....but I really haven't slept, so I will just count all of these occurances as just a single day.
No grass grows under the gypsy wagon's wheels, so Lindsay and I found ourselves packing for another adventure. We decided to go to another horse show on the way to Kentucky and take Hewie along... and by on the way I mean completely out of the way and totally out of my budget. Plus, that show is Fair Hill, which is always certain to be cold and rainy. Case in point, today, and the forecast for every day this week. Whose bright idea was this? Jon Holling's, of course.
At least I have Wesley's all you can eat seafood buffet to look forward to!
We got here late last night after being on the road since 4:30am. I had planned to leave at 3 or 3:30 but Adrian needed to fix something on the big LQ trailer. OK, that was fine and Lindsay and I just took our time packing the odds and ends. About 4:00 rolls around and he is still twiddling with things, must be a man thing. We load up the horses and he is still fussing with switches and knobs. I give him the 15 minute warning which went in one ear and out the other. I truly believe he loves this LQ trailer more than me. Finally I made an executive decision and just started driving, with Adrian attatched to the side, it was like I was taking a baby from its' mothers' arms. He may have started crying... for the trailer... not for me. I am sure he is counting the minutes until he meets me in Kentucky so he can see his baby (the trailer) again.. silly man.
The morning didn't get much better for me. At about 7 am I was having trouble keeping my eyes open so Lindsay and I decided to stop for coffee. After browsing in the aisles of the gas station a younger sort of cute man came up to me and asked me how I was doing. Okay, all right, a little tired I guess. Then he announced to the world that I had my pants on inside out. And he called me "ma'am". Double crap. I had gone all morning with my pants on inside out (THANKS Lindsay and Adrian... good looking out) and I apparently look old enough now to be called "ma'am". Awesome just... awesome.
After putting on my pants like a big girl we hit the road again. The rest of the trip was totally uneventful. Lindsay and I both noted how much faster we were at our stops now that we didn't have the resident Trailer Freak with us. Faster, yes... but I do still miss the Trailer Freak very much even if he adds at least 2 hours on to my trip time just by being there.
Linsday and I took the boys on a trail ride around Fair Hill in what seemed like a frigid blizzard.. but in reality it was just 55 and drizzle. I have gone soft from living in Florida. Spoiled. Even the dogs have been shivering all day. I rode them both again on the flat this afternoon and had a lesson on Don with Jon which went really well. He is going amazing and everybody around has noticed a huge change in his attitude this year. I am optimistic about our chances at Kentucky but really, after what happened last year, if I can just have a happy horse in the sandbox I will be thrilled. Everything else will be icing on the cake. We drew # 20 so we will go Thursday afternoon, exactly what I wanted. I can't believe a week from today we will be in Kentucky. It seems like yesterday I was crying in my trailer and wondering how in the world I was going to sell all my stuff. Not this year!! Jon has been beyond awesome at helping me, and not just with my horses but my whole attitude and mental focus about riding and competing.
On that note... I'm off to eat pounds and pounds of crab!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What I have learned in a year
Well, here we are. Opening day for Kentucky was yesterday. That means it is almost 365 days since the buck heard round the world. I ran the gamut emotionally last year during my competitions, hitting every notch on the spectrum along the way. From being dinged out of the arena at my first 4*, to being top 5 at Jersey Fresh CCI3*, to recieving a grant to go to Montana, to yet another top 5 at Poplar CIC3*, to trekking all the way out to California for a great finish at Galway CCI3*. Aside from my competitions, my whole life in 2011 was unstable at best. Leaving my home in Maryland for 4 months in Florida, moving my business in June, saying goodbye to clients and friends and starting over... 2011 kicked my ass. I've managed to learn a thing or two along the way. Not just about how to be a better rider and competitor, but about life -- about how to be successful in any realm. I am learning what it takes, and there is no other way to learn what it takes besides to try, fail and try again.
1: Be fastidious about your goals.
