Sunday, July 5, 2015

The $2 Ribbon

Wow- How is summer almost over already?  I feel like this is the first time I have sat down in days, and the first chance I have had to write in months!  A lot has happened since my last blog, and I have observed more interesting things within our sport that I feel I should write about.

Goose and I have had a great spring season.  He is really coming into his own this year, and continues to show up at every event willing to give me 110%, even if he only has 60% of the trot that the bigger horses do.  We are gearing up for the bigger part of our year with the I/P this coming weekend at Champagne Run.  While I have always had it as a possibility for us this season, I never really felt it was a reality until the last couple of weeks.  I have been trying to take advantage of Meghan being home despite both of our busy schedules, and have actually gone back to jumping with Jill again.  Both have made subtle changes to my riding that have had a tremendous effect.

Goose-man feels stronger than ever, and after galloping around in the mud (AGAIN! I feel that he has 4WD permanently on for this season- and more rain in the forecast for next weekend UGH!) I am beginning to really feel that we can tackle any course.  He is becoming a flag-hunter, something that is really cool to feel, and he steps up to make the big-kid strides despite the ugly footing.

We recently did a combined test at the O'Donoghue's barn where I rode an old Preliminary test, one more comparable to the new Intermediate tests without making them set the standard size dressage ring.  I was then able to do the Intermediate show jumping, and I have to say thank god for practice!  I had a less-than-ideal warm up, working myself up pretty good and actually causing a stop- something Goose has never done.  I then proceeded to take my anxiety into the ring with me, causing us to have a bit of a frantic round- yet one where we weren't actually going anywhere because I didn't have my leg on.  But Goose jumped out of his skin for me, and being the freak of nature that he is, we came away with just the A element of the triple down.  Meghan then came out to the ring and we schooled one of the bending lines to the triple again, and Goose felt fantastic.

Was it my best showing? No!  But it was the feeling of being in a show jump round of that height with everyone standing around and watching that I needed.  I have gotten better in my lessons about my canter and distances, but once people are watching I get worried.  I told Jill I didn't want a ribbon, I was the only one in the division, but I just wanted the experience.  That to me means more than any $2 to put on my mantel.

I talk to a bunch of people who ask me why I haven't been competing at smaller events, telling me that Goose would clean up if I didn't travel to the KY Horse Park where the divisions are 20+ horses and young riders own old Advanced horses.  But what is the point of that?  I am competitive- against others AND against myself.
At Midsouth Goose took 8 points off of his dressage score from the first time we did Preliminary Test B- 8 POINTS!  That is a huge difference, and I know there was room for more improvement, as I left accuracy points on the table and his canter felt a bit stuck in the ground due to the footing.  Easy points to make up.  My show jump round was the smoothest round to date- in spite of me marring Goose's perfect record for rails this spring.  And then we had a fantastic go around the cross country in the deep mud, and he answered some good questions considering he had not been out in 6 weeks.  To me those factors mean way more than the $2 red ribbon I brought home.

Did I want to win?  Absolutely.  Am I happy I finished 2/19 horses?  You bet!  But I would have been just has happy to have finished 5th or 6th with the amount of rideability that I had there than finished 3rd out of 6 with a ton of rails and a stop on the cross country.  Too many people get caught up in the final placings, or care about what color ribbon they bring home to place on their mantle, that they forget about why we do this sport.  It is very difficult both physically and mentally, and you can't always win.  But if I do win, I want it to be because I put in the homework and practice and because I beat the best that there is.

I head to Champagne Run this weekend with 19 horses currently entered in my division.  I am moving up a level and do not expect anything.  My only goals for the weekend are to have an obedient dressage test, because I expect Goose to be green in the ring having to answer new questions such as shoulder-in and canter-walk-canter.  He lacks in strength in these areas, but I want him to try.  I want to go into the show jumping and have a confident round, even if we have a rail or two.  I want to work on keeping my leg through all of my corners, my back flat, and my chin up.  And then I want to go out and kick the cross country's ass in prep for the CIC* in August.  Most of all I want my horse to still greet me with his ears perked, to strut to the trailer the next time I load him up, and to be happy and sound when we return.

If all of those things happen- you can keep your $2 ribbon, no matter what color it is.  Because I will win no matter what the number is on the score board.

