I feel like when you are getting ready for a major 3 day competition, your life can be measured in gallops. You live and breathe for that weekly run and then pray it goes well, hold your breath until you get home from the track and see that your horse looks okay. I am so fortunate to have my neighbor Stacey Emory's beautiful grass track on loan to me, so for a rational person there is not much to worry about. However, when you get closer and closer to your big event, rational thought goes out the window. The gallops leading up to the "Big Day" are zen-like. There is something very eerie about your last gallop before the competition, I will try to explain it more when it gets here.
For me, right now, Galway is still a go.
Both Hewie and Donald did a big gallop yesterday and were totally on form. I can say honestly that I don't think they have ever looked or felt better in their lives. It is amazing how little I have to work on their gallops. A shift of weight in my toes and they swap leads. I close my pinky finger around the outside rein and their balance comes up for the turn. They are fit, ready, and very in tune with what I am doing. They look like winners. They act like winners. Both of them have changed so much from the beginning of this year to now. They look like different horses. Donald finally has a topline and Hewie finally has an ass. They are shiny, bright, tuned up and ready for California. I'm fancying my chances.
I have been helping my friend Rachel ride some at a jumper barn here in Ocala. She is going through a pretty rough time and I have a few hours to spare, she needs a bit of a break so I have been running out there to try and lend a hand. It has been good practice for me just to sit on lots of horses. Riding is the best way to improve your riding, and I need to be really good at riding when I get to Galway.
I had a small freakout moment when I talked to Joe the other day who has been stuck in England. I have just been really worried about not getting tons of lessons leading up to this event. Jon Holling has been helping me out and I love how he works with my horses. Very demanding but in a patient and considerate way that I know my horses appreciate. I haven't called him this week because I didn't want to bug him before the Pan Ams, and my heart absolutely breaks for him. Obviously, if anyone deserved to go it was Jon, but sometimes it is not meant to be. It is devastating and unfortunate but at the end of the day we have to make the best decision for the team, and I know one day I will be there too. I will be in Jon's shoes. He is a class act and I know it will work out for him.
My mom and I were talking about how it was very strange not being at Fair Hill this year. Galway 3* is so new that it doesn't register in my brain yet. I just automatically associate fall 3* with Fair Hill.. and I'm not there.. not competing.. not eating crab bisque.. not buying fuzzy hats at the trade fair.. not walking thru the tunnel.. feels unnatural to me.
Galway is a new adventure. A new tradition maybe? At least no fuzzy hats will be required ;)
x
k, big red, & little red
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