And Buck will be filling his own division at Ocala. We call it 'OP-Buck' and 'OP-Everyone Else'
The holidays are over, the relatives have left, and it’s officially time to start stalking the entry lists. Entries for Ocala I, Rocking Horse I, and the new event Three Lakes are all already available. Some old favorites are back after a hiatus, and Buck already has about fifty more entries than anyone else. Does anyone else have some entries to peruse? Bored office workers need something to fill the hours!
U.S. Weekend Preview
Just one more week to go, folks.
Lost a bit of MOJO? Get it back with this week’s Fab Freebie! MOJO is giving away a prize pack containing both wristbands and halter patches, and we think you will really enjoy using them! Enter by midnighton Friday for your chance to win. [Fab Freebie: MOJO]
The USEA needs your help to begin to renew the Frangible Fence Study. Begun in 2009 at the University of Kentucky, the study was put on hold due to lack of funds. Mrs. Jacqueline Mars has generously offered to donate $25,000 towards renewing the study, but only if the USEA can match the amount by January 15th. This amount will allow the study to resume, while fundraising continues. Once renewed, the study will take a total of $160,000 to complete. Please consider contributing to this important research aiming to improve the safety of our sport. [Cross Country Safety Study] [USEA Launches Campaign]
Carleigh Fedorka had a rollercoaster of a year. Despite the incredible highs of winning the dressage division of the RRTP and running her first Training, Carleigh had some rough days…and months…in 2015. In this blog, she puts it all in perspective with the help of an old saying, urging the reader to remember the ups and to let go of the downs. [How Do You Measure A Year]
In a heart-wrenching Groom’s Spotlight, we meet Crystal Lee. Crystal Lee, the long-time groom for dressage rider Jim Koford, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014. Since then, she has had three surgeries, yet continues to look forward, eager to ride again. Her two year old Hanoverian, Dragon, keep her company. She urges everyone in the horse industry, rider, groom, or working student, to make time in their schedule for regular check-ups. [Crystal Lee Lives to Ride]
Stephen Bradley is looking to return to the top with a young German Warmblood. Armicor, a 5-year old chestnut gelding with a striking blaze, caught the eye of Stephen while he was in Germany recently. Stephen imported him to the States and is now looking for syndicate owners to share in the journey with Armicor. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in becoming a syndicate member and would like more details. [Armicor]
SmartPak Product of the Day: These boots are absolutely gorgeous, and I’ve been drooling over them for years. As pretty as they are, I’m not sure I could bring myself to wear them to the barn, but they would sure get a lot of compliments as I walk through the city. [Smart Pak]
Here’s Buck on one of his fifty entries from Ocala 1 last year.
Terri Myers and her 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse gelding, Terroz, were never supposed to compete as eventers.
“Several years ago I purchased ‘Oz’ knowing he had an injury,” she said. “The veterinarian said he would probably not be suitable for dressage. I spent years conditioning him, and he is now doing Second Level dressage. We just finished the year competing at Beginner Novice and are hoping to move up to Novice/Training in the spring.”
This video filmed at Bucks County Horse Park in Pennsylvania was produced by Terri’s son, Seth Umbenhauer, as her Christmas gift, showing the pure joy we all feel every time we compete. Many thanks to Terri for sharing this special video that truly reminds us all of the love we have for our sport.
Go Eventing.
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We’re pleased to bring you a special guest blog from Athletux rider Dani Sussman, who expands on the idea of horses as teachers. Many thanks to Dani for writing, and thank you for reading! Be sure to follow her on Facebook and check out her website.
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Bryan.
I am sure we have all heard many times over that you never stop learning when it comes to horses. Most riders participate in continued education coming from humans as we ride in clinics, read books and articles, and consult other professionals/peers.
That said, significantly less riders (and trainers) notice that the teacher can actually be the horse. From a trainer’s perspective, we have developed methods that work for us. We like horses to go a certain way and often expect them to conform to our training styles. As a result, we tend to gravitate towards a certain “type” of horse, be it hot or kicking quiet, sensitive, strong, quirky, or intense.
