Back in February, we introduced Shannon Lilley as EN’s newest guest blogger. With Ballingowan Pizzaz, Shannon represented the USA at the 2011 Pan Ams, helping win the team gold medal. Unfortunately, just after her EN debut, Shannon had emergency back surgery to repair her L5 disk in her spinal column. Doctors expect her to make a full recovery but she could potentially be out of riding until September. Despite the injury and resulting change of plans to her competition season, Shannon remains in good spirits with a healthy perspective on life…something we should all keep in mind. Click here to read her last blog from April 17. Thank you for writing, Shannon, and thank you for reading.
From Shannon:
I think there comes a point in time where you just resign to the fact that you need to accept and even embrace your own fate. That being said I have started to really enjoy watching and teaching our students at Flying Tail Farms. Each person brings his or her own challenge to the table, which results in us, as instructors, to dig deeper to find a solution but then articulate it in a way where that particular student will respond. Teaching different students is much like riding different horses. Some you can really kick on and some need a more finessing approach. I had one adult amateur who is very intense on her horse and I found that lightening the mood in the arena and taking her mind off the job at hand and even in the gutter really helped; nothing X-rated, although that might help too.
This weekend we have one of the most beloved horse shows on the West Coast at The Horse Park at Woodside. This event is run by Robert Kellerhouse who has done a phenomenal job at bringing high caliber events to the West Coast and making us relevant. He has an innovative way of keeping spectators and sponsors interested in the sport, especially those who might not otherwise come to watch. A good example of that is portrayed this weekend with the Preliminary Challenge. There are two different divisions for this Challenge: Horse and Rider. The Rider division is for those who have not competed above the Preliminary level and the Horse division for the horses who have not competed above the preliminary level. The horses and riders have to qualify for the division and usually the two divisions make for a very competitive weekend. The Preliminary challenge runs dressage on Friday and cross-country on Saturday morning. The show jumping is held as a Saturday night feature in front of an audience who gets to enjoy a dinner presented by Cahoots Catering and an amazing silent auction put together by the huge supporters of the Horse Park. The prize money for the Challenge divisions is $5,000 each and other generous vendors, like CWD, donate additional prizes.
This is a particularly special event because it is held at the Preliminary level. So often our sport and organizers of the sport highlight the highest levels because that is what yields the greatest spectator interest; but Robert figured out a way to showcase a lower, more-tangible level for all participants in the sport and make it a unique and sometimes lucrative experience. To some of these riders, this is the culmination of their career.
Flying Tail Farms has two students in this event, Brynn Littlehale on her own Coup d’Etat in the Rider challenge division, and Kelly Pugh riding Stephen Dukker’s Spot On in the Horse division. The dinner party is always tons of fun but even better when one of your very own competes. A few years ago, my Pan American partner, Ballingowan Pizazz won the division with his then-owner and very accomplished rider, Lindsay Connors. That night was so special for Lindsay, her family and us trainers.
We thank Robert and all of our fantastic organizers on the West Coast for working so hard for us and putting on such incredible events. If you know an organizer, be sure to thank them for all that they sacrifice.
But back to my original point, I will go to Woodside this weekend to help Dayna coach the 16 horses and riders we have competing. I am sure I will use all the different tactics I have been experimenting with to try to get my point across, absorbed, and applied. As trainers, there is nothing more gratifying then seeing a big grin on a student’s face after his or her round! Wish me luck!