I made some major life changes in 2011. I quit my successful teaching and training business in Maryland to pursue my riding endeavors. I found myself teaching so much that I was not able to train and compete my own horses. I have two very good horses right now and I credit Buck for being the one to tell me, what are you waiting for, go for it. It was hard to say goodbye to my clients as I love them very much, but this decision was made for me. I learned that is OK to be selfish sometimes. I needed to afford myself the best opportunities to become a better rider and competitor. Success doesn't come to you, you go to it.
At the end of 2011, I was sure that my two top 5 placings at the 3* level were going to be enough to "put me on the map", so to speak. I was really hoping for a spot on the Developing Riders list and lord knows I could use the extra coaching. When that did not pan out for me, I was really down. I mean, really down. I found myself questioning if this was what I wanted to do with my life. Was I happy with the direction I was heading? Was I ever going to get ahead? I ticked along with the belief that there were so many people that I couldn't let down. My owners, sponsors, my parents and friends. As the closet genius Bill Cosby once said, the key to failure is trying to please everybody. I contemplated what I really wanted for myself. Thankfully Donald and Hewie got a relaxing 6 weeks off after our cross-country Galway trip. It was a good time for me to refocus. My mom told me that the only person I needed to answer to was myself and she is right. This IS what I want to do and I will do it for myself only.
2: Surround yourself with the right people
"Success is a science. If you have the conditions, you get the result" - Oscar Wilde
Equally as important as it is to having the right training conditions, one must have the right people. People who support you. People who push you. People who want the best for you. People who are truly and genuinely invested in you. I am sad to say that I left a lot of the people at my home in Maryland, but have not struggled to find an additional team here in Ocala. This summer I started riding with Jon Holling and have been blown away at the compassion and interest from both Jon and his wife Jenn. They have been amazing to me. It is a good feeling to have that your coach has a genuine, vested interest in your endeavors. Jenn and Jon are always a phone call away and I know they truly want for my success just as I want it for myself. Peter Gray has been helping me with all of my dressage as he is very good at those circles and such. He has a calm, quiet way of teaching that my horses appreciate. He also taught Jon so the three of us can stay in agreeance and on the same page. It makes me feel good that Jon, Jenn and Peter are so interested in how my horses are going. I know they are all very busy, but to know that they believe in me and keep me in their thoughts makes me believe in myself even more.
I have also kept in good company here at my farm. My good friend Jill Mooney is here from Michigan for the winter, I am hoping she never leaves! She pushes me every day to be better. My Area 8 young riders Mackenzie and Andrea came for a month, and their enthusiasm for the sport really helped recharge my own desire to succeed. Lastly but certainly not least, my working student Lindsay who works tirelessly for these horses. She's up first and in bed last. She is dedication at its' finest. She loves all my horses as they were her own. There is no doubt in my mind who I want at the in gate, finish line, D box, etc... It is Lindsay. She knows these horses inside and out and there is never a second thought in my mind -- She will get the job done. Period.
3: Trust yourself
I certainly don't know it all, but I do know my horses. I live with them. I see them first in the morning and last at night. I have learned from my mistakes last year -- not every program works for every horse or rider. Sometimes it is "square peg round hole". I know what I feel and although I have oodles left to learn, I know enough to tell if it is right or wrong. I will trust my instincts and be a better advocate for my horses. I will continue to do things that will work for them as individuals. I think back to Kentucky last year and all the things I did wrong. I did not trust myself and I paid the price. I condsider myself extremely lucky to have Jon, Jenn and Peter in my life where it is all a conversation. They will take my thoughts and feelings about the horses into consideration when advising me. It is just... so pleasant.
So there we go. That is what I have learned in a year. I'm hoping all my experiences will yield a much more positive result at this years' Rolex Kentucky CCI4*. If not... I'm going to bring the moonshine. And to the lovely people to bought me drinks at Jalapenos' in Lexington last year... can you plan to be there again? Just in case?
Cheers, kisses from Donald and Hewie.
1: Be fastidious about your goals.
I made some major life changes in 2011. I quit my successful teaching and training business in Maryland to pursue my riding endeavors. I found myself teaching so much that I was not able to train and compete my own horses. I have two very good horses right now and I credit Buck for being the one to tell me, what are you waiting for, go for it. It was hard to say goodbye to my clients as I love them very much, but this decision was made for me. I learned that is OK to be selfish sometimes. I needed to afford myself the best opportunities to become a better rider and competitor. Success doesn't come to you, you go to it.