Regardless of the horse’s “type,” most trainers look for their preferred characteristics in each horse they buy, in order to mitigate the “risk” of not getting along with the horse. That said, as a professional, you don’t always get to pick your, or your client’s ride. New clients come to you with horses they already own and it’s up to you to make it work — for them as a pair, and with you as their trainer.
This situation, combined with the continued quest to pick the “perfect” mount for clients that are looking for a new horse, creates the opportunity for trainers, and riders, to diversify their skill set by learning from, and listening to, a greater variety of horses.
Recently, I had a client that was looking for a resale project. She was ready for the challenge of dealing with a green horse and learning the process of bringing it along and turning it into a sport horse. As part of this project, I found an off-track Thoroughbred that was amazing: beautiful, strong, tall, and a fantastic mover.
This horse certainly fell into the category of “my type” and had the look of an upper level event horse. His gaits were incredible, not only for being just off the track, but for any horse. He was sensitive but not crazy, with the kindest eye, another quality that drew me to him.
I have bought many OTTB’s — from 3-year olds to 7-year-olds — and have brought them along to a second career as successful sport horses, but this one stood out to me. He was special. Not only was he 10 years old and still racing but he was sound, both in the mind, as well as in the body.
Due to his age, he basically “aged out” of the track and they were done with him, lucky for me and my client. We brought him home, gave him some time to settle in, and then I started to work with him.
As has become part of my initial routine of getting to know a horse, especially an OTTB, I started out working him with a simple bridle with no flash noseband and lunging him without side reins. This approach gives me a chance to see the horse move freely and allows him opportunity to blow off excess energy. He lunged surprisingly well, as I have often found most do not know how to lunge when coming off the track.
Next, I decided to put the side reins on very loosely. Within minutes of hooking up the side reins, he came against them and completely overreacted. He slammed to a stop and reared straight up — the look in his eye telling me he was clearly scared and confused, not angry or belligerent. Rather than overreacting, I stopped to assess the situation, as this was clearly not what I was intending.
I took the side reins off and lunged him again. He calmed down and got right back to work. In situations like these, it’s important to stop, calmly assess the situation, consider alternatives and implement. Stopping and listening to what the horse is trying to tell you and finding a different approach can make all the difference.
In order to further evaluate this horse’s potential aversion to side reins, the next day I came out and long lined him instead of lunging since the side reins were too confining for him. Again, within minutes, he felt the pressure of the lines and panicked, again rearing — worryingly unaware of his own balance and safety.
At this point, some trainers may conclude that this horse had a history with rearing and that this information was not disclosed. Regardless if that was true, in this case most certainly not, it is up to us, as trainers, to find a solution to the problem.
Basically, this was a lovely horse that required a different approach, not only to effectively train the horse, but also to ensure horse and rider safety. Instead of lunging or long-lining, I decided to ride him. He was soft, obedient, and a pleasure to sit on.
I slowly started to ask for a little contact — using a soft and elastic feel — and gained his trust. Within a few weeks, he was starting to understand contact and that the pressure he felt in his mouth was meant to give confidence, not induce fear. He was starting to go very well, but chomped the bit constantly.
In order to address the chomping, I used a Nathe bit, which is what I always use to start young/green horses to teach them to take contact. Although he basically had a big pacifier in his mouth, which most horses find to be confidence-building, he continued to be over-active with his mouth.
In horses that are more broke, or not directly off the track, I would consider changing bits to see if there was a different type of bit that they prefer. However, I find with horses straight off the track, that this bit is most likely the softest, most pliable bit they have ever come in contact with. This bit encourages them to take contact, but is flexible enough that they don’t get locked on it.
As an option to changing the bit, I thought it was time to introduce the flash noseband to see if that would stop his continuous clanking of his teeth. I put the flash on, loose — very loose, knowing he had an ill reaction to confinement — and walked him into the arena. I got on and asked him to walk forward and he stood straight up. I jumped off and took the flash off immediately, since that had been the only change.
I then got back on and had a lovely ride — soft to my hands, obedient to my aids, and swinging through his back. I paused. Here was this incredible horse standing on his hind legs, yet he wasn’t being maleficent. He was telling me he wasn’t ready for that type of confinement and constriction. I had to stop and listen and learn.
