Hi everybody - thought it was finally time to get this blog back up and running and to update you all on life in general.
So, yea, Kentucky didn't go so well for me. I'm not sure what happened, Donald got a little spun up from all the thunderstorms and because of the weather I wasn't able to prepare him the way I had been doing all year long. I sometimes forget that he is a young horse and still acts green occassionally. It was a hard pill to swallow and still is at times. The thought of what happened still stings, but I am using it as motivation. Que sera sera, on to the next.
Jersey Fresh was a huge redemption weekend for us where Donald and I finished 4th in the CCI3*, our best 3* finish to date. I think Donald felt bad about Kentucky, he really did try hard to make it up to me. He got a nice vacation after Jersey and is starting back into work now.
While Donald was on vacay, his little brother Hewie got his chance to shine at the Bromont CCI2*. Fabulous dressage put him into 16th going in to cross country. Hewie is still very much "the baby" around the farm so I was nervous about him on Saturday, he is still growing up and has a lot to learn, I wasn't sure how he would handle the big track. Maintaining focus is sometimes hard for "Screwy Hewie". His jumping efforts were fantastic and he went smoothly through every combination. However, he gets a little bit of "tunnel vision" in the long open gallops so turning around the track was a bit difficult, we ended up with a bit of time added to our dressage score. He jumped super for me on Sunday, we had two rails down, the front poles on oxers where I got a bit ahead of him.
Also, in other news, WE MOVED. I found a fabulous place in Florida that I adore. After discussing my riding future with Buck at Kentucky we all agreed that if I was going to be in this for the long haul I needed to put myself in a position where I could have access to more training opportunities. Ocala is a fantastic place for me to work with Buck on a more regular basis. I'm also located close to many top show jumpers and dressage riders. I'm excited to be so close to such wonderful trainers because most of all I just want to learn and be better.
All of the horses traveled safely including Fibi, who is due to foal now in a week! She is having a baby by Oldenburg stallion Banderas. I'm so excited about this cross. Fibi's baby will be a half brother or sister to my former 2* horse Rosetta Stone. He/She will also be an uncle or aunt to my Pickles, which will be sort of awkward since it will be younger than him. We have a strange family tree growing around here.
For now Donald and Hewie are mostly trotting and flatting, I'm waiting not so patiently on this new addition and also to hear on my Rebecca Farm travel grant. I really hope that Donald and I will be getting on a plane at the end of July!
Til next time,
Katie
xoxo
