Classic Eventing Nation

Julie Wolfert: Arriving at Rebecca Farms

By on Jul 24, 2013 6:00 pm -

Julie Wolfert is a top notch rider from Kansas who agreed to write for us a little bit about her first experience at Rebecca Farms. Julie and her OTTB Buenos Aires will be contesting the CCI2* for the first time, and hoping to make a splash! They haven’t been worse than 3rd place in all of 2012 or 2013 at the Intermediate level, and were recently 2nd at the CIC2* at Weatherford & Greenwood Farm HT. Good luck to Julie, and thanks for reading!

 

Julie & Aires at Texas Rose

Hi guys! My name is Julie Wolfert and I am so excited to be a guest blogger for Eventing Nation. This is my first time at Rebecca Farms and let me tell you it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been! I made the long 30 hour drive  from Kansas (yes where Dorothy and Toto are from) with my mom, my two dogs, Georgie and Frankie, and of course, Aires my 12 year old off the track Thoroughbred.  The drive was long but it is totally worth it. For me driving through South Dakota, with all of the roadside attractions, and then entering Wyoming only to see the landscape change every ten minutes, was something that made the drive a little more entertaining.

Aires and I arrived a bit tired on Monday and he was glad to see a stall full of fluffy shavings and immediately laid down and gave me the hairy eyeball… “don’t even think about bothering me for a few hours!” I have to admit that next time I will haul another horse with him as I think he got lonely from being in the trailer alone for all those hours. It did take a toll on him but after I came back a few hours later he was back to his usual self of pinning ears and showing me his teeth.

This will be Aires’ first time doing a CCI** and only my second, so I am very excited to tackle the event this week. As much I as I love this event already, it did come with a toll on the old check book with traveling expenses being the biggest damper. To help with the costs my students, family and friends hosted a fundraiser jumper derby at my facility at the end of June which we called Road To Montana. We also had a bake sale and silent auction where all proceeds went to Aires and I to help get us to Montana. It was a complete success and everyone had so much fun so I have to give a HUGE shout out to everyone who helped get me here. I couldn’t have done it without you guys!

We can’t walk the cross country course yet but from a distance it looks fantastic and it isn’t every day you see an irrigation system on the course.  Just like everyone, my goal is just to go out this week and give it our all. To lay down a dressage test that I know we are capable of and to complete the event on a high note of a clear jumping round. This is all for now and good luck to all the 700 competitors at Rebecca Farms this weekend!

Scenic views from right outside Kalispell

Welcome to The Event at Rebecca Farm and your CIC*** XC course pics!

By on Jul 24, 2013 5:00 pm -

Welcome to Rebecca Farm! Blue skies and hot sunshine means the water pods and sprinklers are working overtime to ensure the best possible footing on Ian Stark’s tracks here in Montana.  The scenery is incredible, and matched by the hospitality of the crew here making sure that this really is an amazing destination event. Each year the event grows, both by the numbers of competitors and in stature.  Although we only got underway officially this morning it’s already a hive of activity with in barn vet checks, The Young Event Horse and Future Event Horse classes, and lots of training.

Erin Hofmann gives her CCI** horse Macchiato a jump with trainer Tamie Smith and under the FEI stewards’ watchful eye

EN blogger Kristi Nunnink working defending Rebecca Farm champion Rosie aka R-Star  with David O’Connor

West Coast Style! Whatever the weather US Coach David O’Connor always seems to be perfectly dressed for it

I’m very happy to report that Young Rider Zach Brandt told me (in an immaculate Aussie accent, no less!) that Cavallino Cocktail aka Scotty, travelled very well up here and is feeling terrific.  Zach was also a guest on last week’s ERS along with Sarah Kelly and Ian previewing Rebecca Farm, and he’s promised EN another video this weekend – hurray!

However, what a welcome treat to arrive here out West and hear the clipped, very English, tones of Nigel Casserley keeping us all informed as I walked amongst the teepees, belt buckle and cowboy hat themes out on course!