Was he a bad horse? Absolutely not. Did someone sell me a chronic rearer? Again, emphatically, no. His was a specific reaction to a specific stimulus — one that I had applied. Thus, I had to change the way I approached him, again, and the way I was going to train him. I had to listen and learn what he was saying, and I couldn’t force what I wanted when I wanted it.
I ran the risk of ruining him and creating a dangerous animal. This particular horse reminded all of us to not be afraid to approach things differently. By making my methodology dynamic, including my approach and my timeline, he now is capable of lunging in side-reins, long lining, as well as working in the Pessoa lunging rig.
In doing so, he went from the track to successfully running Preliminary in under a year, even scoring a 20 in dressage at his first Preliminary event — while even wearing a flash noseband.
Overall, by listening to the horse’s reactions, his telling me what he was ready for and what he was not, this horse made me a better trainer and rider. If I had to ride him without a flash noseband, I would adjust accordingly.
We all have our own, unique training methods of how we approach young/green horses. Being able to adapt to any situation the horse throws at you and make it a successful one makes you a better trainer. This experience further validates the concept that you need to assess the horse’s reactions and use your bag of tricks to adjust your methodology.
Great saves. We’ve all had our own — those moments where we see our life (or at least our dignity) flash before our eyes. We saw some really top-notch saves in 2015, and we’re continuing our look back on another year full of insanity with our Top Saves of 2015.
We’d also like to know who gets your vote for the unofficial Best Save of 2015! Take a look here, and vote in the poll for your favorite.
Losing a stirrup is pretty nerve wracking at any time, but imagine losing your stirrup while on course at big, bad Burghley. Your heart rate just went up a tick, didn’t it? Thankfully, Tim went on to complete with no further issues, but he somehow jumped the Cottesmore Leap with his iron dangling in the wind.
If “Dancing With the Equine Stars” were a thing, perhaps Joe and South Paw would not have won, but they’d certainly win plenty of marks for composure (or lack thereof for South Paw). Luckily, Joe had everything under control and made his save look easy.
This save could straight up go on one of those Thrills and Spills videos that we all used to watch as kids. Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek made their four-star debut this spring at Rolex, and they kept things exciting at fence 20. Thanks to Tylir Penton, we can see how it (nearly) went down.
It definitely seemed to be a year of great four-star saves, and this one from Niklas Bschorer is no exception. Niklas made the best of a potentially bad (and wet) situation — as well as an inflated air vest — and somehow made it through a tricky question on course with Tom Tom Go 3.
We saw a fantastic stickability lesson from Lillian Heard at The Fork when she somehow managed to both hang on and still pilot Arundel to the next fence.
Darby Weerstra competed in the Novice division at Richland Park this year and safely made it home, albeit with one heck of a save at fence 5. Way to kick on, Darby!
And finally, we look back at little Naomi Langeler, who at just 9 years old already has a viral save under her belt. Thank goodness for “around the world” training! Keep an eye on this one, y’all.
So now it’s time for a vote! Pick your favorite save of 2015:
Welcome to the inaugural post in our Top Five of 2015 series! This series will highlight the top five horses and riders in each phase at the Advanced, three-star and four-star levels from 2015.
While we often recognize greatness over all three phases in our sport, we should also strive to recognize strength in each phase. This series aims to give that recognition and highlight horses and riders who have had particularly strong years in one phase or another.
Today’s Top Five will highlight the horses that had the five lowest dressage averages in 2015. To be considered for EN’s top five, the horse must have performed at least two dressage tests at these levels. All U.S. horses were considered, regardless of where they are based, as well as all horses who competed at least twice on U.S. soil.
These averages include Advanced scores that have been converted into FEI scores to allow for direct comparison. I’ve included the average in terms of both FEI and USEF scoring, but both scores include all Advanced/3*/4* tests from the year. (As a side note, 15 American horses averaged below the all-important 45.0 mark this year.)
Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti at the 2015 Pan American Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.