Monday, May 18, 2015

You Can Never Stop Learning

Meghan O'Donoghue talking to a Novice group
at the start of her cross country clinic
 
 
"The only way to get good at this sport is to never stop learning."
 
I'm not entirely sure who said this originally, someone much more wise than I am- but I have heard variations of it throughout my entire 20 years in the saddle.  It could not be a more true statement to keep in mind when working with and around horses- as there is always another way to approach a situation and every horse has a unique personality and there will never be a cookie-cutter way to teach and ride.
 
I am incredibly fortunate enough to be a part of a fantastic barn with more knowledge floating around than I could ever hope to absorb and retain.  Jill and Mark O'Donoghue have always been parental figures to look up to, and I try to learn from every statement that comes out of their mouths.  I also had the privilege of growing up with Meghan, who is now a household name in the eventing community, and her sister Kelty, along with other girls who have gone away and come home with new tips and tricks of the trade.
 
I was fortunate enough to enjoy two very influential working student positions- one with a world class groom and another with one of the best instructors I have ever been lucky enough to ride with.  I would like to believe that I gained some insight into the sport during these stints, and that I can offer something back to the discussion when conversing with others more established than I will ever be, but who knows! Haha
 
Meghan keeping a watchful eye on Jana, a Preliminary
level rider at the Queeny Park clinic
 
 
When Meghan, Kelty, and I were in high school we used to spend hours upon hours in the barn together.  We would set jump courses, ride as many horses as we could get our hands on, and sit to study each other's lessons.  We were hungry for ways to become better, and we found those through watching and listening- something that I unfortunately don't see a lot of riders doing now days.  There is a serious lack of desire to learn, along with any type of support for one another within barns.  I have seen this in multiple programs the last couple of years, and it bothers me.
 
I have arranged Goose's schedule the last two weekends so that I have been able to travel with Meghan to her clinics in the area.  While I justify this as spending time with one of my best friends since she is gone 6 months out of the year, I also have made a point to pay attention to every moment of these clinics.  While the combinations have all been lower level horses and riders, I have probably learned more than if I had sat at Phillip Dutton's farm and watched a bunch of 4* riders jump their 4* horses all day.
 
Meghan teaching at Phancy Pharm, May 9th
 
 
The horses ranged from absolutely perfect packers to hot young thoroughbreds, and the riders spanned from nervous children who had never been in a clinic before to adult amateurs who ride with Meghan every chance they get.  This made for every possible situation one could imagine throughout the two weekends, and we also got to see a variety of communicating with the horses on the flat, throughout the show jumping, and finally out on the cross country- no pair was perfect and Meghan found something for everyone to work on!
 
I have watched Meghan teach hundreds of lessons, sat through several of her clinics, and had her work with me and my horses countless times.  Yet I still manage to take away something from every session I continue to hear.  I try to do this with lesson I take myself, or that I have the opportunity to watch.  I have been amazed recently with some of the younger riders in the barn who don't take the extra hour out of their day to sit in the arena and watch her teach.  I was also amazed at the number of riders in the clinic who loaded up and left immediately following their rides, or did not get there early to watch some of the other groups.
 
Super Pony in one of the Starter Groups-
Yes, Deb and I (Preliminary riders) watched all 4 of them
 
 
Now I know that with clinics a lot of participants have time constraints and cannot stay, or they haul in from a distance, but I still find it amazing at the lack of interest in sitting and watching others learn.  Even the lack of attention paid by riders within their own groups, talking to their husbands/wives or other supporters instead of watching and listening to the clinician.  Yes, this is a fast-paced world, but if we really want to be masters of our craft, or hell- even just kind of good at it!- you have to take the time to study the sport and not just participate in it.
 
I see way too many people who just get to the barn, ride their horse, and jump in the car and leave.  Even when they are at events- they may run over to the ring to watch their friends ride, but they don't sit by the ring and study other riders throughout the day.  You can learn something from every ride- even if it is just what NOT to do, and I know I see a lot of that (and definitely contribute to the cause at times as well!).  How many riders sit down and watch the videos that are available online from major events and watch what the riders are doing as opposed to just watching for entertainment value?
 