At the end of 2011, I was sure that my two top 5 placings at the 3* level were going to be enough to "put me on the map", so to speak. I was really hoping for a spot on the Developing Riders list and lord knows I could use the extra coaching. When that did not pan out for me, I was really down. I mean, really down. I found myself questioning if this was what I wanted to do with my life. Was I happy with the direction I was heading? Was I ever going to get ahead? I ticked along with the belief that there were so many people that I couldn't let down. My owners, sponsors, my parents and friends. As the closet genius Bill Cosby once said, the key to failure is trying to please everybody. I contemplated what I really wanted for myself. Thankfully Donald and Hewie got a relaxing 6 weeks off after our cross-country Galway trip. It was a good time for me to refocus. My mom told me that the only person I needed to answer to was myself and she is right. This IS what I want to do and I will do it for myself only.
2: Surround yourself with the right people
"Success is a science. If you have the conditions, you get the result" - Oscar Wilde
Equally as important as it is to having the right training conditions, one must have the right people. People who support you. People who push you. People who want the best for you. People who are truly and genuinely invested in you. I am sad to say that I left a lot of the people at my home in Maryland, but have not struggled to find an additional team here in Ocala. This summer I started riding with Jon Holling and have been blown away at the compassion and interest from both Jon and his wife Jenn. They have been amazing to me. It is a good feeling to have that your coach has a genuine, vested interest in your endeavors. Jenn and Jon are always a phone call away and I know they truly want for my success just as I want it for myself. Peter Gray has been helping me with all of my dressage as he is very good at those circles and such. He has a calm, quiet way of teaching that my horses appreciate. He also taught Jon so the three of us can stay in agreeance and on the same page. It makes me feel good that Jon, Jenn and Peter are so interested in how my horses are going. I know they are all very busy, but to know that they believe in me and keep me in their thoughts makes me believe in myself even more.
I have also kept in good company here at my farm. My good friend Jill Mooney is here from Michigan for the winter, I am hoping she never leaves! She pushes me every day to be better. My Area 8 young riders Mackenzie and Andrea came for a month, and their enthusiasm for the sport really helped recharge my own desire to succeed. Lastly but certainly not least, my working student Lindsay who works tirelessly for these horses. She's up first and in bed last. She is dedication at its' finest. She loves all my horses as they were her own. There is no doubt in my mind who I want at the in gate, finish line, D box, etc... It is Lindsay. She knows these horses inside and out and there is never a second thought in my mind -- She will get the job done. Period.
3: Trust yourself
I certainly don't know it all, but I do know my horses. I live with them. I see them first in the morning and last at night. I have learned from my mistakes last year -- not every program works for every horse or rider. Sometimes it is "square peg round hole". I know what I feel and although I have oodles left to learn, I know enough to tell if it is right or wrong. I will trust my instincts and be a better advocate for my horses. I will continue to do things that will work for them as individuals. I think back to Kentucky last year and all the things I did wrong. I did not trust myself and I paid the price. I condsider myself extremely lucky to have Jon, Jenn and Peter in my life where it is all a conversation. They will take my thoughts and feelings about the horses into consideration when advising me. It is just... so pleasant.
So there we go. That is what I have learned in a year. I'm hoping all my experiences will yield a much more positive result at this years' Rolex Kentucky CCI4*. If not... I'm going to bring the moonshine. And to the lovely people to bought me drinks at Jalapenos' in Lexington last year... can you plan to be there again? Just in case?
Cheers, kisses from Donald and Hewie.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
It's The Little Things
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
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
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wayfaring in the Wild, Wild West
Greetings all... it's the Wednesday after Galway and I am still en route to home from my crazy trip to the wild west! Crazy was the word to describe it all week... every single person who heard that I drove had just one thing to say... "Seriously??". Yes.. seriously.
