had amazing canters … QUICK BEHIND and UPHILL!

5) … and they rode really well under pressure

The team that won the 3’6″ round consisted of Madison Gallien, Ashley Glynn, Betsy Stein Medinger and Jane Hamlin. Congratulations, ladies, you made it look easy! A huge thank you to GMHA and all their fabulous volunteers and sponsors last night. Can’t wait till next year’s Team Challenge!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_RVnnazIlo
Daryl Kinney on our 3’6″ team riding Union Station (owned by Denny Emerson)
Video taken by David Frechette (aka The Horse Pesterer) Thank you, David!

Skybreaker galloping at Huntington -Open Novice July 2013!

Ninety degrees, humid and barely a breeze….what else would you want to do but compete this weekend in VT, a state that’s supposed to have a temperate climate? Seriously, event riders push boundaries just in order to compete. Of course, we would never be able to do what we love if it weren’t for those amazing folks who put on these events. We really owe it all to the ones that for some odd reason want to break their backs, pour out money, and get very little in return. These organizers, secretaries, judges, volunteers, medics, farm owners, oh, and did I mention the volunteers? These are the ones we need to repeatedly thank and act gracious towards.

I spent my Sunday at Huntington Farm in South Strafford, VT. Every summer Ann Kitchel puts on two recognized horse trials and all of us at Tamarack never miss her events. I mean, how could we…we live less than a mile up the road from her gorgeous farm! Unfortunately the amount of torrential rain that we have had so far this year has really caused a setback for all the haying that needed to be done, and still needs to be done. Huntington farm had a tremendous amount of haying to do before the event could even take place. Saturday evening a group of us went to walk our course only to find a lonely tractor out in the far jumping field with an enormous amount of hay on the ground.

All the fields on xc were completely ready the following morning. The amount of work and energy that went into this event was extraordinary considering how last-minute everything happened, which was completely based on the unfortunate weather patterns. People were worried about the footing, and people were worried about the heat, and some people were angry that they had to cancel show jumping. Show jumping was cancelled due to the amount of time that was needed to hay that extra field and the lack of time available for the field to dry out before horses could trample through it. The Huntington crew all did what they could in the amount of time they were allotted. Anyone that complained should have lent a hand before getting their nose out of joint. Anyone who complained should try putting on an event someday and see what THAT feels like!

Overall, the show was a huge success. Not only was the footing amazing, but the entire day ran smoothly and people really enjoyed themselves. I think that everyone that helped put with this event slept soundly Sunday night. I hope that riders and competitors on Sunday made sure to thank everyone who put on this event, because without them there would be no events. I hope Huntington Farm realizes how appreciative we all were for such a fun and smooth day!

I think at times this sport can become so one sided. We all can get wrapped up in the excitement, the competitive natures, and the “me” aspect which probably deters those who run the events. Of course, I’m sure these organizers and farm owners want to see people enjoying their events and their homes, but to forget about the people who put these events on is like walking past a person who just fell on the sidewalk…you just can’t become that self-absorbed. You have to lend a hand and thank those who work their butts off! Without these events, and without these gracious farm owners, there would be NO eventing. We have to stop worrying about ourselves and our horses, and start thanking those who make this dwindling sport even possible!

To the in and out we go!

Bienvenue au Canada! I took my mare Valonia to Napierville this weekend, an event up in Canada. We left on a Friday and returned on a Sunday. I traveled with my two buddies, Susan Berrill and Daryl Kinney, and we certainly had an adventure that will never be forgotten.

I had absolutely zero expectations in every regard. I wasn’t sure how my mare was going to handle overnighting somewhere other than the comfort of her own field and stall. I wasn’t sure what the cross country course was going to be like. I heard that show jumping for every division was going to be three to four inches higher than a normal show jumping round in the U.S. I wasn’t sure about any of it. I was ecstatic about competing out of the country for the first time in my life, but other than that, I was an open book.

We arrived late Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, they had just been hit with a tremendous amount of rain that nearly washed the event away. They didn’t cancel the event, but rather they worked really hard to keep the cross country course from completely washing away. Everyone at the farm welcomed us with opened arms and made sure we were happy and had everything we needed, even though they needed about 25 dump truck loads more of hard pack. The hospitality at this event was extraordinary, and I felt very comfortable there.