FIFTH PLACE: Pavarotti
FEI Average: 42.00
USEF Average: 28.00
Number of Tests: 3
Jessica Phoenix’s Pan American Games partner didn’t play much this year at the upper levels, and in fact didn’t complete an event at these levels. Jessica withdrew him at both Rolex CCI4* and Fair Hill CCI3* after the first phase, and just popped off him on the cross country at Plantation Field CIC3*.
Still, this horse made it known he still excels on the flat, scoring a solid 45.0 (FEI) at Rolex, hunting the leaders at Plantation with a 41.8 (FEI), and putting the heat on Mai Baum with a 39.2 (FEI) at Fair Hill on his personal best score of the year.
Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.
FOURTH PLACE: Who’s A Star
FEI Average: 41.85
USEF Average: 27.90
Number of Tests: 3
Who’s A Star is another horse that didn’t get to play much at this level this year, first sidelined by a minor injury just before Rolex, then curtailed in the fall season as Courtney Cooper recovered from a broken leg. His three marks of the year all came early on in his spring campaign.
“Tag” is another horse who improved on each test, beginning with a 30.6 (USEF) at Pine Top Advanced. He broke the 30 threshold at Carolina International, also in the Advanced, clocking in a 29.3 (USEF). It was at The Fork that he really threw down the gauntlet, scoring a 23.8 (USEF) on what would be his final test at this level for 2015.
Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous at Plantation Field. Photo by Jenni Autry.
THIRD PLACE: RF Scandalous
FEI Average: 41.40
USEF Average: 27.60
Number of Tests: 3
We all realized that this mare would be a powerhouse in the first phase when she navigated through a spring season of competitive two-stars undefeated, then moved on to win individual gold in Toronto. Although “Kitty” only completed one event at this level, she laid down three dressage tests that should make you sit down and take notes.
Marilyn Little first piloted RF Scandalous to an astounding 37.6 (FEI) at Poplar Place CIC3*, before laying down a 41.1 (FEI) at Plantation Field to lie second in a huge field. Then they took a trip overseas to Boekelo CCIO3*, where an extremely solid 45.5 (FEI) showed she had the chops to compete with the Europeans on the flat.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum at The Fork. Photo by Jenni Autry.
SECOND PLACE: Mai Baum
FEI Average: 38.97
USEF Average: 25.98
Number of Tests: 6
Mai Baum had an absolute bang-up year, with wins in five of six starts at this level, leading all five of those wins from start to finish. Tamie Smith moved Mai Baum up for his first Advanced test at Copper Meadows, where he scored a jaw-dropping 22.8 (USEF). After a two-star campaign on the East Coast, Mai Baum popped back into mix at Great Meadow CIC3*, laying down a 41.1 (FEI) for third place after the first phase behind Cambalda and Ballynoe Castle RM.
A summer stint at back west reinforced his prowess on the flat, with a 40.5 (FEI) at Rebecca Farm CIC3* and 41.3 (FEI) at Copper Meadows CIC3*. Mai Baum’s second trip to the East Coast produced the final knock-out scores, as he led a huge field at Plantation Field CIC3* with a 38.2 (FEI), then summed it up with a 38.5 (FEI) at Fair Hill CCI3*.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at Blenheim. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
FIRST PLACE: Loughan Glen
FEI Average: 36.79
USEF Average: 24.53
Number of Tests: 4
While Mai Baum was busy dominating all across the U.S., Clark Montgomery was smashing fields at some of the biggest events in Europe. Loughan Glen began his season leading an Advanced field at Weston Park with a 24.3 (BEF, equivalent to USEF) before making headlines by being one of two horses to break the 40s mark with a 39.8 (FEI) at Belton Park CIC3* in a massive field of 106.
Next up was Luhmühlen in Germany, where the horse scored a 37.1 (FEI) at his only four-star competition of the year. Loughan Glen ended the season with a bang, leading a field of 101 from start to finish with a dominating 33.8 (FEI) at Blenheim CCI3* to soundly top the dressage charts for 2015.
Voting is now open for EquiRatings Horse of the Year, and we’re excited to have two U.S. horses nominated! Loughan Glen and RF Scandalous are two of the 10 horses vying for the honor, along with Horseware Hale Bob, fischerTakinou, Leonidas II, Persimmon, La Biosthetique Sam FBW, Piaf B’Neville, CP Qualified and FRH Escada JS.
