We announced the 10 Blogger Contest finalists yesterday, and now we’re bringing you their awesome entries from Round 1 here on Bloggers Row. I will be posting all 10 entries over the next few days, so be sure to check them out and leave your feedback in the comments.
All entries will be reprinted without editing for fairness’ sake. Thanks again for your support and readership, EN! We are so thrilled to have such quality entries this year.
Entrant: Maggie Deatrick, 28
Bio: Area V eventer, transplanted to Middleburg, recently transplanted again to Philadelphia
Character Defining Qualities:
Prone to a degree of stubbornness that results in everyone around me rolling their eyes, which of course results in me digging my heels in even harder.
Mild obsessive-compulsive habits that cause me to have all of my possessions organized with boxes inside boxes inside boxes.
A tendency to be highly amused at children’s cartoons.
Embarrassing Tidbits:
I’ve fallen off only twice in competition, but both falls occurred at water complexes. Both incidents are immortalized in photo, video, or both. #ihatewetpants #nowIhavetooilallmytack
Not all too long ago, I somehow managed to scores in the nineties at an FEI event. Not a dressage show, an event. #isthatarecord #nocarrotsforyou
Entry: “The Second Horse Itch”
At some point in every rider’s life, the eye starts to stray. Maybe a horse is on rest, and the lack of riding is slowly driving them mad. Perhaps the horse is getting older, or isn’t quite tackling the course the way they should. Other times, the rider simply misses having a baby horse.
At this time, many riders are struck with what I call the Second Horse Itch.
The Second Horse Itch starts as just a little tickle. It may manifest at a show, when you see a particularly nice mover float across the ground in dressage. It may start at your barn, when a barn-mate buys a new one and excitement spreads around. It can even start in your daydreams, as you imagine racing across the hills of Rolex.
That tickle grows slowly. You might begin searching Sporthorse Nation for horses over $50k, finding an upper level school-master who can take you to the woods of Fair Hill and the sands of Galway. With your new partner, you head to England to compete with William and Mary, and the Netherlands to tangle with Michael Jung and the indomitable Sam. You ride down centerline at the Rio Olympics, having just performed the test of a lifetime.
Reality brings you back from the landscapes of Europe and places you firmly on solid ground. That four star packer is out of reach, financially.
But maybe you can afford a baby. It doesn’t hurt to look, right?
You toy with the idea of importing a phenomenal young prospect, watching video after video of Irish horses free jumping. A few catch your eye, and you fantasize about pulling a fancy young horse off the trailer, freshly arrived from Ireland, with a moniker to match. You imagine hacking the youngster through the countryside, teaching him to be brave and strong. The two of you spend a lifetime going easily up the levels.
Then you look at the cost of a plane ticket for a horse.
On to square three. The Second Horse Itch needs attention, and at this point you can’t help but scratch it.
You think of buying a young warmblood from a breeder in America, progeny from Brandenburg’s Windstar or Salute the Truth. You drool over Riverman offspring and covet those sired by A Fine Romance. But the bottom line looms.
Inevitably, your mouse drags you to CANTER, where you peruse the ranks of young OTTBs. Not all of them are to your liking, or even many, but finding the diamond in the rough is part of the fun. At this point, the Second Horse Itch is a constant, nagging thought.
You find a thoroughbred to fit your criteria, who looks perfect on paper and in photos. You even have his purchase price in your savings account. The Second Horse Itch urges you to the phone, ready to call the trainer.
Then you look at your bank account. Work out your finances. Realize that the expensive part of owning horses is not the purchase price, but the upkeep. Know in your heart that even if you have the money, you don’t really have the time. Sadly, you put the phone down.
But you come back to that photo of the OTTB daily. You both dread and can’t wait for him to be sold. Finally, the ad goes away, indicating he is no longer available. You think you’re free of the longing.
But you’re not. There’s always another school-master, another import, another fancy youngster, another OTTB.
The Second Horse Itch never truly goes away.