I can't complain, life on the road has been exponentially easier since I was able to take Joe's big LQ trailer. Having Kate Harris as my groom has been a godsend and she takes top notch care of the horses so that has been one less worry for me. We also brought along our personal driver/bodyguard/disc jockey... Adrian!
What a time we had in California. It started off a bit like vacation since we arrived so early. We went to some of the local vineyards and bought up some great wine. We went downtown to some restauraunts which was a real treat. Temecula is a very cool city and it was great to be at a horse show that was close to so many amenities.
Robert Kellerhouse, the organizer, totally gave us the hookup! Literally! We forgot our generator... and I'm too stingy to pay $250 for a weeks worth of electricity. So he found us a spot where we could plug in and we had a super posh place to park our rig for the week. Except for the possessed awning constantly trying to kill us, we had a sweet set up.
By now everyone has seen the results for the event and I have mixed feelings about my performance. I am still learning how to prepare these horses for their major competitions and I haven't been able to receive the lessons and coaching this fall that I am used to. I figured since Hewie will be moving up to Advanced next year I would go ahead and put him on the same fitness program as Donald. I think that may have been a mistake! I could barely hang on to the horse all weekend! He certainly won the warmup for dressage, until someone started a kubota! He lost his cool, and the $1,000 horse came out. I was proud of him for managing to get it together in the ring as he was literally spinning before he entered, but I had high hopes for him to win the event. He certainly has the capability, some times he just loses his head. Donald put in a lovely test despite the mud and muck in the 3* arena. It was a shame that we had to follow Buck and Reggie for obvious reasons! Although dissapointed in the score, I was thrilled with how rideable and relaxed Donald was and I think he is at a point in his dressage that is the perfect platform to build upon for next year. He will be ready for some big scores in the spring.
Out walking, my gag reflex started at about fence 5. Ian really put in some massive upgrades to the course and it was tricky.. very tricky. Extremely big, gallopy and ditches everywhere. I didn't actually start to feel good about the course until I was riding it. I was again dissapointed in Hewie on Saturday, he was feeling a bit too good I think and jumped us into trouble at the angled ditch and brushes which were early on in the course. He was really getting some air time over the fences and I just couldn't convince him to jump more conservatively. It made it difficult for me to keep him on his lines. He also spooked about mid-way through the course and spent an entire minute spinning in the arena. How embarassing. When he crossed the finish line, I finally felt he was relaxed enough to jump the course properly, and I wish I could have just cantered out and done it all again! He was barely sweating in the D-Box. I was pretty irritated at him, good thing he has the cutest smushy face, it is impossible to stay mad at him.
Donald smoked around the 3* track and exceeded all my expectations. It was the best cross country round I have ever had on him. Fit and full of running to the end, we took all the direct lines and came in a comfortable 10 seconds under time. Even though neither horse has had an injury, they both looked sounder than ever before on the Sunday morning at a CCI. I think both Hewie and Donald are really benefitting from my fitness program and the wonderful Florida footing.
They tried their bests on Sunday in the showjumping but both horses found the footing in the arena a bit difficult. Donald added just 1 rail to his dressage score to finish the CCI3* in 12th. I am so tickled with him and it is almost hard for me to give him his necessary time off now, I want to keep working on them both!
They are on holiday now and will be for the next month or so. They had a huge year and deserve a rest. Although I am not thrilled with my performance at Galway, it is so comforting to be bringing home two sound, healthy and happy horses and for now all my plans for next year are still in tact. In the end the real success is to keep a happy horse and now during the holidays I will have the pleasure of watching them graze in their field together after a job well done this year.
Until next year,
Katie, Hewie and Donald
I can't complain, life on the road has been exponentially easier since I was able to take Joe's big LQ trailer. Having Kate Harris as my groom has been a godsend and she takes top notch care of the horses so that has been one less worry for me. We also brought along our personal driver/bodyguard/disc jockey... Adrian!
What a time we had in California. It started off a bit like vacation since we arrived so early. We went to some of the local vineyards and bought up some great wine. We went downtown to some restauraunts which was a real treat. Temecula is a very cool city and it was great to be at a horse show that was close to so many amenities.