Check out details on all the contenders at this link, and then vote by liking, commenting, sharing and using the #ERHOTY hashtag. The first round of voting is underway now, and a second round of voting will open soon for the final four horses. Go Loughan Glen and RF Scandalous! Follow @EquiRatings on Twitter for more on #ERHOTY.
Lost a bit of MOJO? Get it back with this week’s Fab Freebie! MOJO is giving away a prize pack containing both wristbands and halter patches, and we think you will really enjoy using them! Enter by midnight on Friday for your chance to win. [Fab Freebie: MOJO]
Bidding For Safety: Bidding for the cross country jump built by Eric Bull is nearing an end. With all proceeds going to the USEA Collapsible/Deformable Fence Study, bidding is still below the value for this amazing jump. Head on over to Facebook and place your bid before the auction closes on Dec. 31. [USEA Facebook Auction to Support Collapsible Fence Study]
Hall of Fame Gala Rewind: The room was sold out with not a chair to spare and all attendees excited for the reason we all had gathered. The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., was the place for eventers to be on Dec. 5 as nine worthy inductees were welcomed into the USEA Hall of Fame. But if you were not there, the USEA has you covered with videos of each induction. [2015 Hall of Fame Inductions Ceremony]
SmartPak Wants to Know What You Want to Know: SmartPak starting an “Ask The Vet” video Q&A series and wants to hear from you. What do you want to ask Dr. Lydia Gray? The first topic will be Winter Horse Care. Find out how to get involved by visiting Askthevet.smartpak.com [Ask The Vet]
Robert “Bob” Smith Remembered: On Dec. 19, Robert Smith of Cedar Grove Farm, Berryville, Virginia, passed away suddenly. Bob was the founder of Smith-Garrity Ltd., an importer of equestrian products owned y L’Apogee saddlery in France. Celebrations of life will be planned in Virginia and New Hampshire. Email condolences may be sent to [email protected]. [Robert Smith]
Setting Your GPS for the New Year: Daniel Stewart knows that at the beginning of each year everyone sets new goals for themselves. Much like setting a GPS in a car gets you from point A to B physically, Daniel discusses the athletic acronym for concepts like Goal, Problem, Solution so you can be on the way to meeting your goals for 2016. [Daniel Stewart’s Tip of the Month]
Cavalor Giveaway: Cavalor is giving away one month of Cavalor feed to two lucky winners to help start the New Year right. Just tell them how Cavalor has changed your horse’s life for the better, or share with them why you want to make the switch to Cavalor for your chance to win. The contest ends at midnight on Jan. 1, 2016. [Cavalor Contest]
Tuesday’s Video:
So as my collection of horses grows at an exponential rate, I’m in dire need of some new wheels for my string of horses. I’m really wishing a horse van like this one made by Kevin Parker Horseboxes was available here in Maryland. I could see it tucked in nicely next to the barn.
Team Tredstep rider Elisa Wallace of Wallace Eventing has been a very busy vlogger of late, keeping us up to date on both her mustang endeavors as well as her competition with Simply Priceless, with whom she completed Rolex in 2015.
In the latest edition of her vlog, Elisa fills us in on her Christmas (hint: it involves a rat and a Christmas ornament…), updates on her four-legged family and an update on her upcoming plans with Simply Priceless, or “Johnny.”
Many thanks to Wallace Eventing for allowing us to share their vlog content. To catch up on more, visit their website here.
As 2015 comes to a close, EN guest writer Laine Ashker reflects on her season and completing the biggest event of her career: The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Many thanks to Laine for writing, and don't forget to follow her on Instagram.
The flight from London Heathrow to Richmond via Atlanta is a total travel time of around 10 or 11 hours. However, the long journey home from Burghley for me seemed to last for days. Even when I stepped inside my quaint and happy apartment greeted by two extremely needy lovebirds and laid my head on my very own pillow, my heart was still in England, resting high atop the Cottesmore Leap, which is also said to be the highest point on the formidable four-star course.