We got our horses settled in their stalls and went out immediately to walk our courses. This is where my eyes got big and my imagination started running all over the place. From the stables to cross country, you walked about 10 minutes down an extremely long and straight narrow dirt road — perfect for a pre-hack to cross country warm up, although not great for an evening stroll because the mosquitoes might actually eat you alive!

We all started in the start box but veered off quickly because I was going training, Sue prelim and Daryl intermediate. The footing was extremely challenging in several locations, none of which was anyone’s fault at all — this was all Mother Nature, unfortunately. The footing at the base of each fence and right after were decent, but the rivers and water crossings were rushing like mad. There were several questions on my course that would have been difficult even in normal footing, but with the slippery grass and the muddy footing, this was certainly going to be a challenge. We all had the same reaction. These cross country courses were going to be tough — this was unanimous!

I have to mention the water jumps because they were truly something to see. The water jump was more of a large frog pond, which was totally fine and very cool looking, but the amount of water that filled the pond was almost comical in a weird way. I don’t think I saw one rider walk their line through the water complex because they would have been completely drenched up to their knees. When I saw this water jump two thoughts came to mind: 1) If I even make it this far that will be an accomplishment in itself, and 2) all the horses that DO jump into this pond — whether they are going BN or intermediate — they are true event horses, and that will impress me.  

Well, my buddy Daryl managed to not sink and swam her way through this course on the amazing intermediate Thoroughbred gelding Union Station (owned by Denny Emerson), aka “Onion.” The pair went clean and finished 2nd overall. My pal Sue and her tough cookie of a mare, Absoroka (by Aberjack), better known as “Phoebe,” also swam through their course and were the only ones that completed their prelim division.

I unfortunately ended up retiring less than half way around cross country for several reasons. I have to admit, I was very nervous about the footing and the difficulty of my course in general. So far, this was the hardest course that Valonia and I would tackle as a team. I sat on my tack trunk Saturday morning going over again and again in my head the pros and cons of doing this course. Pros: I came here to compete. I paid all this money and I want to go cross country. The footing is much better today than it was yesterday. I don’t want to give up. I have huge studs. Cons: I can’t afford to lose a shoe today for specific reasons. I don’t want to lose confidence. I really don’t want my horse to lose confidence. I don’t want to scare my horse.

I sat there thinking and trying to figure out whether or not I should jump. I talked to several people and knew it was ultimately up to me. I had about an hour before cross country and I started studding my horse. I tacked up and walked the long road out to mosquitoe-ville. The warm up was pretty bad in terms of footing (not that this was anyone’s fault), but I didn’t do very much in terms of warm up. Valonia jumped out of her skin over the warm up jumps and I felt pretty confident going into the start box. My plan was if things start going downhill, whether it be footing, or stopping or run outs … I would just retire.

The timer was so nice and told me to smile before I left the box … that’s the rule, he said! So, I smiled and looked up and let Valonia go. The first part of the course had decent footing. The first four jumps went really well. We got to a long gallop stretch in the woods and Valonia felt great. Then I got to number five, which was a big corner only a few strides off a turn with big white bags sitting on the wide part of the jump. Unfortunately, she ran out there. I regrouped and tried again. She jumped the second time. Shortly after I had a large roll top, two strides down a hill to a huge trakehner with a river flowing underneath. No surprise here — she ran out. I regrouped and she jumped it fabulously the second time. Now the footing started getting worse than I had thought. We jumped a few more jumps and then came out of a muddy turn, were supposed to jump a chevron, down a steep hill three strides to a huge ditch with a water gushing through, then up a steep hill, four strides to a brush. She stopped at the in and that’s when I knew we weren’t going to make it around, nor was I even going to try at this point. I retired.

We all learn something from every event we go to, whether we win, fall off, retire or come in dead last — we always learn something, don’t you think? I learned that I need to stay close to home for a little while and get my horse more comfortable just with competing. I wouldn’t have known this unless I did it. I didn’t need to spend that much money to go around a course or halfway around a course that was too challenging for my semi-green horse in less than ideal footing. It made total sense that Sue and Daryl would go to an event like Napierville, because both the riders and horses had serious competitions already under their belts, and I had very few. Overall Napierville was an amazing event put on by a really great group of hardworking and dedicated individuals. The organizer, the secretary, the volunteers, the competitors and the farm owners could not have been more welcoming and more gracious, and I would absolutely recommend this event to anyone who wanted to go tackle a fun and challenging course! (P.S. Sorry about no Napierville pictures. We all rode within 30 minutes of each other.)

