Classic Eventing Nation

Thursday News & Notes from Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS)

By on Sep 10, 2020 12:03 am -

An old man teaching a young whippersnapper. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Yesterday I used my most experienced 19-year-old champion, Nyls, to help me teach a young gelding about adventures. I’m so lucky to have literally thousands of acres to use for my hacking, and rivers, dirt roads, cows, people on bikes, dogs, and all sorts of other stuff for them to learn about. A great way to get going with that is ponying, so after a few lessons on ground work with a rope halter, off we went! I took them across the river and around one very large field, and the baby horse had his mind blown, but was very brave!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at TIEC: [Website][Entries] [Ride Times]

CDCTA Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

Flora Lea Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

Flying Cross Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

GMHA Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Ocala Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

The Event at Skyline: [Website] [Entries]

Stone Gate Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

News From Around the Globe:

Deonte Sewell just landed a job at Phillip Dutton’s barn, and he’s ready to show the world just how far he can go. Just a few years ago, Deonte didn’t even know that black riders could be upper level eventers, until he saw Randy Ward competing at Fair Hill. After that, he decided to give his dreams of the Olympics in this sport free rein. His story is nothing short of inspiring. [Pursuing Greater Representation in Eventing]

Karen O’Connor, the legend, the myth, the woman. Thoughts and reflections on a storied career, how she got her start, the struggles of breaking into the elite group of competitors in the early ages of Eventing, and her regrets from a life heartily lived. [KOC: Reflections & Regrets of an Eventing Superstar]

With so many events cancelled this year, it’s nice to see that the Waredaca Three Day Event is still on the calendar. One of the last remaining long format competitions, they boast Preliminary, Training, and Novice three day events with all the old bells and whistles. Along with tons of education along the way, you’ll get to experience roads and tracks, and steeplechase, finally! Conditioning for this competition is different though, and you’ll need to plan accordingly if you want to go. [Training Tips for a Long Format Event]

Would you like to get your hands on Amerigo’s new safety stirrups? Our friends at World Equestrian Brands are giving a pair away FREE. The best part? They come in an array of colors, perfect for eventers. The raffle ends Friday, September 11th at midnight. [Fab Freebie: Win a Pair of Amerigo’s New Safety Stirrups]

In times like these, it’s good to know that there is certainty somewhere. You’ll never have to worry about protecting your horse with Taylor Harris Insurance Services on your side. They take care of many of the top level event horses you see galloping around cross country, and they know exactly how to soothe your fears when it comes to protecting your best friend. [Request a Quote]

 

I love a good inside tour!

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Ride for the Win with Lainey Ashker

By on Sep 9, 2020 5:00 pm -

 

Sometimes I like to use helmet cam videos as an educational tool, sharpening my eye and testing my ability to spot a stride through the grainy ebb of a little rectangle on my screen. Sometimes I like to use them for entertainment and a bit of feel-good inspiration. And sometimes, every once in a great while, I get very lucky indeed and find a video that serves both purposes admirably. More often than not, they seem to come from the camera of Lainey Ashker.

Lainey’s helmet cams are a firm favourite because not only does she get an awful lot right, she’s also incredibly positive and effusive as she goes round, heartily praising her horses for everything they get right, from being brave at a spooky BN fence to bossing a tough combination on an FEI course.

Today’s video is an extra treat, as it features the much-loved Call Him Paddy on his way to winning the Open Intermediate at Five Points Horse Trials over the weekend. We’re delighted to see him on top form ahead of his three-star run at Unionville — and it’s evident from watching the video that Lainey’s pretty pleased, too.

A disclaimer: sometimes, your horse gives you SUCH a super feeling over a fence that a cheeky little F-bomb sneaks out without warning. That happens to Lainey in this vid, and while we find it wholly relatable and charming to boot, we know that some of you might not — particularly if you’re sneaking a watch during a work Zoom call. It appears as they jump out of the water complex, if you want to do some swift volume-adjusting.

Go Lainey and Patrick, and Go Eventing!
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.

Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.

Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

Centered Riding Instructor Diversity Scholarship Offered for 2021

By on Sep 9, 2020 3:00 pm -

Founded by the late Sally Swift, the principles of Centered Riding approach are founded on imagery, horse and rider biomechanics, and elements from the martial arts using functional anatomy, imagery, horse and rider biomechanics, and elements from the martial arts as tools to improve the balance and effectiveness of the rider. Some would say she was ahead of her time.