While at Penny Oaks a couple of weeks ago Jill told Deb and I (the Preliminary "upper level" riders of the weekend) to go back and watch videos from Rolex.  We picked out certain fences on the cross country and watched several riders jump that fence.  We studied what those riders did on the approach to the fence and what worked/did not work.  Before the show jumping on Sunday we went and watched riders such as Michael Jung, Tim Price, Phillip Dutton, and definitely Meghan over and over again, watching how they landed from a jump and immediately re-engaged their horse's and rode forward to the next fence.  I then went out and put in probably my best show jumping round to date- sans one fence- and Meghan even told me that it was great upon seeing the video.
 
 
We can all be held accountable for how good we really want to be at this sport.  While things such as work, family, and other obligations in the lives of amateurs do play a part in how much time we can devote to it-  I guarantee all of us could find time to watch someone else ride, stay a bit longer for a clinic/lesson, or to help set a course and learn about distances and why courses are set the way they are.  I have run the intermediate level, and I learned more from the Starter and Beginner Novice riders in the last two weekends than I did from the Preliminary riders.  You are never too good to quit learning- remember that.



Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Change is a Part of the Game

Holy crap- how is it Rolex week already?  I feel like I was just writing my New Years post, looking ahead to the spring season, and hating that the weather was cold and we were looking at snow in the forecast.  Now I am through 2 events, entered in a 3rd, and counting down the hours until I jump into the car and drive to Lexington for the biggest event in the country.

I have been stalking following all of the Rolex news for over a month now, since just after the entries went live.  It has been a very exciting year, with heavy hitters such as Michael Jung and William Fox-Pitt bringing horses, a great set of Rookie Riders, and of course my great friend Meghan O'Donoghue and Pirate making their 3rd appearance at Lexington.  As horses prove though- the road is not a smooth one, and there have been many changes- not just for Rolex horses, but the lower riders as well, myself included.

It seems that every time we, the riders, put plans into place our horses find a way to change those plans for us.  Personally, I had a plan that looked rock-solid.  I discussed the options with Jill O'Donoghue, my coach, and we decided if Goose ran well through a couple of difficult events last fall, and then came out well this spring that we could aim at the CIC* down in Georgia at Chattahoochee Hills.  Things were going to plan, with a couple of bobbles last season all due to my greenness as a rider and Goose still being green as a horse, and then we dominated at Pine Top- which was not an easy course.  I was set and ready to run down to Georgia, especially when Goose helped me out at Spring Bay in the mud, jumping out of some positions that he would have not have before.  I was excited and chomping at the bit to send off my entry Sunday evening after returning from Lexington.

Yet, things were not meant to be.  The two girls who were planning on trying to travel with me both decided that they wanted to run their horses at a bit easier of an event, which was understandable because they were both moving back up to the Training and Preliminary levels.  This meant that I was now traveling by myself, getting a hotel by myself, and trying to convince Jill to going with just me.  I understood that this was not an ideal situation, and so we went back to the drawing board.  We have now (hopefully) developed a new plan, and I am possibly even more excited for it than I was for the original plan!

I am very thankful that my plans have changed just due to scheduling conflicts, and not because of injury to my horse.  I am completely gutted for all of the riders who have withdrawn their horses from Rolex due to injuries, even something as minor as an abscess.  I, thankfully, cannot imagine putting in all of that time and effort to just have to withdraw for something small.  Especially at the higher levels, when events are not offered again at that level in a couple of weeks, making it all that way to have your weekend end before it even begins.

I am very proud of the rider's who chose to stay home with their horses, and not even put the stress on them of traveling if they knew it was not meant to be.  For some of these riders, they will hopefully get the chance to attempt a CCI**** next spring, but for some this will be the end of their journey.  I wish for nothing but the best for all of these horses and riders, and hope to see them all back out and competing again sooner rather than later, but we must know that this is a risk we take with this sport.

One of the best things about this sport is the partnership formed between horse and rider, it is a relationship that cannot be rivaled.  Yet, the downfall of the sport is that when something breaks we cannot just dump money into it and replace a certain part, as one could do with a four wheeler or racecar.  It is incredibly frustrating as a rider, groom, owner, or anyone affiliated with the sport or the horse.  This develops characteristics though that other sports do not.  We are taught patience, perseverance, and to never take good fortune or success for granted.