In his second year here at Rebecca Farm, Ian Stark has done a wonderful job on all the courses.  They’re trademark Scottie – big, bold and galloping but also incorporating tests of accuracy and rideability; Jess Montgomery and I spoke to him last week for the Eventing Radio Show and he told us then that riders definitely shouldn’t arrive in Montana expecting a walk in the park. Ian shared that he likes for competitors to be somewhat scared the night before because that way he knows they’re giving the course due respect, plus it will make the celebration after a good round the following night all the sweeter!  To that end, I imagine Ian has achieved exactly what he set out to do – there is plenty to do on all of his tracks, a little bit of everything, and, from the comfortable perspective of a spectator, it looks very jumpable.

Click below for much more:

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How To Entertain Yourself When Everyone Else Is At Rebecca

By on Jul 24, 2013 3:00 pm -

Photo via BadEventer

 

Life has a funny way of happening when you make plans. This past weekend I had planned on getting out of town and heading up to Camelot Equestrian Park. Everyone from Dragonfire would be on the road to Rebecca, so a great time to go camping. I missed the Horse Trials they hosted the previous weekend due to lack of transportation, but had managed to arrange a hauling situation for this most recent one. The plan was to haul up on Friday to meet some old friends of mine,  Sarah and Elizabeth, at Camelot. We intended to stay through the weekend giving us plenty of time to goof off on the cross country course Saturday and the option of catching a few of the early morning Jumper classes at their Hunter/Jumper show before heading home Sunday.

Of course then Stephanie’s boyfriend pointed out that there was going to be an obscene heatwave, my husband decided he wanted to go out of town and and Sarah’s truck exploded in to a ball of fiery better-not-haul-horses-with-that. A superstitious and transportation-less bunch, we called the whole thing off. It was probably a smart choice.

Thursday night,  I found myself fretting over what to do with my weekend.  Admittedly, I was disappointed. Camelot is one of my favorite places to go – we always camp out, talk trash and have an outstanding time. I needed to go – it would be the best place to avoid the constant reminders of the fun being had in Montana. Sadly, this weekend there would be no trip to Pony Tracks, no splashing in the water jump, no 5AM Feed-Me whinnies and worst of all no opportunity to create memories that would have the potential to become the kind of story that starts with “Hey, remember that time at Camelot when….”

Stephanie and I made alternate plans – hit the track on Friday, gamble and daydream about taking home some prospects. We’d get our show fix in by sneaking off to the Pony Club Benefit on the 27th at Twin Palms, transportation willing. These plans were good alternate plans, but something was still missing. I found myself agonizing over what more could be done with the weekend and somehow found myself coming up with probably the most absurd idea I’ve ever come up with.

I sent Stephanie the following text message:

This is why I'm not allowed to text after 11pm

This is proof that we are teenagers stuck in 30 year-old bodies. Writing George Morris a letter to ask him what his helmet cover would look like if he were to take up Eventing is clearly not the kind of thing that sensible adults do. Sensible adults ask deeper questions that have meaningful answers.  My question is admittedly somewhat juvenile and borders on asinine.  This is evidenced by the response that my other friend Kalli gave me when I floated the same idea at her.

Note - Kali rides Dressage

In all seriousness though, I am curious.  I do honestly want to know.  Even if it earns me a right hook from GM, I’m going to do it.  Who am I kidding?  Especially if it earns me a right hook from GM.  In fact, I think I’m going to write a whole bunch of well known non-Eventing professionals and ask them too. The skull-cap and helmet cover is one of those visual identifiers for Eventers and getting it just right is one of those small joys of Eventing. Everyone who’s watched a horse race has idly daydreamed about what their silks would look like. The question is, how many of them will be willing to share? Even if not many of them write back, I’m still hopeful and curious.