Image via Centered Riding.

Centered Riding® Inc. is proud to announce the launch of a Centered Riding Instructor Diversity Scholarship for 2021, sponsored by Susan E. Harris, a Senior Centered Riding Level IV Clinician, and Secretary of the CR Board of Trustees.

The goal of the Centered Riding Diversity Scholarship is to create more robust opportunities for riding instructors who are Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Color to train and certify as Centered Riding Instructors. These groups of people are significantly under-represented in equestrian sport and in the horse industry.

“The new Centered Riding Diversity Scholarship truly reflects the values of Centered Riding founder Sally Swift, who passed away in 2009. Sally was a visionary who practiced inclusion and embraced diversity in all aspects of her life and work,” said Peggy Brown, President of the Centered Riding Board of Trustees, and a Centered Riding Level IV Clinician. “In the 1980s, during Centered Riding’s early growth and development, Sally selected two Black women, Saundra Code Cabell and Ruth Labbe, to be her apprentices, and thus join the first cadre of qualified CR Instructors.”

The Centered Riding Diversity Scholarship will provide up to $1,500 to cover the instructor’s clinic fees for the initial qualifying two- or three-day Open Centered Riding Clinic and for the seven-day Centered Riding Instructor Certification Course. In 2021, the Centered Riding Instructor Diversity Scholarship will be awarded to a U.S.-based riding instructor who is Black, Indigenous and/or a Person of Color. The riding instructor may be a practitioner in any equestrian discipline.

“I am very pleased to be the sponsor of the 2021 Centered Riding Diversity Scholarship – the first-ever of its kind,” said Susan Harris, who has sponsored the Scholarship. “People who are Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Color have long been under-represented in the equestrian world. I hope this scholarship will help empower them to advance in education and training, professional development and recognition in the horse industry, and to teach others.

“My hope, too, is that the Centered Riding Diversity Scholarship will continue in future years, beyond 2021, and that it will be available in other countries, as well as in the United States,” Harris added.

To apply for the Centered Riding 2021 Diversity Scholarship, individuals must meet requirements for the Centered Riding Instructor Course in the United States, and for the Scholarship, as follows:

  • be at least 18 years old;
  • be from North America;
  • be Black, Indigenous and/or a Person of Color;
  • be a safe, experienced riding instructor (in any equestrian discipline);
  • be able to ride a horse at the walk, trot and canter in a group; and
  • read and accept the terms of the Centered Riding Instructor Course.
  • Preference will be given to candidates who will use their Centered Riding training and qualifications to introduce to horses and equestrian sport riders who are Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Color, and/or to support such riders in advancing in equestrian sport and in the horse industry.

Interested persons may download the 2021 CR Diversity Scholarship information package and application form here.

Applicants may send their completed applications to:

Centered Riding Instructor Diversity Scholarship
c/o Centered Riding Inc.
One Regency Drive
PO Box 30=
Bloomfield, CT 06002

The Centered Riding Office must receive Scholarship applications no later than November 1, 2020. The Scholarship recipient will be notified during the first week of January 2021.

Anyone who wishes to support the Centered Riding Instructor Diversity Scholarship Fund may make a donation via the Centered Riding website or by contacting the Centered Riding Office at [email protected]. Centered Riding Inc. is a 501 c-3 non-profit organization; donations are tax deductible in the U.S.A.

Life of Mike Winter Honored With New Jump at IEA H.T.

By on Sep 9, 2020 1:00 pm -

The new Mike Winter Wedge on course at IEA H.T.. Photo courtesy of Liz Messaglia.

The eventing community lost a light last April when Mike Winter lost his courageous battle against ALS. An active supporter of eventing and former Area VIII and USEA Board of Governors member, Mike will forever be remembered as a true servant of the sport. In memorial of Mike and his legacy, and in homage to his hometown event run by the Indiana Eventing Association, a new jump at IEA Horse Trials was unveiled at the event last month.

Mike was heavily involved in many facets of eventing, but poured a large chunk of his passion into Hoosier Horse Park, the site of the 1987 Pan American Games where the eventing team took gold. He was a part of the team that helped turn vision into reality, transforming the Games site into an eventing venue that all could enjoy.