Robert Kellerhouse, the organizer, totally gave us the hookup! Literally! We forgot our generator... and I'm too stingy to pay $250 for a weeks worth of electricity. So he found us a spot where we could plug in and we had a super posh place to park our rig for the week. Except for the possessed awning constantly trying to kill us, we had a sweet set up.
By now everyone has seen the results for the event and I have mixed feelings about my performance. I am still learning how to prepare these horses for their major competitions and I haven't been able to receive the lessons and coaching this fall that I am used to. I figured since Hewie will be moving up to Advanced next year I would go ahead and put him on the same fitness program as Donald. I think that may have been a mistake! I could barely hang on to the horse all weekend! He certainly won the warmup for dressage, until someone started a kubota! He lost his cool, and the $1,000 horse came out. I was proud of him for managing to get it together in the ring as he was literally spinning before he entered, but I had high hopes for him to win the event. He certainly has the capability, some times he just loses his head. Donald put in a lovely test despite the mud and muck in the 3* arena. It was a shame that we had to follow Buck and Reggie for obvious reasons! Although dissapointed in the score, I was thrilled with how rideable and relaxed Donald was and I think he is at a point in his dressage that is the perfect platform to build upon for next year. He will be ready for some big scores in the spring.
Out walking, my gag reflex started at about fence 5. Ian really put in some massive upgrades to the course and it was tricky.. very tricky. Extremely big, gallopy and ditches everywhere. I didn't actually start to feel good about the course until I was riding it. I was again dissapointed in Hewie on Saturday, he was feeling a bit too good I think and jumped us into trouble at the angled ditch and brushes which were early on in the course. He was really getting some air time over the fences and I just couldn't convince him to jump more conservatively. It made it difficult for me to keep him on his lines. He also spooked about mid-way through the course and spent an entire minute spinning in the arena. How embarassing. When he crossed the finish line, I finally felt he was relaxed enough to jump the course properly, and I wish I could have just cantered out and done it all again! He was barely sweating in the D-Box. I was pretty irritated at him, good thing he has the cutest smushy face, it is impossible to stay mad at him.
Donald smoked around the 3* track and exceeded all my expectations. It was the best cross country round I have ever had on him. Fit and full of running to the end, we took all the direct lines and came in a comfortable 10 seconds under time. Even though neither horse has had an injury, they both looked sounder than ever before on the Sunday morning at a CCI. I think both Hewie and Donald are really benefitting from my fitness program and the wonderful Florida footing.
They tried their bests on Sunday in the showjumping but both horses found the footing in the arena a bit difficult. Donald added just 1 rail to his dressage score to finish the CCI3* in 12th. I am so tickled with him and it is almost hard for me to give him his necessary time off now, I want to keep working on them both!
They are on holiday now and will be for the next month or so. They had a huge year and deserve a rest. Although I am not thrilled with my performance at Galway, it is so comforting to be bringing home two sound, healthy and happy horses and for now all my plans for next year are still in tact. In the end the real success is to keep a happy horse and now during the holidays I will have the pleasure of watching them graze in their field together after a job well done this year.
Until next year,
Katie, Hewie and Donald
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Gone bush
Greetings from california!! There is a saying in New Zealand that if you have run away, gone rogue, taken off, etc; you have gone "bush". We have certainly done that and more! The red boys and I made it safely to temecula for Galway, against all odds! Joes groom, Kate Harris, has come with me to help and she has been an absolute godsend. Our friend Adrian has also joined us on our gypsy quest, which he decided to do in the last 30 minutes before we left! Not sure that he has fully realized what he has committed to but he will soon find out! So far he has not asked us where the nearest Hilton is...
We set off on Saturday morning from Ocala in the pissing rain. We made it all the way to Arnaudville, Louisiana to stay at Kylie and Court Ramsay's beautiful Pharmview farm. The Ramsays' son Calvin has my Arriador to ride, they were off competing Training level at Holly Hill when we arrived but I will surely see them both on our return trip.