Oh you know-just a calf jumping down the bank at Tamarack Hill Farm!

Happy weekend from EN! I just had to share this pic of a calf dropping off the bank at Tamarack Hill Farm from last summer. Her name is Pita and she is showing some serious athleticism don’t you think? You know-horses aren’t the only ones who can jump!

Events This Weekend:

Groton House Farm Horse Trials: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Horse Park Of New Jersey Horse Trials  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Aachen CICO***: Live Stream, Leaderboard, Live Scores, Website, Ride Times, Virtual Course Walk

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Your Saturday News:

Writing New Chapters, By Kristin Carpenter

Lucinda Green To Feature In Six Part TV Series

Another Big Win For Hickstead Derby Champions

Ben Maher Wins At CHIO Aachen

July 14, 2013 Starter Trails at Flora Lea Farm in Medford, New Jersey –  The courses for this event will be modified from the recognized Horse Trial that runs in the spring and fall. This will make them more inviting for the beginner rider or horse, or to help with the transition between levels. Entires are $80.00 and will be accepted until July 8th. For more information check out the website www.floraleafarmllc.com or please email questions to [email protected].

Tamarack Hill Farm’s Barn Manager Daryl Kinney and Rosie’s Girl on their way to win a jumper derby at GMHA a few days ago. This mare is out of a full sister to Courageous Comet

Valonia and I practicing at THF a week ago

As much as I love David Bowie’s song Under Pressure, this is not exactly what I had in mind here. Rather, I am interested in how people handle the challenges of being put under pressure. Human beings are constantly put under stressful situations where anxiety is mounting and the pressure is really on. Some people step up to the plate, and others simply crumble to pieces. Lawyers experience pressure in the court room, surgeons must feel some amount of pressure in the operating room, and, of course, serious athletes are placed under a tremendous amount of pressure as well. Of course, there are millions of other individuals that undergo stressful situations too, though I am particularly interested in how athletes handle pressure.

How do you think Tom Brady would feel at the Super Bowl when the score is tied, there’s less than a minute on the clock, and Wes Welker is wide open, but Brady overthrows the pass? In contrast, how do you think Tom Brady would feel if he instead threw a touchdown pass and won the Super Bowl? In both instances, whether Brady throws a touchdown or throws an incomplete, he is under a tremendous amount of pressure in that particular instance.

How about event riders? How do event riders handle pressure? Can you ride at home beautifully, but once you get to an event, do your nerves get the better of you? Or do you stay cool, keep calm, and rise to the occasion when  competing? I would bet money that there are a quite a few riders out there that are either: a) nervous, b) anxious, c) stressed, or d) all of the above when competing.

Of course, there are degrees of pressure at an event. Arguably, when you finish your dressage test and go check the scores only to discover you are 29th out of 30 competitors, there’s probably less pressure to do as well. On the opposite end, whoever is in first after dressage must feel at least some amount of pressure, whether it’s personal pressure or pressure you feel from your trainer. When you are in first place after dressage, you presumably want to go clean and make time in both show jumping and cross country. How many of you have been in first place after dressage and made a mistake on cross country, like jumped the wrong fence, or didn’t pay close enough attention to your watch, or had a run out? How many of you have been in first after dressage but went bowling for rails in show jumping? How many times have you been first after dressage and ended on your dressage score? Eventing is not an easy sport — nobody ever said it was, and this is why we love it!

Let’s assume that a large majority of event riders feel a tremendous amount of pressure while competing, whether it’s cross country specifically or just competing in general. Let’s be perfectly honest. A lot of event riders, no matter how much we love this sport, can become incredibly anxious, worried, and actually lose sleep over a competition. What are some tips or advice we can offer to those who are stressed out, freaked out, or feel like vomiting before cross country?

1. Practice, practice, and practice at home so you feel comfortable with the questions you are being asked at a competition.