A community fundraising effort collected enough money to build a new brush chevron fence, dubbed the Mike Winter Wedge, for the Modified cross country course. It was Mike’s wife, Rhonda, who selected the jump designer and course designer Rob Mobley brought the vision to life.

“Mike would have loved the intimidating skinny brush wedge, which was sufficiently scary and definitely the coolest fence on the course,” Indiana Eventing Association president Liz Messaglia told EN. She then tells us of the dedication ceremony held, a party she’s sure he would have loved to attend.

The Mike Winter Wedge at Hoosier Horse Park. Photo courtesy of Liz Messaglia.

“Mike’s friends, family and fellow eventers shared their favorite Mike stories, from his hard work and vision that lead to the creation of the cross country courses at the Hoosier Horse Park for the inaugural IEA event in 1988 with fences and terrain still in use today … winning the USEA Governor’s Cup in 2013 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, to his ‘unique’ braiding techniques,” she wrote. “A rousing game of Blind Man’s Bluff Poker was played in his honor and no one cheated, we think.”

Mike first became enamored with the sport of eventing in similar fashion to many of us: with a trip to what was then known as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. From that moment on, neither he nor Rhonda looked back as they embarked on the eventing journey of their lives. Mike will forever be remembered for his contributions to the sport and for his epitomization of the amateur rider: someone who falls in love so deeply with a sport that they spend the rest of their life improving it for and sharing it with others. It’s only fitting, then, that he be best remembered on a cross country course.

“Mike would have been proud as the jump rode beautifully – no one wanted to be THE ONE who fell off at Mike’s fence as he would have been so disappointed!” Liz wrote. “We miss you Mike.”

Take 5 with Phillip, Presented by Equilume: Wonderful Woodburn

By on Sep 9, 2020 11:25 am -

We’re back to throwing it back on a Thursday, one of our favorite features. Today we want to remember a very special…

Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Thursday, August 27, 2020

It was hard to miss the striking chestnut gelding as he effortlessly floated across the Kentucky Bluegrass at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games. I remember Woodburn being later in the order of go, and I turned to watch the television showing the live feed in the booth we were shopping in the trade fair. We’d spent the whole day out on cross country after pulling an all-nighter to drive from St. Louis on a last minute WEG whim. I was mesmerized by the rhythm of the New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding – it had to be one of the most memorable gallops I’d ever seen.

Sadly, Phillip’s time with Woodburn was cut short when the gelding was euthanized following acute internal bleeding. Just over a year past his top 20 finish at the World Equestrian Games, his star was extinguished.

Embed from Getty Images

But his memory and legacy lives on, and Woodburn is still one of our favorites to revisit even today. After being imported from New Zealand by Liz Millikin, Phillip eventually acquired the ride with the help of owners Jess and Sharon Sweeley, Annie Jones, and Maddy Fawcett. “I loved the horse from the first time I sat on him and thought he had the makings of a world-class horse,” he recalled on his Hall of Fame web page.

Phillip and Woodburn collected a slew of admirable placings (10th in his then-CCI4* debut at Kentucky in 2008, 12th in 2009, 2nd in 2010). “I have no doubt that I will never ride a better cross-country horse in my life,” Phillip told The Chronicle after the gelding’s passing.

Equilume is an Irish equine biotech company providing scientifically validated lighting solutions to the global equine industry. Their patented blue light technology strengthens circadian rhythms and has profound effects on equine health and behaviour.

The Equilume Cashel Light Mask is an individual headpiece that provides timed, low-level blue light to a single eye throughout the day to stimulate optimum health, performance and coat condition.

The Equilume Stable Light provides horses with biologically effective light in a system that replicates the benefits of Nature’s light indoors, designed to maximise health, performance and breeding efficiency for stabled horses.

Equilume products are backed by science and trusted by equestrians and veterinarians worldwide. 

Who Jumped It Best? Course Brook Farm Novice Edition

By on Sep 9, 2020 9:00 am -

We love showcasing events from all around the country, and Course Brook Farm is the latest in our Who Jumped It Best? series, with photos generously provided by Joan Davis of Flatlandsfoto. Don’t forget to support your show photographers – if you rode at Course Brook last weekend, you can view and order your photos here.