On to Sunday, our most difficult driving day. Today we tackled the entire state of Texas in one go. To my shock and surprise Adrian drove most of the day and did quite well. Not too bad for a city boy! He did however introduce us to the highlight of the drive tha day which was Bucee's beef jerky. We stayed the night at a cute farm outside of El Paso, where they marveled at my "Clydesdales" that were sporting "casts" on their feet! Hewie had a minor tweak-out in his pipie corral stall but he soon settled in for the night.
Here we are, Monday! We have somehow been accepted by multiple border patrol guards into the state of California! Donald and Hewie were thrilled to be off the trailer and into their big beautiful stalls at Galway Downs. We arrived at dusk so I did not get to see most of the venue although I have been told it is one of the best in the west. I also managed to pick up a job driving 6 pro logs out for the event to be used on the course. I have always brought my own horses but never my own jumps! So Big Red, Little Red and the course have arrived.
Still can't believe we have made it all the way to Califronia! These horses take us to some amazing places. I am forever grateful to have such unbelievable partners in Donald and Hewie, partners who allow me to go on these wild adventures. I will post an update tomorrow after I can get the boys out for a flat school and trot.
Xoxo
The crew
We set off on Saturday morning from Ocala in the pissing rain. We made it all the way to Arnaudville, Louisiana to stay at Kylie and Court Ramsay's beautiful Pharmview farm. The Ramsays' son Calvin has my Arriador to ride, they were off competing Training level at Holly Hill when we arrived but I will surely see them both on our return trip.
On to Sunday, our most difficult driving day. Today we tackled the entire state of Texas in one go. To my shock and surprise Adrian drove most of the day and did quite well. Not too bad for a city boy! He did however introduce us to the highlight of the drive tha day which was Bucee's beef jerky. We stayed the night at a cute farm outside of El Paso, where they marveled at my "Clydesdales" that were sporting "casts" on their feet! Hewie had a minor tweak-out in his pipie corral stall but he soon settled in for the night.
Here we are, Monday! We have somehow been accepted by multiple border patrol guards into the state of California! Donald and Hewie were thrilled to be off the trailer and into their big beautiful stalls at Galway Downs. We arrived at dusk so I did not get to see most of the venue although I have been told it is one of the best in the west. I also managed to pick up a job driving 6 pro logs out for the event to be used on the course. I have always brought my own horses but never my own jumps! So Big Red, Little Red and the course have arrived.
Still can't believe we have made it all the way to Califronia! These horses take us to some amazing places. I am forever grateful to have such unbelievable partners in Donald and Hewie, partners who allow me to go on these wild adventures. I will post an update tomorrow after I can get the boys out for a flat school and trot.
Xoxo
The crew
Sunday, October 16, 2011
T minus 2 gallops to Galway
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
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
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Poplar Place CIC
26 September 2011
We are back from Poplar Place! Or as the Ag Station cop told me… 11 horse trailers have been through goin’ to Popular Place!
We left on Thursday in the ginormous Joe Meyer Eventing rig. Joe and Ruthie were kind enough to let me take their wheels for the weekend since they are in England. Yep, just me, two dogs and two red ponies. First time doing a weekend horse show by myself AND first time using the living quarters. Foresight is nonexistent and hindsight is 20/20...
Poor Hewie had a bit of drama before we left for the show. On Sunday he got stuck with a hot nail on his LF. He was pretty lame the next morning so I pulled the shoe off right away and started the soak-ice-pack routine. I was able to give him a little bute but had to stay within the FEI guidelines since he was entered in the 2*. We jumped with Jon Holling on Wednesday and he seemed to be all right, so cautiously off we went. Hewie trotted up like a pro at his in-barn and seemed to be ready to go.
Thursday night was a bit of a cluster. Between checking in, riding Donald and getting organized for the next day I barely had time to set up the LQ. Right, so, turns out campers have different plugs that won’t fit in normal outlets. Who knew? Obviously not me. Good thing Kyle Carter knew and he generously lent me a converter so I could plug into the generator. Got the plug, got the generator going, just in time for a gigantic thunderstorm. Of course, the generator dies (out of gas), and there is no way I am going out in the monsoon to fill it up. Meanwhile the spooky dog is freaking out at the thunder and spinning in circles, making it difficult to unpack and get settled. A 10’ area suddenly becomes very, very small when there is a terrified animal sharing your space.