Deep down I hope that in a few years, we’ll be sitting around a campfire and someone will pipe up with “Hey, remember that time when we were auditing that clinic and after Erin introduced herself, George Morris was like ‘Are you the one that wrote me the stupid letter about helmet covers?’…”

Go Team DF. Go Curiosity. Go Eventing.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Fitch’s Corner Helmet Cam

By on Jul 24, 2013 1:00 pm -

Katie Murphy is a great friend of Eventing Nation who always keeps us up to date on all the action from Area I events. She competed in the Area I Training Championships at Fitch’s Corner this past weekend with Esccord RGS, her 5-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Katie and Garth completed on their dressage score of 35.9 to finish in fifth place. These two are preparing to tackle the 5-year-old Young Event Horse East Coast Championships at Fair Hill this fall, and it’s been a lot of fun to follow along with their season. For more information on Garth’s season so far, check out Katie’s blog, and enjoy Katie’s helmet cam from Fitch’s Corner!

Can You Guess These Famous Ears? Presented by World Equestrian Brands

By on Jul 24, 2013 11:00 am -

Both EN Sponsor, World Equestrian Brands, and the EN Team have a mutual fascination with horse ears (hence all the View series hello!). So we thought it mildly appropriate to hold a contest where the main focus was none other than: EARS!

Your task is a simple one. Guess the set of famous ears pictured below in the comments section, and be entered to win some of these fabulous Custom Mattes Ear Bonnets from World Equestrian Brands! Two winners will be randomly chosen from those who answered correctly. So get to guessin’!

 

 

 

Rebecca Farm CIC3* Preview

By on Jul 24, 2013 9:00 am -

Last year's champions Kristi Nunnink and R-Star (photo by Jenni Autry)

The Event at Rebecca Farm is upon us once again! Known as one of the top competitions of the year and certainly the highlight of the summer, Rebecca Farm is a treat to attend and a delightful place to compete. Elite combinations from around the United States take part in the long journey to have the privilege to compete in Kalispell, Mont.

For your convenience, I investigated each horse and rider pair who are currently entered in the CIC3* and compiled a list here recognizing their past performances. Two of our most anticipated pairs will not be competing, as Hawley Bennett scratched Gin & Juice, and Phillip Dutton also scratched Mr. Medicott. While we were all hoping to see both of these horses eat up the cross country, I’m sure we will see them out soon enough.

[Rebecca Farm Website] [Entry List] [Schedule]

Jeanine Allred & Snap Decision II: Jeanine will be partnering with her 15-year-old grey Thoroughbred gelding for their fourth attempt at the CIC3* level. Jeanine has been riding this horse since 2008 and brought him up from Training level. They were fourth in the CIC2* at Rebecca Farms in 2011 and won a division of Advanced at Galway Downs last year. In 2012, they also finished 7th at the CIC3* at Woodside International HT.

Kevin Baumgardner & Jefferson D’Aurois: Ex-USEA President Kevin Baumgardner will be competing his 16-year-old Canadian Selle Francais gelding this year, looking for their first completion of a CIC3*. Kevin has been competing the gelding since 2007 when he got him from Peter Barry, who had previously completed a CCI2* on the horse. Kevin and Jefferson were recently fifth at both of their most current Advanced horse trials at Copper Meadows and The Spring Event at Woodside.

Andrea Baxter & Indy 500: Andrea is partnering with her own 8-year-old bay Thoroughbred mare for this year’s CIC3*. The pair were third earlier this year at the Twin Rivers CIC3* and completed two Advanced horse trials this spring. Andrea has brought the mare up through the ranks from YEH 4-year-old classes until this point.

Lauren Billys & Ballingowan Ginger: Lauren and Ginger are always a pair to root for, and they’ve had quite enough experience at the Intermediate level to warrant a move up to Advanced and CIC3*. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare sure can jump, and Lauren has known her since 2007, so they should be ready. The two competed in 2011 in the Pan American Games representing Puerto Rico and just recently moved up to the Advanced level after many years of Intermediate.

