Thanks to Sinead and Doug for keeping us posted on all things Boekelo this past weekend. Sinead has this final post from the Netherlands and Sinead and Hannah Burnett, the Fair Hill CCI3* winner, will be joining us for a live blog Wednesday night around 7pm–I’ll have more details shortly. Some of the photos on this post are courtesy of Doug’s dad. Thanks for writing this Sinead and be sure to check out Sinead’s blog.
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From Sinead:
This morning was our last morning at Boekelo CCI *** in Holland after one of the most educational weeks off my life thus far. I took Tate for a quiet walk around the beginning of the cross country track, which just days before had been covered by 40,000 spectators, beer tents, horses, riders , kids, buses, photographers, and everything in between. This morning it was just Tate, myself, a few sheep and my mind reflecting over the last 10 days. When I walked back into the barn and Nat said it was probly time for us to get going to the airport I found myself fighting off tears (unsuccessfully). I realized how lucky I was to be there. I think I speak for all of us that went on this trip (riders, grooms, owners, selectors, managers etc) that there is an excitement that did not end when the event ended. This trip feels like it has put some fire in our stomach and hope in our hearts for the future
When I arrived at Boeklo I had every intention of finishing in the top 3. After watching dressage the first morning I was hoping to be in the top 20 after dressage and by my test I was hoping I could pull of getting on the first page of results. Lesson one learned my idea of what was “good enough” is not good enough on the world wide stage. Tiana did a lovely test and with her stunning horse, Fin with its extravagant movement and accuracy she landed herself in the top 10, Both Will and Doug’s tests improved as they worked through the movements. You could see them literally growing up in the arena but at this competition the scores put Will right in the center of the pack and Doug in the bottom half . Tate was wild in the warm up so I felt it was better to have a tired horse than one that might stand up or lay down in the ring. Tate did a respectable test that would have put him at the top of the scoreboard in the USA but at Boekelo put us at the end of the first page (of 3 and a half pages) in 39th.
Cross country day was like nothing I had ever seen before. At first light I was walking my final time around the track and I was having to dodge early morning spectators that had chairs and children in tow in order to be sure to get a good seat! 9a was a tricky skinny brush off a tight turn coming into the first water complex seemed to be the cause of a lot of trouble and caught Doug and Skinny out. Experience is what you get a second after you needed it and this seemed to be the case here. Skinny did not understand the question and Doug later realized he should have ridden a different line to help Skinny see the fence for a second longer, a mistake I am sure will not be made again. After two attempts Doug got it done and finished the course with he and his horse wiser. Will had a foot perfect round and before he was even through the finish you could see his ear to ear grin. Tiana had already decided to go long at the water so she picked up a few time faults but jumped herself right into 7th. I was anchor rider and after several unlucky falls at the first water Mike Huber and Mark decided that it was not worth the risk and I should go the long route. That made it almost impossible to make time which was frustrating but we were working as a team so I double checked the map and got on my horse. Tate was fantastic around the track and finished just 4 seconds over. He did not seem to be effected by the crowd and as he was galloping I felt like this was what he had been waiting to do since the moment we landed. The course was great but you had to fight for it the whole way, you had the clock chasing you and big jumps till the very end. It was great coming into the box knowing Tate and I had done our jobs and seeing the team there with big hugs and smiles to spare!
Sunday morning went well at trot up and our team had moved into Silver Medal position. The show jumping course was nice and there was not a spare seat. I couldn’t even watch unless I crept under the photographers in the actual arena. Doug and Will both had 1 rail and Tiana Jumped a lovely clear. Tate unfortunately felt tired. I had a nice round but had 3 down. Learning experience number 3029: having a nice rhythm and seeing a stride isn’t always good enough. I have some work to do and need to figure out how to help my horse more when he is tired on the third day. We finished in second as a team behind Germany and ahead of France.
We all came in to the awards together and to my right was Michael Jung and Bettina Hoy among the German Team and to my left was Jean Teuler and Nicolas Touzaint among the four on the French team and the four of us in the middle were all sitting a little taller in the tack. This trip is one of the best investment I think our team had made in a long time and I hope they decide to do the same again next year. I learned reality and honesty plays such an important role in not only your competition but your training. I honestly thought my training was good enough but in reality it needs to be better and after seeing where I am and comparing that to where I need to be I feel completely confident I can fill in the gaps.
Special thanks to Sara Ike who really was so supportive and kept us in line, Mark Phillips, Mike Huber, PJ, Meg (DP goom), Nat , Chrissy , Ariel ( T’s groom), our parents and owners, our fabulous horses and everyone who sent us good luck! It was a very exciting trip to be a part of. GO EVENTING!
