The End of the Rainbow is really at Richland Park!
Richland for the rest of us; an outsiders guide to surviving an upper level event!
Were here at Richland Park! Actually, were just starting our 12-hour drive back home to the way less exciting, and definitely not as celebrity-laden shows in Minnesota. No we did not go to Richland to groom for Becky, and we didn’t get stabled next to Boyd, but we definitely stalked Will Coleman. We decided to take the plunge and sit at the table with the big boys, or at least look at the table they are sitting at, and compete at esteemed Richland Horse Park! The trailer was packed to the gills with two well-behaved geldings, enough stuff to last well beyond the week, and two very excited young ladies in the cab of a black pickup. We had no idea what we were in for, but we were ready to take it all in stride, or so we thought. Jessi has been working hard on her Novice horse Kelso, who you may remember from a few weeks ago in Horse Nation’s “oh $h!t moments.” Thankfully the results were drastically different this weekend, finishing 10th in the competitive Novice horse division. Anyone who owns a TB with that wicked right drift understands how frustrating close she came to finishing on her dressage score, next year’s their year! Maura was hoping that by putting TBx on her entry form that no one would notice she’s bringing a total Budweiser horse to the show. Cappie, a 5-year-old going on 15, Clyde/TB thundered around in the Training Horse division and brought home a very beautiful purple ribbon, with eyes on that keyhole jump next year!
The first thing you have to know about surviving an event as big, and as awesome as Richland Park Horse Trial is how to correctly stalk upper level riders. This may begin as late as a week, or an as early as a month before the actual event.
Depending on how bold you are, emailing Rick with special stabling needs, i.e. next to Boyd, Will, Doug, Becky, Holly, Jessica, oh wait might as well take a gamble with stabling because of all the amazing riders here, you are sure to luck out being stabled next to one! We were lucky enough to be stabled next to Colleen Rutledge riding Shiraz in the CIC*** and Covert Rights in the CIC**- Lucky us! Words cannot express how educational it was to be stabled across the aisle from a 4* international level competitor, with her mom being a vet to boot! From the smallest things such as a copying her hanging basket on the stall doors, to answering our questions in detail on what goes into a long format event and what it really takes to be a upper level competitor, while still being a mom, a coach and keeping her sanity. The information we got from interacting with her family for just this short period of time is invaluable and we will definitely take back home with us- including our homework assignment from Colleen’s mom!
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re going to your first BIG SHOW:
- Please be aware that your two horse bumper pull trailer will get lost in the rows of parking next to Bucks, Doug’s, and Team Price Eventing trailers!
- You quickly realized that riding Novice and Training in Minnesota may make you pretty cool, but here with the big fish, you’re just a really excited everyday minnow.
- Good ways to meet an Olympian- have dinner at the local Applebee’s!
- A bad way to meet an Olympian- backing your truck over their loose dog. (Which luckily didn’t happen, but we saw several close alls over the weekend despite the all dogs must be leashed at all times signs)
- THE CROSS COUNTRY FENCES ARE HUGE!
- The shows starts on Thursday (but not for you!). Get to the dressage warm up around 7:45 AM, and bring your camera, you won’t be sorry!
- On Thursday morning any hope of keeping your cool is lost as you squeal and stare at every upper level rider that ambles by. But this don’t worry, by Sunday you will learn to walk quietly by as Boyd rides up on his scooter to buy his daily morning coffee.
- Those horses that you see on TV at Rolex? They really DO look that amazing in real life!
- The trade fair is way better than what you have got going on at your local shows, everything from Coldstone Creamery as a lunch option, to John Nunn pulling the last stud you’re missing off the display and selling it to you from his Bit of Britain tack trailer. For the record, upper level eventers are super nice on the morning of XC when you’re both pawing through the stud selection!
- That super low dressage score you got at your local event won’t cut it, especially next to Becky Holder’s 36.3 FEI score in the CIC*** with Can’t Fire Me.
- Seriously, HUGE! Those maxed out Novice and Training levels jumps that would have you shaking in your Ariats at home are here, but look very tame in comparison when set in a line with the 3*, 2* and Advanced jumps! You’re not scared, because you know your horse will jump it because the alternatives on either side don’t appeal to either of you in this lifetime.
All kidding aside, the Richland Park Horse Trial is by far one of the classiest and most fun events we have ever been to. The grounds are amazing, the volunteers are amazing, the announcers voice is amazing, and best of all the competitors are amazing and we felt lucky to be counted among them, all 482 of us! Many thanks to everyone involved in running this awesome event, you truly put on a great show.
Also, make sure to hang around for the competitor’s party, and be sure to dust off your tippy cup skills!
Go Eventing!