2. Get in the ring … meaning go to a jumper show as often as you can. You’ll start to feel less nervous in show jumping if you get in the ring and jump several rounds as often as you can. This also can be the dressage ring. Go to a schooling dressage show. Your horse doesn’t know the difference between a recognized show and a schooling show.

3. Jump bigger than the level you are going. For example: If you are going prelim, you should feel comfortable or be able to jump an intermediate show jumping round at home. After jumping larger fences at home, you’ll start noticing your prelim courses aren’t looking too bad!

4. Get used to competing … meaning if you are the type of rider who becomes nervous or stressed out-and you only enter three events in one summer, then that’s clearly a problem. Go to schooling shows, go to jumper shows and go to more events in general if you can afford it and you have the time.

Pressure comes in all shapes and forms. Some individuals can handle pressure and possibly even feed off of pressure. Then there are those who simply can’t handle pressure as well and actually crumble under such circumstances. Let’s face it, we are not all going to ride like Mary King, Michael Jung, or William Fox-Pitt. These riders are some of the best event riders in the world; and they are where they are today because they kept pushing, kept putting themselves under stressful situations, and never gave up. Have they all experienced pain, suffering, and doubt? I’m guessing they absolutely have because that comes with the territory.

This whole pressure concept can be broken down like the following: We learn to swim by swimming. We learn to read books by reading. We have to learn how to compete by competing. Riding at home or taking lessons is wonderful but doesn’t really constitute as pressure. Pressure and eventing simply go hand in hand. If you want to feel less pressure competing, you have to practice what you need to practice at home so you are prepared, and then you need to go put yourself out there by competing. Some events will be amazing for you and some will be horrible, but the only way you’ll ever get used to competing is to compete. Sounds too simple, doesn’t it?

Skybreaker doing what he was born to do-at Tamarack Hill Farm. Photo credit to Flatlandsfoto

A straight, straight flush, full house and a royal flush are all poker terms that hold little value in my world. I can see the allure and intrigue behind a card game such as poker, and I can also understand the appeal, or addiction rather, that’s associated with gambling. Gambling is a slippery slope; those who mildly follow the game will likely come out on the bottom, and those individuals who really understand how the game’s played will have a better chance at winning, though there’s never a guarantee that you will come out on top. I’m guessing those genius players who know how to count cards and understand probability have the greatest chance at succeeding in the volatile world of cards.

I think the same can be said about horse breeds and breeding in general. In fact, breeding has become so refined and so specific that you can actually breed this mare to this stallion and you are very likely to get this type of horse. I am not an expert in horse breeds, or breeding for that matter, but I am starting to have a decent idea about what could make for a really nice event horse.

Eventing now is not what eventing used to be. Arguably, we can all accept this fact, regardless of whether or not you like this fact. If we can accept the fact that the long format has essentially vanished, and a “three day” event now is comprised of three phases only, then we can agree that a “new” type of horse is emerging. Arguably, the long format events were ideal for thoroughbreds, because what other breeds could do roads and tracks, steeplechase, dressage, show jumping, cross country and still have energy that last day? Of course other breeds besides thoroughbreds did long formats and did well, but a vast majority were TB’s, or had TB in them.

Times have changed and so has this sport. Let’s by perfectly honest, if you have a decent mover that is also very brave and goes around jumping everything he is pointed at, but you are up against a spectacular mover who also jumps around clean, then the fancy mover is most likely going to win. So much of eventing NOW revolves around dressage. Riders are actually getting scores of 19 in dressage. How can you beat a 19 in dressage? Or how can you beat a 19 in dressage when that horse goes and also jumps around clean? Of course this game is not solely based upon dressage, there are numerous other factors, one of which revolves around breeding.

Let’s look at two very different horses here at Tamarack Hill Farm that were chosen because of their pedigrees. Both are currently going novice, both are very good jumpers and both seem to have potential to go far in eventing. Let’s start with this adorable little mare that my buddy Daryl Kinney competes, Cabin Society, or better known as “Jumbie.”

Daryl and Jumbie rockin it over this large oxer!