Zachary Brandt & Cavallino Cocktail: When Zach isn’t doing impressions of certain Australians, he’s riding his own 11-year-old grey Irish Sport Horse mare at the top levels. While the two are relatively new to each other and just moved up to the Advanced level this spring, they’ve already had an impressive result at the CCI3* level at Jersey Fresh, finishing in 10th place on their first trip east. This will be their first event back after that effort. It’s also noteworthy that Zach is one of the riders in the Eventing 25 program.

Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail

Barbara Crabo & Over Easy: Barb has two entries in the CIC3* this year, as well as quite a few in other divisions, so she will be a busy lady! Over Easy is a lovely dark bay Swedish Warmblood mare who just moved up to the Advanced level and will be looking for her first completion of a CIC3*. She was recently second at a CIC2* at Galway Downs and third at an Advanced HT at Copper Meadows.

Barbara Crabo & Eveready: Barb’s second entry is her longtime partner Eveready, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding. The pair have been competing together at the Advanced level for six years now, completing several three-star competitions and attempting Rolex twice. While Eveready had the majority of 2012 off of work, he came back this spring and won his division of Advanced at Woodside.

Ellen Doughty & Sir Oberon: Ellen will be riding her own 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding this week, hoping to repeat her performance at the recent Chattahoochee Hills CIC3*, where they were second. While they only recently moved up to the Advanced level, it’s hard to find a mark on their cross-country record, and they’ll be looking for a nice solid round here on this challenging course.

Phillip Dutton & Ben: Phillip scratched his newest mount Mr. Medicott, but he still sent one of his top horses to Montana in Ben. Ben had the vast majority of 2012 off work due to an injury, but came out this spring as good as new, placing third at the Chattahoochee Hills CIC3* and winning the Bromont CIC3*. Ben is owned by Team Rebecca, so it will be a nice homecoming for him!

Pam Fisher & Sea Lion: Sea Lion has the distinction of being the only stallion competing in this division, as well as being among the elite few stallions who ever successfully compete at this level period. The 14-year-old Thoroughbred has been competing at the Advanced level since 2010 and has completed several three-star competitions. The pair were most recently fourth at the CIC3* at Twin Rivers, and Pam will be looking to bring down her dressage score in order to be competitive here.

Katy Groesbeck & Oz Poof of Purchase: Besides Barb Crabo, Katy is the only one in the CIC3* with two mounts, which is quite impressive. She will be competing her two Anglo-Arabian brothers. Poof of Purchase is an 18-year-old gelding who was most recently the winner of Copper Meadows Advanced, as well as the winner of the Twin Rivers CCI2* this spring. He is the less experienced of the two geldings, but his record is impeccable, and I bet they will do quite well this weekend. (Funny note: “Poof” is not a typo. As I was furiously searching for “Proof of Purchase,” I realized that his name is Poof!)

Katy Groesbeck & Oz The Tin Man: Oz The Tin Man is the younger of the two brothers, and at only 16 years of age, he might be small of stature (15.2) but he is an excellent event horse. Katy recently won the Intermediate at Copper Meadows on him, as well as winning a division of Advanced at Woodside last year. The two were second at Rebecca Farm CIC3* last year, and they will be quite competitive if the weekend goes their way. Katy will be drawing on her recent education from the Eventing 25 Training Sessions with David O’Connor to put her name on the board again.

Katie Groesbeck & Oz The Tin Man (photo by Kate Erickson)

Geriann Henderson & Kingslee: Geriann and her 15-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding Kingslee hail from Colorado and have just recently moved up to the Advanced level this spring. They finished their first Advanced together at Twin Rivers in March with a 10th place. Geriann has been partnered with Kingslee since 2008 and they have come up the levels together. They will be looking for a solid clear over this championship course.

Avery Klunick & In It To Win It: Avery and her 12-year-old New Zealand Sport Horse gelding will be contesting their first CIC3* at Rebecca Farms this week and will be looking for a nice educational round. The two were sixth last year at the NAJYRC CH-Y** representing Area V and were recently ninth in a division of Intermediate at Copper Meadows. Avery is another of the Eventing 25 riders competing in the CIC3* this weekend.

