My name is Janine Savoie, I live in Shelton, CT. I’m finishing up my last semester at Southern CT State University where I’m concentrating in Journalism and Business Administration. I’ve been riding since I was about five years old. I grew up riding hunter/jumpers and even rode on my old college’s IHSA team for a while. For the last few years I’ve been training under Ashley Colluci and Ted Williams at Autumn View Equestrian Center in Woodbridge, CT. I own a grey 5-year-old off the track Thoroughbred mare named Silver Sunrise, or Jersey as we call her. We both entered the eventing world together about a year ago and we are learning a lot.
To say that I like winter, even a little bit, would be pushing it. My OTTB mare doesn’t seem to be a fan of it either despite spending the first three years of her life in Chicago. But I don’t think she minds a little bit of time off or the endless supply of candy canes I get for her on clearance after the holidays are through.
I live in Connecticut, so cold is not new to me; I was raised here. I’m a college student that purchased my first horse almost two years ago. She’s almost six years old and my dream horse. We don’t have the time or money to move to Aiken or Ocala for the colder months and the barn that we call home doesn’t have the luxury of an indoor. But all in all, we do get by and I think that wintertime can turn out to be a productive season every year in one way or another.
As the New Year begins, I definitely look back on the previous year. I think about the good and the bad; what worked and what didn’t work, and how I will go about my riding this year in a way that I might not have thought to last January. I’m not sure that I believe in “New Year’s resolutions” but I do believe that I can set some goals for myself and figure out the things I want to work on this year.
So far, what I’ve come up with overall is that I would like to work on my motivation and confidence. Even though I’m referring to riding and horses, I think those two simple words can be goals for all aspects of my life. I’d like to compete Beginner Novice this year and try to get out more, whether it’s at shows, cross country schooling, the beach, etc.
I even made a plan to save every dollar bill tip I receive from my waitressing job in a jar labeled “horse show money,” because although I try my best to save up and show as much as I’d like to, it isn’t always possible. When it comes to riding, I want to improve on our dressage, I want to know more about the discipline and reflect that knowledge into Jersey’s training. I could go on and on, but my biggest goals are to be motivated and gain confidence while finishing up my last semester of college.
Last year started out a lot differently. Winter was harsh. Between snowy days and freezing temps, our rides became few and far between. When the temperature reaches about 30 degrees, Jersey kind of gives me the hint that she’s just not feeling it. Some days I’d try my best to work through that and other days I’d find myself working her on the ground.
I will admit, there is some bucks and temper tantrums now and again but I’ve come to understand why these things can happen and have worked on keeping my cool and continuing on with our ride. Now that winter is here once again, the cold days make it harder to get out of bed but OTTB’s require work, even when it’s cold out.
Unfortunately I was ill almost the entire month of December, so my early plans of keeping Jersey in consistent work became a bit dim. But now that I’m better I’m doing what I can to get out to the barn more and spend time with her. Do I get frustrated? Of course, but I never hold it against her. At the end of the day she’s a horse, she’s cold and hasn’t been kept in consistent work the past few weeks. I do what I can to work through that.
Going into the New Year I definitely have a better plan because I know a little bit of what to expect. A big change? She’s grown up A LOT, not only in size but just in general; she has a lot more training than she did in 2013. Between a different turn-out schedule and the help of a mild calming supplement, I have a much different horse in a good way.
As we head into 2015, ambitious and goal-orientated, I look forward to bettering my horse and myself. This is my passion and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.
