Ella Rak impressed us with her writing ability and fun style so much that she made it to the Final Four of EN’s 2013 Blogger Contest. She’s 16, is a High School student, Aspiring Lower Level Eventer, and C2 Pony Clubber. As with the rest of the finalists, we invited Ella to contribute a weekly piece to the site. Thanks to Ella for writing, and thank you for reading.
A selection of the books I brought to the HB (some more helpful than others, how can you go anywhere WITHOUT the inspiration of William Fox-Pitt?!)
From Ella:
When all things are said and done, the most you can ask for from any experience is to have learned something. The days you lose can teach you just as much about yourself and your horse as the days you win, but it is your willingness to learn that makes the difference. Having just returned home from taking a Horse Management Pony Club rating, tests of your ability can be just as much a learning experience as training. Without ever setting foot in a stirrup– teaching, being taught, and just observation of others can give you a new perspective on how to approach your riding.
The biggest thing I learned is how incredibly nice Midwest eventers are. They do everything they can to help you, and are the most welcoming bunch I have ever met. Eventers are always there to help, but add the Midwest charm and it’s a powerful combination. From the constant reassurance that yes, it DOES go “humerus, ulna, radius,” to teaching you the poisonous plants common in Ohio in-between test sections, I was ready to move there for good!
Everyone has a different opinion to everything. We have all heard that every trainer has a different approach, but even outside of riders, you can discuss every last aspect of horse care and end up with more methods that are correct than people in the room. Especially when taking an oral test like a rating, it becomes less “black and white,” and more about your reasoning behind it, more like actual horse care (except for the poisonous plant, you eat hemlock = you’re dead). From the insignificant, like which internal parasite is the worst (I still go with tapeworms, but large strongyles are nasty too), to the eternal question of the safest and most efficient method for conditioning a horse, there are a lot of right answers, and we have to choose the one that fits best for the individual, not for the collective group.
Also…drink water, even if you are sitting inside. It is obvious to most people to drink water if you are physically exerting yourself in the summer heat, but even when you are sitting in a nice air-conditioned building frantically reading, you are losing water, and when you lose water, you start losing cognitive ability. I know it doesn’t make a ton of sense, but your brain is highly composed of water, and losing just 2-3% (that is BEFORE you start to feel thirsty) can start to impair your ability to think. In a sport where split second decisions are commonplace, we need to be at our sharpest, so keep drinking water, even as the temperature starts to cool off.
And when you start to get nervous, slow down. Anyone who has ever met me knows when I get nervous, I talk REALLY fast, but this applies riding too. We need to constantly have the next movement or jump in mind, but the only way we can get to the next one, is if we can get the one we are at done first. Whether you have to take a second to explain why we adjust the bridle the way we do, or to take just one more half-halt, giving yourself a little time to think is crucial (and so is drinking water. Drink water.). We need to plan, but reacting to what is right in front of us takes just as much processing, we just need to give ourselves the chance.
So essentially what did I learn from the 17 hours of testing, 14 hours of driving, and boat loads of books (other than that there is a lot corn and soybeans in Ohio)? That we need to be open to learning to be able to progress. It takes adaptability, prospective, and LOTS of water to be successful in whatever you choose to do.