Emilee Libby & Nonsensical: After taking a three-year break from eventing, Emilee is back with a lovely 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Point Given. Nonsensical moved up to the Advanced level this spring and won the CIC2* here at Rebecca Farms last year. Emilee is a heck of a rider, and I can see her surprising people this weekend. Just because she disappeared for a few years does not mean you can count her out!

Jennifer McFall & High Times: Jen McFall is absolutely thrilled to find herself with such a cool horse and will be enjoying every moment of this week. She recently made the trek east to compete at the Jersey Fresh CCI3* and placed 9th. Jen and Billy were also sixth at the CIC3* this spring at Galway Downs, and the two have benefitted from some recent training with Coach David O’Connor leading up to the event. You will be able to spot Jen and her Dragonfire crew by their black and red outfits and their giant smiles.

Gina Miles & Chanel: While Gina Miles will never replace the unbelievable McKinlaigh, she has found a lovely upper level mount in this 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. The pair have been competing on and off at the Advanced level since 2011, when Chanel placed 8th at the Galway Downs CIC3*. They were recently 10th at the CCI2* at Twin Rivers and fourth at the Advanced at Copper Meadows this spring.

Kristi Nunnink & R-Star: The crowning champions of last year’s CIC3* at Rebecca Farms return! Rosie is easily one of the best looking and most athletic horses in the country, and her form in the past year has been better than ever. This spring, the 12-year-old Holsteiner mare made mincemeat of Rolex Kentucky and placed eighth overall. Last fall she completed her first Burghley with only a few time penalties and one rail down on the last day. After all that, Kristi and Rosie are planning on going to Pau in the fall, and it’s no wonder that they are also on the USEF Eventing High Performance World Class list.

Katie Ruppel & Houdini: After completing Rolex Kentucky this spring on her long time partner Sir Donovan, she sold him to Canadian Peter Barry but has luckily found another Advanced competitor in her unlikely Thoroughbred Houdini. Katie will tell you herself that nobody believed in this horse for such a long time, and so it must be very gratifying for her to prove them all wrong! The two moved up to Advanced last year, winning at Poplar Place in the fall, and while they suffered some bad luck at Red Hills and The Fork this spring, they bounded back with a solid fifth place finish at Jersey Fresh this spring in the CCI3*.

Jennifer Taxay Kelly & Taboo: Jennifer and Taboo, a 9-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred mare, will be looking for a solid round this weekend. The pair from California competed on the East Coast last fall, including their move up to the Advanced level. They were most recently 12th at Copper Meadows in the Intermediate division.

Jordan Taylor & Cambridge: Jordan and her 12-year-old bay Thoroughbred mare have just moved up to the Advanced level this spring, but the two have had a good preparation for their first CIC3*. They were most recently 15th at the Advanced at Woodside, and I’m sure they will be hoping for a good solid round on the cross country and a safe addition to their education at this level.

Jolie Wentworth & GoodKnight: Jolie & GoodKnight were amongst the few to survive Luhmuhlen CCI4* this spring, and this will be their first event back after that effort. GoodKnight is a small but mighty Selle Francais/Thoroughbred gelding and has been partnered with Jolie for quite a while now. Last year they were third in this division at Rebecca Farms, and if they can keep themselves together enough for the dressage, they should be quite competitive. Look for the yellow and blue blazing past you on Saturday!

Wednesday News and Notes from MDBarnmaster

By on Jul 23, 2013 11:59 pm -

Rebecca Farm organizers prepare for 600 competitors to arrive. Photo via the Rebecca Farm Facebook page.