Jumbie is a 6 year old mare who is by Jumbo, the leading British-based eventing sire today. Jumbo has been a top producer of eventers, dressage horses and top show jumper. Not to mention he is the sire of Headley Britannia, an unbelievable mare that won the 2006  Burghley Horse Trials, a win at the 2007 Badminton Horse Trials, and a win at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three Day. This cutie pie mare Jumbie was really purchased because of her breeding. She is only going novice right now but is demonstrating serious potential. She’s nice on the flat, has a very low key personality and a powerful and scopey jump! Will she go advanced? We don’t know-but her breeding suggests she could go very far.

Next we have a big hunk of a gelding, Beaulieu’s Cool Skybreaker, better known as “Skybreaker.” I am currently competing this big dude and we have high hopes for him as well.

Skybreaker Ho He Hum through a gymnastics line-last oxer around 4'3"!

Skybreaker is an 8 year old gelding by Beaulieu’s Coolman, who is by Quidam De Revel, the most distinguished and most expensive living sire of jumping horses. Skybreaker is out of a Heartbreaker mare so he has double powerhouse jumper lines! Heartbreaker is sired by the world famous Nimmerdor and as a six year old Heartbreaker was 5th at the World Championship for young horses at Lanaken. The following year he was 4th at Lanaken in the World Championships. Skybreaker had a slow start but is showing tremendous ability and ease over large fences. He is very fancy on the flat but has such an enormous body that he has taken this long to grow into his large feet…and believe me-they are huge plates he’s got. He is only going novice, but we will see how far he can go.

Both horses have their weaknesses and their strengths. Both horses are relatively young and green in eventing but have very interesting pedigrees. Denny is extremely interested in bloodlines and constantly quizzes Daryl and me. He knows that eventing has changed and that breeding a horse for modern day eventing can be very tricky. Eventing now seems to require a very specific type of a horse: one that can clean up on the flat, one that is scopey and can leave the rails up in show jumping, and on xc the horse not only needs to be able to gallop, but needs to be incredibly brave and quick over these tough questions that course designers are having us do now.

Do you agree or disagree that pedigree’s have so much to do with your horse’s innate ability? Do you know your horse’s bloodlines like the back of your hand? Do you care about bloodlines? Of course there are horses whose breed we don’t even know. There are “mutts” that make fabulous event horses and we see this all the time…like Theodore O’Connor, the super pony that rode around Rolex. But we also know that this sport has and is changing right in front of our eyes. We know what horses have done really well and we know what horses are currently doing really well. If we understand the way the game works, then why not pick and choose horses that we believe have a chance at succeeding? Do either of the two horses mentioned earlier stand a chance at Rolex? I have no clue, but knowing their pedigree’s and understanding what produced these two types of horses certainly helps when attempting to predict their futures.

This is not an anti-thoroughbred, and pro-warmblood discussion. Nor is it the reverse—pro-thoroughbred and anti-warmblood. Really, I’m interested in how this sport has changed and how specific the horse needs to be in order to go advanced, and actually do well at this level. Maybe this game is all about experimentation and trying out different breeds in order to see how they fit in this sport. Or, maybe eventing is like playing cards; if you understand how the game is played and what tools, skills, or knowledge you need in order to win, then perhaps you will succeed.

THF students having a little too much fun at a GMHA schooling jumper show 2010!

How many of you have spent the better part of your lives as working students? How many of you had life changing experiences riding for some of the best event riders in the country? How many of you spent all your money as a teenager and got nothing in return? Im guessing there are thousands of young riders, teenagers, and young adults who are currently applying for a working student position, have already spent the time as a working student, or are longing to be on some accomplished event rider’s team.

In order to become a working student, you must be ready to dedicate your time to someone else for x amount of months, or years; you must have a basic idea of what it is you want to accomplish from the experience (regardless of how extreme or minuscule your goals are); you must have some sort of funding in place to allow you to go be a slave without being compensated; and you must have an open mind. There seem to be various stages associated with this working student topic. Let’s focus on the meat of the subject matter: What to do, how to act, how NOT to act, and what to expect when you’re a working student.

What To Do? Well, this isn’t exactly brain surgery here. You should do exactly what the barn manager, or the owner of the farm tells you to do. If the barn manager or the person you are riding for wants you to sweep the shavings in each stall so that there is exactly 4.5 inches between the stall door and the inside of the stall, then that’s what you need to do. If they ask you to re-apply oil to the tack you already cleaned that morning, then get another sponge and some oil and get ready to clean. If someone has a list of To Do’s, then follow that list and try and get as much done as you can possibly get done in one day.