Located in Sherborn, Massachusetts in Area I, Course Brook Farm plays host to recognized events, schooling shows, and clinics year round. With cross country courses through Preliminary, riders have a wide array of choices when it comes to competing. It’s a family farm that started off in the dairy industry in the 1920s, making the transition to horses over time.

The Horse Trials came about as a sensible option, and Course Brook has also expanded into a full service boarding and training operation for riders of all levels. To learn more about Course Brook Farm, click here.

And now, here are a smattering of Novice riders for you to select from for this latest edition of Who Jumped It Best? Remember: you want to vote for the pair that presents the best overall picture caught in a moment of time. Best of luck to all!

Emma Armstrong and Newman:

Emma Armstrong and Newman. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Gabriellia Chevalier and Chambersburg Pike:

Gabriellia Chevalier and Chambersburg Pike. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Barrett D’Orio and Sweepstakes:

Barrett D’Orio and Sweepstakes. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Fiona Hazel and Menue Rendezvous:

Fiona Hazel and Menue Rendezvous. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Kathryn Rhatigan and Concarena Z:

Kathryn Rhatigan and Concarena Z. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Cadence Theroux and Hot Toddy:

Cadence Theroux and Hot Toddy. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Wednesday News & Notes from Ecovet

By on Sep 9, 2020 12:01 am -

Stephanie Kallstrom and Tigger. Photo by Arinn Westendorf.

I was lucky enough to “meet” Stephanie Kallstrom this week through our mutual membership in an Equestrians of Color Facebook group. Stephanie proudly shared her photo with us, and I’ll let her do the talking on the perspective behind it:

“In the horse world we need to embrace change, inclusion and diversity,” Stephanie said. “As horse people we can relate to our one commonality is which is the love for horses. This picture is taken on my homebred 10 year old Oldenburg gelding. He is a show horse a hunter most specifically and has never in his life carried a flag. This picture represents how proud I am to be the no longer silent black equestrians, my gratitude for those who are taking anti racism education seriously and who wholeheartedly care about other human beings and equality.”

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Blue Ridge Mountain H.T. at TIEC: [Website][Entries] [Ride Times]

CDCTA Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

Flora Lea Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

Flying Cross Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

GMHA Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Ocala Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

The Event at Skyline: [Website] [Entries]

Stone Gate Farm H.T.: [Website] [Entries]

Wednesday News & Notes:

The Kentucky Derby has come and gone, but our continuing education on the history of Black riders and trainers in racing as well as the effects of racism has only just begun. While much has been done, work still remains on bringing racing more to its roots and giving the exposure and respect that Black horsewomen and men deserve. This two-part series, “Racism In Racing”, is a great read for anyone looking for insight on the past, present, and future of the industry.

The International Olympic Committee and International Federations have released a webinar series dedicated to gender equality across Olympic disciplines. These sessions will tackle topics such as “leadership (governance, coaches and technical officials), safeguarding, and removing gender bias from all aspects of portrayal”, according to the program description. Learn more about this and other gender equality initiatives here.

“We need to talk about breasts.” I absolutely loved this article by Noa Leibson for The Plaid Horse addressing the need for taboo removal when it comes to our bodies. The reality is that every rider has a unique body, and conversations about how to best use that body for equestrian sport should never be considered taboo. Have a read here.

Bucks County Horse Park still has some openings for those wanting to compete in its Friday Evening Eventing series. Entries are due today by noon E.T. for consideration. [2020 Friday Evening Eventing]

Would you like to get your hands on Amerigo’s new safety stirrups? Our friends at World Equestrian Brands are giving a pair away FREE. The best part? They come in an array of colors, perfect for eventers. The raffle ends Friday, September 11th at midnight. [Fab Freebie: Win a Pair of Amerigo’s New Safety Stirrups]

California is in the throes of wildfire season, which means a lot of displaced or otherwise affected animals need our help. Many eventers have been affected by the fires burning in both northern and southern California – anyone local who may be able to assist with temporary animal care and housing can contact their local Humane Society or animal rescue for ways to help.

Access Copperline Equestrian and Holling Eventing have teamed up to offer an eventing camp in Ocala, October 27 through November 1. The camp will include riding sessions, ground work, lectures and demos, as well as coaching at the Rocking Horse Horse Trials following the camp. This is a great opportunity for anyone seeking an immersive learning experience. Click here to see more information.