Today festivities will begin in Montana as the The Event at Rebecca Farm kicks off with the YEH and FEH competitions. As the photo above demonstrates, the Rebecca Farm staff and volunteers have been busily preparing for 600 competitors to arrive on grounds. In addition to today’s YEH and FEH divisions, the event will run a CCI*/**, a CIC***, novice and training three days, and every recognized horse trials level from novice up. It’s beyond impressive what the Rebecca staff has organized in terms of logistics in order to accommodate such a large number of competitors at so many levels! Keep checking back for updates as the week progresses.  [Rebecca Farm Website] [Facebook] [Entry Status/Times]

Weekend Preview:

Horse Park of NJ [Website] [Entry Status]

USPC National Championships [Website] [Eventing Program]

Stoneleigh-Burnham School [Website]

Three generations of one family will compete on a team together this weekend at Rebecca Farm. 14-year old Brennan Kappes will join his father, John, and grandfather, Randy, to make up a novice team aptly named “XYBoom.” Brennan’s mother and John’s wife Stephanie will also compete in the training division. According to Sarah Broussard, the Kappes are the first three-generation team to compete at Rebecca Farm, which isn’t exactly a surprise. EN wishes the best of luck to the Kappes family and all other competitors saddling up this weekend. [Ravalli Republic]

At the USEF Mid-Year Meeting, board members voted to drastically restructure the organization’s management. The Board of Directors will be reduced to 20 members from the current 54, and the current four working groups will become three councils. The changes will go into effect on January 9, 2014. Thirty-three board members voted in favor of the changes, two against, and several abstained. Several other rule changes were debated and approved, including new rules related to drugs. [COTH]

Know someone competing at the AECs? You can show your support by purchasing ad space in the 2013 program! The program will be given to all competitors as is a great souvenir. Click to find out more about prices and ordering information. [US Eventing]

Remember Talia Czapski? We posted about a fundraiser which was launched to help with her barn expenses after she was injured in a car crash and broke both her femurs, a foot, and a hand. The fundraiser ended up raising $10,000 and will completely cover the expenses of Talia’s mare, Aria, while Talia recovers. The Chronicle’s Haley Burton followed up on the story and talked with Talia about her recovery process, which is still ongoing. [COTH]

British Young Rider Yasmin Ingham has been selected to the British Pony Eventing team for the second year running. Yasmin will travel to Arezzo, Italy next week with six other British riders ranging in age from 12-16 to compete in the FEI Pony European Championships. The 16-year old recently won the final selection trial aboard Craig Mor Tom to secure their place in the team. [IOM Today]

Best of Blogs:

SmartPak’s tips on long distance shipping

Head over to Windurra this afternoon for another stadium schooling day

Today’s video was featured on yesterday’s Horse Nation “Oh Crap” Moment of the Day. It shows Robert Meyerhoff and Smooth Rider at the 2008 Middleburg Horse Trials, where Smooth Rider certainly lived up to his name. The great Buzzterbrown is behind the camera.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Cobblestone Helmet Cam

By on Jul 23, 2013 5:00 pm -

Kyle Smith and Collinwood Super, aka “Jack,” competed in their second training level event last weekend at the Cobblestone Farm Horse Trials in Dexter, Mich. This event hosts the USEA/Chronicle of the Horse Central Adult Team Challenge, and Kyle’s team came in second place. Congrats, Kyle, on a great weekend with Jack. Go Cobblestone!

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Top 10 Reasons Why Rebecca Farm Should Be On Your Bucket List

By on Jul 23, 2013 3:00 pm -

Sally Spickard is 27 years old from St. Louis, Mo. She currently spends her free time stalking Eventing Nation for the latest Cooley Cross Border news (have you SEEN that horse yet?) and writing for We Are Cardinal Nation, a St. Louis Cardinals sports blog.  Sally was one of four finalists in this year’s EN Blogger Contest, and we are excited for her continued contributions!

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Sharon White and Rafferty's Rules at Rebecca Farm 2011. Photo courtesy of Kerrits.

