Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month: March

EN isn’t just your leading source for eventing news, results and commentary; it’s a community where fans of this crazy sport come together to share their war stories. We love hearing from readers and, in turn, sharing your thoughts with the world. All reader submissions are eligible for the Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month in which they are published. All winners will receive an Omega Alpha supplement of their choosing. Have something to share with EN? Send it to us at [email protected]!

Briggs Surratt and Hat Trick at Rocking Horse. Photo by Patricia Dileo. Briggs Surratt and Hat Trick at Rocking Horse. Photo by Patricia Dileo.

There were a lot of wonderful submissions to choose from this month, but we had to give the submission of the month award to event dad Andy Surratt, who wrote the piece “A Dad’s Reflection on Red Hills” about watching his son, Briggs, compete at Red Hills earlier this year. Briggs trains with Rick Wallace and has been eventing for about two years. Andy wrote in about the feeling of pride he felt while he and his family watched Briggs compete in the CIC*:

“Once we heard he finished with no jump penalties, a sense of pride hit us. The overwhelming pride made it very hard to button our jackets. As Briggs made his way over to the sponsor tent, shaking hands as family, friends and colleagues congratulated him, I realized I watched my little boy turn into a young man overnight.”

Andy (or perhaps Briggs?) will receive a free supply of an Omega Alpha supplement of his choosing. Want to win an Omega Alpha supplement? Send in your story, clinic report, video or other article to [email protected]. If it’s published this month, it will be eligible for April’s giveaway. (Month to be determined by date of publishing, not date of submission.) Many thanks to Andy for writing and to Omega Alpha for supporting Eventing Nation. Go eventing!

Here are a few of our other favorite reader submissions from March:

Best Memorial Piece: “When Horses Are More Than Just Horses” by Kelly Utter

“As we approach a decade of taking in horses after their racing careers and finding them new homes and lives, please take a minute to thank this wonderful horse, thank the universe for bringing him and Allie together, and also to think about the horses who have changed your own lives for the better. May they all stroll through fields like these forever.”

Best Tribute Post: “Healing and Fulfillment of a Dream at Red Hills” by Patricia Dileo

“Can horses heal a broken heart and make you relish life once again? ABSOLUTELY! Taylor started her life on the back of a Tennessee Walker, running dogs with her father, watching him compete in field trials and scouting for him when he trained. Taylor was blessed to have ridden on some of the most exquisite plantations in the South. If she wasn’t fishing in the Gulf with her father, she was on the back of a horse.”

Best Show of Determination: “The 47th Time’s a Charm” by Melanie O’Neill

“The outdoor had not been plowed since we had the indoor available to us.  There were now 8 inches of ice out there.  Even the plowed farm paths were too icy.  My trailer was at home, down my 500 foot driveway which we had not plowed all winter.  So yet another break in work…and another comeback.  I hitched rides to trailer to a nearby indoor twice and when the weather broke this week I was ready to work.  The ring was still partially icy.  On a couple of the warm days the barn had a snow stomping rides.”

Best Working Student Diary: “My Working Student Diary” by Sadie Buchenau

“I have learned to work quickly and efficiently and how to be precise and not leave anything left untouched. There is not a moment in my day where I am sitting still or don’t have anything to do. I have learned that there is always work to be done and how to do it well and with a smile on my face.”

Sinew-X-2

 

 

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