The purpose of being a working student is to learn everything you possibly can from accomplished and professional riders. The purpose is not to take your sweet time with each and every chore and drive off the second the clock chimes 6pm. If you find yourself counting down the seconds till a lunch break, or the end of the day, then maybe being a working student is not for you. Do what they ask you to do, and do it well.

How To Act: This is REALLY important so take notes, or make a mental note. Be friendly. Really, it’s as simple as this. Of course this can be harder for some of us than others. I know all too well that stepping out of your shell and becoming more outgoing can be a major task. But, believe me, once you start opening up and becoming a more likable person that others want to spend time with, everything starts to get easier. Even if you’re not on your way to Rolex, or on your way to the Prelim championships at Fitches Corner, and even if you’re not the most talented rider in the world, if you have a good attitude, and you want to improve AND you’re a hard worker, then everything will be okay.

How NOT To Act: Obviously the opposite of being nice and outgoing, would be someone who is shy and grumpy, or unapproachable. If you have a bad attitude, have no interest in learning, and lack a hard-working mentality, then you might benefit more from working in a private cubicle where you are by yourself all day. Other pieces of universal advice that should be noted regardless of the individual you are working for:

1. Don’t sit around (in fact never sit unless you’re completely off the clock).
2. Always look for something to do.
3. Always stay busy.
4. Don’t ask if you can leave now-work until they tell you it’s okay to leave.
5. Don’t walk around the barn, or farm like you’re assisting your 94 year old grandmother on a stroll around a garden, walk like you have a purpose-HUSTLE!
6. Don’t wait to be told to do something-take initiative.
7. If you happen to be setting jumps in a jump set-don’t stand there like a statue, if a rail gets knocked down, run to go put it back into place.
8. Don’t talk back in a lesson. Example: “My horse is being a jerk today,” or, “that’s not how my other trainer said I should do that…”. You’re a working student because you want to learn from one of the best. Even if you don’t agree, bite your tongue and try your best to do whatever he or she is asking of you. There are tons of other pointers, but really the most crucial components are being nice and working hard!

What to expect when you’re a working student: This point is fairly open-ended. What to expect when you’re a working student really revolves around your goals as a rider. Do you just want to improve your riding in general? Do you want to move up the levels with your horse? Do you want to improve your jumping, or are you more concerned about your skills as a dressage rider? Are you trying to become an upper level event rider? I think some of the best advice I can offer as far as what to expect, is maybe don’t expect the world to change in one summer. In other words, you should have your personal goals in the back of your mind, but you also ought to arrive at so and so’s barn with an open mind.

You might learn things you were never aware of. You might learn completely different skills that you were unsure of. No matter how much you love or despise your working student position, you’re going to learn something from the experience and that’s always a good thing. If the timing is right, if your attitude is right, and you’re in an ideal position, you may find that your life does completely change after being a working student for someone.

THF students heading out for a hack-2009

Too cute! Who could ever get tired of seeing an adorable little pony and rider tackle xc jumps?!

Happy Weekend  from Eventing Nation! When I think of the weekend I think competition time! Who is competing this weekend and where? Apparently the weather has decided to not cooperate with much of the country this weekend but if there’s one thing that does not deter eventers it’s the weather. We compete rain, shine, snow, hail, blizzard….you name it-we’ve competed in it!

The USEA-registered Spring Run HT 2013 has been cancelled. Spring Run is hosting several locally sanctioned shows this season. The June 9 Mini-Trial offers levels BN through Training and is accepting entries through June 4. Go to (here) for more info on the mini-trial!