Truth be told, my initial sentiments about my performance with Anthony Patch after Burghley did not agree with my otherwise positive outlook on life. I felt like a failure. I felt like I let everyone down. I felt like a dog retreating with his tail between his legs after losing a tussle with a neighboring beastly canine. I didn’t allow myself to acknowledge the fact that I had just completed the world’s biggest four-star event and with a sound 16-year-old off-track Thoroughbred.
Now that the dust has settled and “time and sunshine” have worked their magic, I have been able to reflect on my unforgettable international experience with a clear head. Suddenly, an influx of feelings rush in, ranging from tears, laughter, nausea and, most surprisingly, inner peace. And, strangely enough, I immediately have a change of heart. Burghley was everything I dreamed about and more. Funny how one’s outlook can change once you start to get out of your own way!
Laine and Valerie Ashker walking the Burghley cross country with super groom Lauren Sherrill. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Riding at Burghley was one helluva surreal experience. On top of attracting crowds in the tens of thousands, the most unique part of Burghley was probably what occurred away from the bustling shopaholic crowds. The barn area was unlike any other. In contrast to Rolex, Burghley stables all of the riders together regardless of their nationality, which for wide-eyed Americans like myself was probably the coolest aspect of the event.
Every day as Al and I came back from our early morning walk, we were greeted by our famous stablemates, such as Sir Mark Todd, Jock Paget, Jonelle and Tim Price, Michael Jung and Dag Albert. For me this, is what made Burghley so unforgettable: just to hang out in the barn area tossing around ideas with literal living legends who were as down to earth and kind as any regular joe.
It was so reassuring to ask the riders about their past Burghley performances, get clues on how the course rides and last-minute tips about proper British eventing etiquette. (Note to self: It’s not considered courteous to run over the man with the microphone trying to interview you immediately following dressage … ahem, AL!)
Never have I been to an event where I have felt so welcome, and despite all of its prestige, it was surprising and enjoyable to experience the laid-back atmosphere in the barns. Word on the Burghley street (and throughout the loud speakers) was that Al and I were fondly called “America’s Eventing Sweethearts,” which was bestowed upon us by British announcer and four-star eventer Spencer Sturmey.
Outside of the barn, however, was anything but tranquil. From sun up to sun down, the Burghley trade fair moonlighted as an American shopping mall on the night of Christmas Eve with its increasing number of crowds. And, of course, there was the stunning Burghley mansion that stands proudly overlooking the show grounds in all its wonder that never failed to give me goosebumps every time I hacked past it.
Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch strutting their stuff in the Burghley arena. Photo by Samantha Clark.
But aside from that busy trade fair and the stately palace, probably the biggest part of Burghley was its colossal cross country course! Never have I seen ditches as deep, oxers as tall and wide, and technical questions that at first sight seemed impossible all in one course. Top that off with thousands of people lining the galloping lane to catch a glimpse of the world’s best riders tackle such a demanding course — well, my friends, this is officially the big league!
I remember before leaving for England having phone conversations with my dear friends Sinead Halpin and Hannah Sue Burnett, who both conquered that cross country course in years past. One thing that both ladies asserted was to never depend on anything outside of the gallop lane to use as a guage to line up a technical question because most likely a massive crowd would be blocking it from my view. In other words, there are crowds, and then there are Burghley crowds.
Probably my best piece of advice came from my longtime coach Buck Davidson. I remember calling him late Friday night in a panic before cross country the next day hoping he could muster some wise words to set my mind at ease so I could get some sleep. In typical Buck form, he did not disappoint.
The next morning I gave Al a light breeze and walked my course alongside my security blanket (AKA my mom) when Buck’s instructions began to take shape. He told me to watch some of my favorite riders (Fox-Pitt, Jung, Funnell, Townend, etc.) and count how many strides each one got between fence one and fence two.
Initially I had no idea about the concept behind Buck’s logic — being that the first two fences had no related distance — until he explained to me that counting strides between the first two fences of the people who were successful around the whole course literally showed the pace that he or she was on when setting out on the course.