 

Happy Rebecca Farm week, Eventing Nation! I don’t know about you but I look forward to this event almost as much as I do the big 4* events each year. There is just something about Rebecca Farm that feels special to me, and each year I peruse the internet for plane ticket deals to Kalispell, only to despair at the prospect of shelling out $600 for a ticket. I then pull out my old trusty Rand McNally Google Map and find out if I can justify the road trip, then quickly dismiss that idea at the thought of driving over 3000 miles round trip. So, alas, I have not yet made it out to this fabled event, but I do have some excellent reasons why we should all put this event at the top of our lists to see. If anyone decides to go, pick me up in St. Louis, will you?

1. Everyone loves a road trip.

Please disregard what I said earlier about not wanting to go on a 3000 mile road trip. I will agree to ride along with you if you don’t mind that I like to play obnoxious games like the license plate game or P’Diddle the whole way there. No, really though, I do love road trips. I would even road trip all the way to Montana if I could take enough time to get there and back; I’m sure there’s some pretty fantastic shopping landmarks to  hit along the way.

2. Rebecca Farm is on a cozy 640 acre property, framed by mountains and lush green grass as far as the eye can see.

From what I have seen, the farm is absolutely gorgeous. I also read rider tweets and Facebook updates as they arrive at the farm, and they never fail to comment on the absolutely breathtaking grounds. Plus, if I ever make it there to compete, I will point to the mountains in the distance and tell my horse “I could have made you an endurance horse, and we could be running up and down those, but instead I simply ask you to jump over a few logs so please oblige me.”

3. Rubbing elbows with the who’s who of eventing is my kind of thing.

Rebecca Farm is a perfect blend of West and East coast eventers, plus everyone else in between. I bet the competitor’s parties are the place to be!

4. The water in the water complexes is BLUE!

When I think of blue water, I think of The Fork, Rebecca Farm, and AECs at Chattahoochee Hills. It might look a bit artificial, but I think it adds a certain artistic element to the photos when you see the bright blue splash as you tumble into the water. If I compete at one of these events, I might take a RF and make sure to point my toes and do a neat little arabesque into the water if I can think that fast. The photo ops are endless!

5. The cross country jumps are fun and creative.

Jumping through the swinging doors of a saloon or a friendly looking crocodile? Sign me up! Course designer Ian Stark has done a fantastic job creating a course that looks inviting as well as technical and challenging – all in all, what cross country should be! Plus, if all else fails, I think it could be converted into an extreme putt putt course in a pinch.

6. Rebecca Farm offers a Novice and Training Three Day.

As a current lower level rider, the opportunity to compete in a Three Day is fantastic. More and more events are offering lower level three day events now, and I applaud these events. Now, give me a Cross Rail Three Day (C3D) and I will dominate!

7. There are fun things to see in Kalispell, such as the Wild Horse Island State Park.

This island is only accessible by boat and is home to many wild animals, including wild horses. Definitely not something you see every day! If I attempt to recreate a Misty of Chincoteague style pony swim, please don’t judge me.

8. Speaking of movie recreations, how about The Horse Whisperer?

Good old Tom Booker lived in Montana, so add that to the list of reasons to visit. I remember seeing that movie when I was younger and wanting to go and gallop my horse across the seemingly unpopulated state as soon as Annie and Tom did on screen. Maybe I will move to Kalispell and become their resident horse whisperer.

9. Someone at Rebecca Farm owns a REALLY cool remote controlled helicopter that they use to do course flyovers.

I really want to get my hands on that helicopter. I mean, there are so many more ways to use it! You could use it as an extra motivator to make time on cross country – you’d better believe your horse will focus on completing as soon as possible if he had a helicopter chasing him! Or better yet, you can earn extra recognition for your dressage test if you complete with no aerial maneuvers caused by the hovering device of terror that sits right above A during your test.

10. And finally, I must pay a respectful and thankful homage to the late Rebecca Broussard and her surviving family, who have done unspeakable amounts of good for our sport.

Just to name a few, the fantastic event that is put on each year, the Halt Cancer at X initiative, and the Rebecca Broussard Travel Grant are all examples of the wonderful things this family has done for eventing. We are all indebted to them for being such loyal supporters and I can only hope that we continue to be supported by such generous and sincere people.