Also, despite desperate attempts, I never could convince the refrigerator to get going. I purposely packed the thing full because I wasn’t going to try and unhook at the show - hydraulic jack a little dicey.
I think it goes without saying that I am not cut out for camper living.
Friday morning comes and I am certain I look like death. Donald goes at 8:30 in the CIC3* and in order to maintain our new dressage day routine it meant I was in the barn at 5am. He was a bit of a twit when I did our “pre-ride” in the morning and I was worried he would be up to his old tricks again. Proof is in the pudding, what I am doing with him is working and he put in a really good test (for him). Very steady, relaxed, calm. That is what we are going for right now. I had a very short time between Hewie and Donald so I hustled to get on him and see how he felt. Basically OK but came up a little short in the 10m circles. Decided to play it safe, pull him out of the 2* and gave him a gram of bute. Of course… suddenly completely sound! Donna at Poplar was so sweet and let me enter him in the HT to practice a test in which he was a spooky hot mess. To stay on the safe side I did not do any more with him that weekend.
The 3* course definitely rode harder than it walked. Rarely do I have to scrap a bit on Donald but we did this weekend. Between the angled cannons, double corners and the gnarly rail/bank/coffin at the end, our work was cut out for us! We jumped clean and had the 2nd fastest time of the day. I underestimated the terrain at Poplar and it was a pretty good test of fitness. It is clear Donald needs to be more fit for Galway but he is just about where he should be now, lots more trotting and a few more good gallops and he will be all set for our Cali trip.
I got held in the jog on Sunday morning, mostly I think because I trotted him up like an idiot the first time. I sprinted down the lane with his head cocked sideways like I had never seen a jog strip in my life. Maybe it was the combined lack of sleep and lack of nourishment from my failed attempt at camper living. Other than a small stifle rub Donald had not a hair out of place, so of course I chose to represent him, which he passed easily.
The show jumping course was long and tricky. Since I have been having some lessons with Jon he has been a distance Hitler, I get reemed if I’m not loving the base. It is good for me and he is right. I am having a hard time making myself see that extra 6 inches and my eye is off. It will take me a few more jump schools to start seeing a more correct distance. In the meantime, at Poplar in the show jumping I rode like an idiot. I think I missed at every jump. Better lucky than good… I think Donald thought I was trying to kill us both and he suddenly became extra careful. All the rails stayed up but I had a few time faults. I am trying to see a deeper distance by holding when I need to be riding forward to the same distance. I will need to get this all sorted before Galway and practice, practice, practice.
The Red Moose ended up in 3rd again and although I am getting tired of seeing yellow ribbons I am thrilled with him. This was his best 3* finish yet and I am so happy to see him being consistent. I have always known that I have a wonderful cross country partner in Donald, but I feel that we are really finding our groove as a team in general. He is a funny horse and it takes a while to “get” him. He will now just go to some dressage and show jumping shows, maybe an Intermediate horse trial on the way to California. Trying to put the finishing touches on what I hope will be a winning performance.
Hewie is fine now and I will have to find another Intermediate run for him. He is spooky and sensitive and is the type of horse that needs to keep running to be at his best. I also have a whole month now to figure out the living quarters.
Til next time
Katie, Donald and Hewie
We are back from Poplar Place! Or as the Ag Station cop told me… 11 horse trailers have been through goin’ to Popular Place!
We left on Thursday in the ginormous Joe Meyer Eventing rig. Joe and Ruthie were kind enough to let me take their wheels for the weekend since they are in England. Yep, just me, two dogs and two red ponies. First time doing a weekend horse show by myself AND first time using the living quarters. Foresight is nonexistent and hindsight is 20/20...
Poor Hewie had a bit of drama before we left for the show. On Sunday he got stuck with a hot nail on his LF. He was pretty lame the next morning so I pulled the shoe off right away and started the soak-ice-pack routine. I was able to give him a little bute but had to stay within the FEI guidelines since he was entered in the 2*. We jumped with Jon Holling on Wednesday and he seemed to be all right, so cautiously off we went. Hewie trotted up like a pro at his in-barn and seemed to be ready to go.