The average number of strides between the first and second jumps was an attacking sixteen. Not only did I now know the pace that was expected to successfully complete a course like this, but I also now comprehended the precedent these top riders were setting early on in cross country. I will never forget this advice for as long as I live, and I truly think Buck’s wisdom helped me complete a course I thought to be impossible just two days prior.
I bet you would like to know how many strides I got from one to two. All I can say is I never expected the sudden rush of confidence as Al launched over the massive white table on the sixteenth stride. Despite the two green bobbles on course, Al and I managed to proudly carry our beloved Stars and Stripes through the finish flags. And just like the Grinch who stole Christmas, our hearts grew three times larger that day.
Now anyone who knows me knows that I am a fierce competitor. I have trained under the most amazing athletes in the sport, and I have been fortunate enough to have known the sweet taste of success a handful of times to make me yearn for it even more. But when we galloped across the finish line, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.
Don’t get me wrong — I still don’t think having two refusals on any course is acceptable, nor should it be deemed a huge success. However, being that my initial goal was to finish my first overseas four-star, I am both relieved and proud to have punched yet another four-star notch in my (C4) belt.
This leads me to the most important thing that I learned while competing at Burghley. I am finally able to grasp the difference between myself and the riders who I aspire to be like. While walking the cross country Friday afternoon, my mom watched as different groups of riders discussed how to tackle the difficult lines at the Trout Hatchery. What she noticed was the differing levels of confidence demonstrated in one simple question each of the riers posed to themselves.
While I was busy devising plans of how to finish the course, the world’s top riders were devising plans of how to finish the course the fastest. They were already confident in the fact that they could easily navigate through the lines, which turned their attention to finding the fastest and most economical routes to cross the finish line.
In simpler terms, the world’s top riders are just more competitive than I am. I know it’s not like this is breaking news, but it was really earth shattering to witness this world-dominating competitiveness firsthand, rather than just watching it over a live stream back home.
Now that I have managed to unearth my proverbial tail from my rear, I have taken this priceless experience and turned it into fiery motivation. Turns out I was totally correct in aligning my goals with simply just completing my first international four-star. And the next time I burst out of the start box, I will have the extra confidence from having already completed the world’s toughest four-star course in a foreign country and without my coach physically by my side.
Experience is key, and in my opinion is far more important than any amount of lessons, tack or talented horses money can buy. Want to know how to beat the Europeans? Compete against them as often as you can.
I want to take the time to express my gratitude to some very important people. First and foremost, to my groom Lauren Sherrill, who earned her first international stamp in her passport as she traveled alongside Al all around the European countryside and made him look like the winner I believe him to be.
To my amazing mom and dad, to my dad’s wife Kathi and my two very special friends Celia Rafalko and Rick Sample, who made the long journey to cross the pond to watch Al and I in our Burghley debut.
To my coach Buck, who literally prepped me for Burghley in three days.
Lastly, and probably the most paramount of all, I want to thank each and every one of you who supported us financially, spread the word to help me fundraise or simply followed our journey as we completed our fourth four-star event. I want you to know that this experience is not taken for granted, and I intend to capitalize on the wealth of information that I gained over those unforgettable 10 days in early September.
Until then, folks, sit back, relax and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa surrounded by family, friends and furry ponies. In less than a week 2016 is upon us, and I couldn’t be more ready to show her who’s boss!
When you can’t find your leggings, so you have to wear your black breeches instead. #eventerproblems — Hailey Norby (@liberty_lover24) December 25, 2015
Happy Monday, EN! We hope you’re having a great recovery from the holidays (and we still have just one more to go: New Year’s!). In case you’re looking for a little more help with legging back up for the upcoming season, MOJO Future Tech is here to help.
For this week’s Fab Freebie, we’re giving away a prize pack from MOJO that includes two wristbands as well as a set of Power Patches to be used on your horse’s halter or dog’s collar.
If you’ve not read up on the buzz around MOJO, you can check out our product review here.
So here’s the drill: use the Rafflecopter widget below to submit your entry before January 1 at midnight. We’ll announce the winner in Friday’s News & Notes. Good luck!
Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.
And Buck will be filling his own division at Ocala. We call it 'OP-Buck' and 'OP-Everyone Else'