A big thank you goes out to the organizers, stewards, judges, designers, volunteers, and sponsors of the Event at Rebecca Farm. Good luck to all of you competing this weekend. Go Rebecca Farm and Go Eventing!

 

Timing and Believing…

By on Jul 23, 2013 1:00 pm -

Valonia attacking the ditch at Tamarck!

So much of life is about timing. People talk about being in the right place at the right time. We talk of opportunities that present themselves at specific moments in our lives. Countless individuals have careers because the timing was right, or have an amazing job all of a sudden because the timing was right. I would have to say that the horse world is completely built upon this notion of the perfect timing.

I have come to this realization rather later in life and I feel more at ease knowing this truth. My horse life has been a game of waiting. Waiting for the “right” horse to come along. Waiting to go advanced. Waiting to nail my distance to a jump 99% of the time. Waiting to have that perfect feel in dressage. Waiting to have more money. I grew up thinking every single one of my friends was ahead of me in this sport, as if riding horses were solely based on a competition, regardless if you were actually at an event or not. From my perspective, all of my friends had better horses than I did, and they were better riders than I was, and of course, better competitors. I was completely inside my own head and nothing I was doing was good enough. Frankly, this was an awful feeling to constantly cope with. I felt like a lesser person, and a weak rider in every aspect. So, yes, in the beginning I was always waiting for something to happen which was infuriating.

As I have mentioned before, 2006 was a pivotal point in my life. This was the year I decided to take a semester off from St. Lawrence University and start riding with Denny Emerson. This was the year I made the conscious decision that I was going to stop waiting for whatever it was that was going to change my life. I decided at that moment that I would stop feeling sorry for myself and stop thinking of myself as a lesser person and rider. When I arrived at Tamarack I had three real goals mind: 1) to become a much better rider and trainer, 2) to ride as many horses as I could get my hands on, and 3) to gain confidence.

Another piece to this time puzzle sneaks up in my life constantly. It should NOT play a role in my horse life, but it seems difficult at times to not acknowledge it’s presence, particularly when you are a competitive being, like so many of us are. Here’s the time issue: For example, both the horses I ride and compete are 8 years old and both horses are currently going Novice with the goal of moving both horses up to training when the timing is right. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought both horses are so far behind for their age. I have several friends that compete their 7 year olds and 8 year olds preliminary and above. I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to me and said when are you moving your horse up? Perhaps if some more experienced rider were sitting on my horse, then my horse would be going intermediate…who knows? Perhaps, if both horses I ride were trained and ridden by jumper riders in Europe they would both be grand prix show jumpers right now. How can I even think about that? How does this information enhance my riding and my goals….?? IT DOES NOT! I have to focus on me and my riding. I am not  Boyd Martin , Sinead Halpin, or Becky Holder….I am me and I have to go at my pace with the horse I have.

If all I can ever focus on is how far behind I am, or how far behind my horses are I will literally go mad. I have to focus on ME and MY riding. I have slowly learned to be more confident in myself and my riding. Nobody else in the entire world knows what it’s like to be me. They might have an idea, but nobody really knows except me. I have come to this understanding that you do not have to be winning CIC***’s, or competing 10 horses at Jersey Fresh in order to be a good, or even a great rider. Maybe I won’t be a solid prelim rider until I am 33 years old. I don’t want to rush my horses up through the levels right now and lose confidence or soundness along the way because I didn’t have the patience to make good decisions.

I am writing this blog to anyone who has ever doubted their riding, or felt completely discouraged with the level they are at, at the age they are. I want to encourage those who do not believe in themselves and to offer them support. Once you have confidence then your horse will have more confidence and people will start believing in you more. Once you believe in yourself there comes along this snowball effect. All of this takes time but it can be done. Riding horses will never be like watching a movie-you will never be able to rewind, pause or fast forward, that’s why you have to focus on your goals and your riding. If you never allow time or age to become a focal point in your riding career then you will succeed!