Caroline Martin has fine tuned her final phase with the help of show jumping legend Anne Kursinski. From adjusting her eye to get closer to the base to using driving reins, here are some takeaways Caroline shared with Nöelle Floyd on improving jumping.

Wednesday Video: Here’s Johnny! Elisa Wallace’s five-star partner, Simply Priceless, was out to stretch his legs in a recent Advanced CT at Florida Horse Park. Check out their rides in Elisa’s vlog:

Ecovet is an entirely different type of fly spray … and you apply it to your horse in a different way, too. With fly season upon us, we’re sharing some tips for how to best apply Ecovet:

Tip Tuesday Video from Horseware: Courtney Cooper on the Sales Process

By on Sep 8, 2020 5:00 pm -

Courtney Cooper knows a thing or two about selling horses. Through her successful sales operation, C Square Farm, Courtney is well-known for providing quality sales and consignment services to clients around the world.

We’re in luck over the coming weeks, as Courtney has done a three-part video series on the horse sales process and what to expect. Covering things such as pre-purchase exams, negotiations, to what to expect during a sales visit, Courtney provides some valuable insight as a professional that buyers and sellers alike can benefit from.

We’ll be sharing this series each Tuesday over the next two weeks, so stay tuned for more.

Meet the Cooley Horses Available at the Unique A.D. Auction

By on Sep 8, 2020 3:00 pm -

One featured Cooley horse in the Alex Delazer Auction this weekend: Cooley Rules. Photo courtesy of The A.D. Auction.

The Alex Delazer Auction is coming up September 11-14, and its unique virtual format will bring quality event horses right to buyers’ living rooms. One familiar name you may spot in the auction catalog is Cooley Farm, a world-renowned excellence for Irish event horses. The Alex Delazer Auction will present seven horses in the ‘Celtic Collection’.

Cooley Farm is set on a paradise of over 200 acres, adjoining three and half thousand acres of natural forest on the island of Ireland. “It all started over ten years ago when we saw a niche in the market for top class Irish event horses and started selling to the International market. We specialize in finding, producing and selling young talents”, explained Georgina Philips, co-founder of Cooley Farm, along with her husband Richard Sheane. Cooley Horses are can be seen winning at all levels of eventing across the World with the pinnacle being Oliver Townend, World No 1, winning Kentucky CCI5* two years in row.

Lion d’Angers is always an important event for Cooley Farm and while many medals have been won by Cooley horses, last year saw Cooley Lancer and Piggy French take the gold medal. “We love the Irish Sport Horse and we believe when crossed correctly with direct warmblood sires, they can breed the ultimate event horse. We love to see Cruising on the Dam side and in terms of Sires Ramiro B, Livello, Vittorio and Colandro are some of our firm favorites. We breed a small number here, but we also work with a large number of breeders here in Ireland who work tirelessly to keep top genetics.”

Sheane and Philips are known for their honesty, integrity and insatiable desire to grow and improve. Sheane spends a lot of time on the road looking for the best horses. He goes everywhere and buys everywhere, even in the most remote corners of Ireland, but at the core of his business one thing is never missing: quality.

“Our secret recipe to success? Always look for the best!” Richard Sheane tells us smiling. “We buy good horses and sell good horses. We always try to buy the best that the market offers.”

For the Celtic Collection, which will characterize the first edition of The Alex Delazer Auction and is also the first international auction that includes eventers, Cooley Farm have selected some top-quality horses.

“The world is changing and COVID-19 has only accelerated that change. Here at Cooley Farm, we like to keep up with the times and we have seen a great opportunity to do so in The Alex Delazer Auction. We are proud of all the horses we present at the auction, but for sure Countess Cooley (ISH, 2015, by Ramiro B), a full sister to Cooley Earl, who we bred and produced here at Cooley Farm, holds a special place in our hearts.”

This top-quality bay mare was placed 4th in the 4-year-old Cavan Winter Show Jumping Championships in 2019. She had a super attitude to work from the very start and she has been showing tremendous promise for both show jumping and eventing.

Another special horse presented at the auction is Cooley Rules, a 2014 gelding by Beachball. The latter is a son of OBOS Quality, a very influential stallion in Irish breeding, who has produced some top offspring. One example would be Mark Q, who under the saddle of Kevin Babington has given proof of his qualities as a top horse. The Dam of Beachball has competed successfully up to CSI5* level with Cian O’Connor. Cooley Rules has evented to 1m10 level having won in his first run and finished 3rd in his second. He has also show-jumped successfully to 1m25.