Thursday night was a bit of a cluster. Between checking in, riding Donald and getting organized for the next day I barely had time to set up the LQ. Right, so, turns out campers have different plugs that won’t fit in normal outlets. Who knew? Obviously not me. Good thing Kyle Carter knew and he generously lent me a converter so I could plug into the generator. Got the plug, got the generator going, just in time for a gigantic thunderstorm. Of course, the generator dies (out of gas), and there is no way I am going out in the monsoon to fill it up. Meanwhile the spooky dog is freaking out at the thunder and spinning in circles, making it difficult to unpack and get settled. A 10’ area suddenly becomes very, very small when there is a terrified animal sharing your space.
Also, despite desperate attempts, I never could convince the refrigerator to get going. I purposely packed the thing full because I wasn’t going to try and unhook at the show - hydraulic jack a little dicey.
I think it goes without saying that I am not cut out for camper living.
Friday morning comes and I am certain I look like death. Donald goes at 8:30 in the CIC3* and in order to maintain our new dressage day routine it meant I was in the barn at 5am. He was a bit of a twit when I did our “pre-ride” in the morning and I was worried he would be up to his old tricks again. Proof is in the pudding, what I am doing with him is working and he put in a really good test (for him). Very steady, relaxed, calm. That is what we are going for right now. I had a very short time between Hewie and Donald so I hustled to get on him and see how he felt. Basically OK but came up a little short in the 10m circles. Decided to play it safe, pull him out of the 2* and gave him a gram of bute. Of course… suddenly completely sound! Donna at Poplar was so sweet and let me enter him in the HT to practice a test in which he was a spooky hot mess. To stay on the safe side I did not do any more with him that weekend.
The 3* course definitely rode harder than it walked. Rarely do I have to scrap a bit on Donald but we did this weekend. Between the angled cannons, double corners and the gnarly rail/bank/coffin at the end, our work was cut out for us! We jumped clean and had the 2nd fastest time of the day. I underestimated the terrain at Poplar and it was a pretty good test of fitness. It is clear Donald needs to be more fit for Galway but he is just about where he should be now, lots more trotting and a few more good gallops and he will be all set for our Cali trip.
I got held in the jog on Sunday morning, mostly I think because I trotted him up like an idiot the first time. I sprinted down the lane with his head cocked sideways like I had never seen a jog strip in my life. Maybe it was the combined lack of sleep and lack of nourishment from my failed attempt at camper living. Other than a small stifle rub Donald had not a hair out of place, so of course I chose to represent him, which he passed easily.
The show jumping course was long and tricky. Since I have been having some lessons with Jon he has been a distance Hitler, I get reemed if I’m not loving the base. It is good for me and he is right. I am having a hard time making myself see that extra 6 inches and my eye is off. It will take me a few more jump schools to start seeing a more correct distance. In the meantime, at Poplar in the show jumping I rode like an idiot. I think I missed at every jump. Better lucky than good… I think Donald thought I was trying to kill us both and he suddenly became extra careful. All the rails stayed up but I had a few time faults. I am trying to see a deeper distance by holding when I need to be riding forward to the same distance. I will need to get this all sorted before Galway and practice, practice, practice.
The Red Moose ended up in 3rd again and although I am getting tired of seeing yellow ribbons I am thrilled with him. This was his best 3* finish yet and I am so happy to see him being consistent. I have always known that I have a wonderful cross country partner in Donald, but I feel that we are really finding our groove as a team in general. He is a funny horse and it takes a while to “get” him. He will now just go to some dressage and show jumping shows, maybe an Intermediate horse trial on the way to California. Trying to put the finishing touches on what I hope will be a winning performance.
Hewie is fine now and I will have to find another Intermediate run for him. He is spooky and sensitive and is the type of horse that needs to keep running to be at his best. I also have a whole month now to figure out the living quarters.
Til next time
Katie, Donald and Hewie
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