Based on weather projections, Plantation H.T. is still planning on conducting their event. CHECK AT 6AM TOMORROW MORNING FOR CONFIRMATION.  The Start time has been moved back one (1) hour. Your times will be one hour later than originally scheduled. VERY IMPORTANT; PLEASE DO NOT WALK THE COURSE TODAY AS WE WANT TO MINIMIZE TRAFFIC ON THE SITE. All vehicles should enter Green Valley Rd. entrance if you must walk the course today. Park at top of hill. No pinneys will be handed out today. Thank you

Events This Weekend:

Queeny Park Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Texas Rose Horse Park Summer Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Derbyshire Farms Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Difficult Run Pony Club Spring Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Cooper Meadows Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Arrowhead Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Website) (Entry Status/Ride Times) (Live Scores)

Links: 

Eventing Loses Popular Fence Judge David Rea

Equestrian-Yokrshire set to welcome eventing stars

Who’s A Star is having a winning upper level event career with Courtney Cooper  

Classic Thoroughbred Show Horses: Incantation

The Olympian’s Daughter: Eventing On A High!

Valonia-Photo by Denny Emerson.

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Earlier this week a friend of mine from Burlington trailered down for a jump lesson with Denny. After the lesson was over a number of us were standing around, hanging out in the cool barn aisle, like we so often do. There were four of us standing there chatting. At one point I mentioned how spectacular my friend’s young thoroughbred gelding looked this year. How immature and green he had looked a couple years ago, and now this year he was very impressive jumping big boy jumps and looking like he knew his job all of a sudden. She replied and commented on how ecstatic she was with her young horse and how excited she was to move him up to training at GMHA this weekend. She said she wasn’t really thinking in terms of going Advanced someday (because she’s a world traveler and a dedicated Indian dancer), but instead wanted to have fun with her young and talented horse and if the timing was right then she would test his wings. In the meantime she was happy to go Training and try and qualify for a long format Training three-day at Waredaca this summer.

That morning as we stood around chatting about our goals and whether or not we would ever be competing in FEI events, I found myself pondering this conversation for days. As mentioned there were four of us standing there that morning. It seemed as though two out of four of us were not really thinking in terms of going Advanced, while one was absolutely on that road (even though she never said anything….she didn’t need to), and the other (myself) was pretty sure of what she wanted but was simultaneously filled with doubt.

When I was a little girl I remember reading a book every night, setting that book down and before I turned off my light I would gaze into my poster above my bed. I specifically remember looking up at one of my idols, Ingrid Klimke jumping some enormous xc fence. I would stare at this poster so long that I would almost imagine that I was her in that saddle, jumping that fence, with that spectacular horse underneath me. These were my dreams. Then I shut my light off.

Fast forward to this weekend at GMHA. I was fortunate enough to go spend the better part of my Sunday at GMHA, which was xc day. I walked out to the water complex and made it just in time to watch my friend (the one standing in the barn aisle that morning). I watched as she galloped up to a decent sized brush and not long after turned down a short steep hill to the water. They quietly but decidedly dropped down into the water, cantered through and out a few strides to a coop. They looked amazing and I was so happy for her. She and her young horse conquering their first Training event together.

As I watched riders tackle the water jump and several fences before and after, I thought to myself, how many riders competing this weekend are or have been big time riders? How many would peak at Training level, and how many would never even make it to Training level? I often find myself comparing my own experience to other riders’ experiences and inevitably becoming deterred. I desperately want to compete at the upper levels someday and then I realize I am going Novice and Training level. I also start harping on the fact that perhaps people, sponsors, trainers, and other riders take you less seriously until you are solidly attacking hard prelim courses and above (and doing well at these levels). Then I realize how stupid and destructive this way of thinking is.

Some people have goals and others don’t. Some people pushed themselves to the max in college while others hid out in their dorm room partying. Some people are highly motivated while others are not. I have always been very ambitious, motivated and have had clear goals. I have always wanted to compete at the upper levels in eventing. When you’re only going training and your goal has always been to go Advanced and you’re almost 30 years old, it seems not hard to believe that one can become incredibly anxious, frustrated, and at times lose sight of their goals. If anyone ever feels like this, or has felt like this perhaps try thinking in terms of short term goals. This seems to help me tremendously. For instance, this year I want to tackle all these Training events and go Prelim at such and such event in September. Or, this year I want to qualify for a one-star. Or this season I want to get my horse used to going to different places and seeing different sights. Make it simple. Make it precise. Make it short term. Make it attainable. Maybe some of us are on the road towards FEI, and some of us will never be, but no matter what your goals, how immense or how small, never doubt yourself for one minute.

Skybreaker, photo courtesy of Flatlands Photo.