For over 10 years now, Cooley horses have been competitive across the World and at the most prestigious international events and are famous all over the world for their outstanding quality.

To find out more about the horses presented by Cooley Farm for the Celtic Collection of The AD Auction: www.theadauction.com.

From September 11 to September 14 on www.theadauction.com the innovative online auction “The AD Auction” will take place: the Celtic Collection offers the unique opportunity to enter the stables of Cooley Farm, Wrenwood Stables and Babes Horses, who will present 20 horses in the showjumping, eventing and American hunting disciplines.

Finding the Silver Linings

By on Sep 8, 2020 1:00 pm -

Photo by Emma Young.

There’s a silver lining to everything. At the time some things seem like the worst thing ever. Your horse comes up lame right before the show, you lose your job, you lose someone close to you … or maybe there’s a worldwide pandemic. No matter how awful something is, though, there is almost always a silver lining. This lining is sometimes just easier to find than other times.

Recently everyone’s lives have been changed to some capacity. I remember back in the spring when my whole world felt like it was caving in around me. I was sent home from school, I missed my friends, my family’s jobs were all affected, and everything once normal about life was no longer. It was hard to see any positives about the situation. As time went on things started to appear a little more normal. I was able to find a couple jobs, I started getting some lessons again, and I was able to see a handful of my friends. The world was starting to reopen.

Photo by Barry Jenn Petty.

As the summer progressed I was faced with a shocking reality. While my college said that we were going back to school I knew how quickly they could change their mind. There were so many unknowns about the entire year. I was faced with a choice: go to school and take the risk or take a gap year? I pondered the decision for a while knowing very well how much the decision might affect the rest of my life.

I knew if I was going to take a year off I wanted to do something meaningful with it and my first thought was working student. I had always wanted to be a working student for a summer, but I knew I would get even more out of it if I stayed for a year. I had a list of a few riders I was going to contact about working student positions. I figured I should work for someone I really wanted to if I was going to do this.

While I was finalizing who I should contact, a social media post appeared in my feed looking for a working student (from one of those riders). After several messages and lots of phone tag I had a plan for my year. I contacted my school, packed my bags, said my “see you laters,” and a couple weeks later my horse and I were on our way to Aiken.

In some ways there were more unknowns about this than there was if I went to school. I didn’t know anyone here, I didn’t know where exactly I would be living, I didn’t know where my horse would be living, I didn’t know how they ran their barn. All these things I knew at college. However, I told myself that by doing this I had a plan for this year. That’s something I feared going to college wouldn’t have guaranteed.

This is my silver lining of the entire pandemic. I can’t change what happened and if none of this had ever happened then I wouldn’t be sitting here right now, literally. I would be at school starting my sophomore year. I’d be hanging out with friends and probably worried about my new classes. We would have no idea how normal our lives really were. We would have no idea how lucky we were. But this year isn’t normal.

My silver lining of all the awful things that have happened is that I have the opportunity to be a working student for Doug and Jessica Payne. My silver lining is in just three short weeks my horse and I have already improved more than I ever could have imagined. My silver lining is that because I came here my entire future will be different, both in the irons and out. My silver lining is that while I miss my friends and family and home and school like crazy I never would have known what I’m experiencing right now and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Photo by Emma Young.

While I have no intention of being a professional I honestly don’t know what I want to do with my life. Ideas of show organizer, marketing department of an equine company, equine journalist, and starting my own company have all been things that have crossed my mind, but I don’t know. This year has given me an extra year to really find that out. It’s given me the opportunity to work with top class riders, grooms, and horses. It’s given me the chance to see so many things up close that I have only ever seen through a screen or from a distance. If you told me only a few months ago some of the things I’ve gotten to do, I’m not sure if I would have believed you.

I am so thankful for the new things I’m learning and people I’m meeting. That’s my silver lining to this dark year we’re living. 2020 may be remembered as a year of pain but my 2020 is going to be the year I truly find my vision and what I want to do. I can’t wait to see all that I learn while I’m here? The best quote I think to describe this year so from Madeline L’Engle: “Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.” I appreciate the good moments so much more because of the bad. Here’s to 2021 of being a year full of light for everyone!