I'll admit, I had a pretty hard time getting pumped up this winter for the upcoming Eventing year.
I was bummed about my performances at Galway, not seeing my name on the Developing Riders list and also about the Rebecca Farm Grant, although Sharon certainly deserved to win it. No sour grapes here, just reaching the point that I am sure every top level rider has been in, hell, every rider in general. Like you are beating your head against a wall, doing everything you can to be as successful as you can, only to be overlooked. All of this coupled with the stress of the holidays, well, I was in a pretty dark place.
I took it day by day and realized that if you focus on the big picture too long it's easy to get discouraged. I really needed to get back to what has made me successful in the first place, focusing on the resources I have and making them work for me. It's easy to get caught up in what you don't have, when instead you should be focusing on what you do have. Focus on the little things that make a big impact. I have a great team here that works so hard for me. My groom Lindsay is the best around, she works tirelessly and loves my horses. She takes care of them like her own. Now my friends are down here for the winter, Jill Mooney is here at my place with her lovely horses. She doesn't know it, but she pushes me every day to keep going. My vets and farrier are all looking forward to making sure Donald and Hewie stay in fine form for their big goals this spring. My friends in Maryland are constantly sending love and cheers which makes me want to keep pushing. My family was here over the holidays, they're convinced this will be my best year ever, I will do my best not to dissapoint them. Most importantly, I have two wonderful, sound upper level horses that love their jobs.
Donald and Hewie started back into work after Christmas, and now I'm pumped. They picked up right where they left off last year. They're going so well. They feel fit, strong and ready for action. Okay, Hewie looks a bit fat. So far they have had 2 light jump schools. They've been spot on. I will try to set up a lesson wiht Jon next week so he can point me in the right direction before their first horse trials. Hewie will run the OI at Rocking Horse and and the OI at Ocala before contesting his first Advanced at Rocking Horse II. Donald will keep training at home until he has a canter around Ocala OI, then he will join his little brother in the Advanced at Rocking Horse. From there Donald will go to Red Hills. I will see how Hewie handles his first Advanced and he will let me know what he is ready to do.
See you out there!
Katie, Donald and Hewie