Being able to handle change within a sport prepares one for life and situations that are out of our hands.  Sometimes, even when we do everything right, something goes wrong.  The only remains the same is everything changes- some very wise words from Tracy Lawerence.  How we handle these changes and ourselves during times of change is part of what defines us as competitors and human beings.  So roll with the punches, keep your head high, and know that the closing of one door usually means that another one is opening up.  Everything does actually happen for a reason, so don't sweat it!

-Keep on Changing!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Because I'm Happy!

2015 has been off to a bit of a crazy start.  I hit the ground running with several exciting opportunities through school, honor societies, and knowing I was actually in classes that help further towards a career!

The wonderful Susan Fischer sent me details about a program for the PanAm Games this summer, to which I applied.  I was granted a phone interview just this past week- so if you have a spare good thought for me I would appreciate it!  I did not really think that I would make it, as it is a competitive program, but I was accepted through the first round off of my resume and essay.  Fingers crossed!  This would be such a wonderful learning opportunity for me, and in a very important year for the U.S. Equestrian team it would be fun to be there covering the sport.

We had one horrible week of cold- but it brought Liz and Hobbit completely into our crazy little circle of friends- so that is a great thing!  She hauled poor Hobbs all the way from Virginia to find herself stuck with a crazy lady and without a barn, so down to good ole Cobden they came for a couple of days!  I had now drug her into all of my crazy spring plans and I am counting down the days (almost the hours) until she and I head to Aiken for Spring Break!

 
Kalie has also come down and ridden Sunny a couple of times, which has me hoping that she will take him out some this spring.  He loves to compete, and as you can see she rides him quite well!  Red pony for the win!
 
School is back in full swing now, and I feel like I never have time to sit down.  Unfortunately the sketchy winter weather kept us from getting out for the first show of the year today, but I am enjoying a rare day off.  I have had a wonderful weekend of normalcy for once! (Well, despite my wonderful crazy morning yesterday due to a massive miscommunication!)
 
Friday night I went out to see a band with some of the wonderful ladies, and Ashani, from the barn.  We had a fabulous time dancing to 90's music and acting silly while people-watching the college kids who think they are cool.  I remember when I was 17 and snuck into copper too haha.  I know I say this all the time, but I really am very lucky to have some wonderful friends.  From calling Deb and Liz for moral support, to keep me occupied while hacking, or when I think I'm getting ambushed in the barn- to the wonderful girls in the barn who will come help me when things suck, drink wine with me, and go dance like fools- to Rob who went and saved my ass at a wedding last night, I could not be more grateful!
 
Ahh- the awkwardness that wasn't at the wedding last night!  Ashley and Brian had a beautiful ceremony and it was so wonderful to catch up with some of the guys who I haven't seen in a couple of years.  Rob and I had a wonderful time drinking, dancing, and laughing the entire night.  I could not have asked for a better date to accompany me for the evening.  I was quite worried about how the evening would go down.  First time seeing Oran since we split, he brought his new girlfriend, everyone that I know at this wedding is friends with him, recipe for disaster, right?  Well, when you're so happy with where you are in life it is pretty cool to see how those things end up not becoming an issue.
 
I was vaguely aware of where he was throughout the night, but I never once had a desire to look for him.  I had all of this built up anxiety that there would be a really awkward exchange of pleasantries somewhere in the night, especially since we had so many friends in common there.  This encounter never happened though!  There was no "Hi, good to see you.  How have you been?  Oh and by the way, Courtney- meet my new girlfriend _______.  _______ meet Courtney, my ex who lived with me."  None of that, not even so much as a hello.  I don't believe we even came near one another throughout the evening, which turned out to be completely ok with me.
 
This is the first time in my life I have cared so deeply for someone and then had to experience something of this measure once we have been apart.  For me, having only casually dated and not really connected with someone since this breakup, I was worried I would fall back in love with him immediately and be jealous the entire evening.  I found as I was driving home that I was glad he had found someone and I am much happier with where I am in my life now than where I could see it going when we were together.  I am a firm believer that you fall in love with multiple people throughout your life and that they will come and go as needed.  Well, Oran, with me crossing that milestone last night you are officially gone from my life.  I learned so much from these last 3 years, about who I am and who I do/do not want to be, so I can thank him for that.  I am now, I believe, fully moved on and have close that book.
 
Best of all- show season is barreling down upon me and I don't have time or energy to worry about these things!  Here is to kicking ass and taking names this season!!! Woo Woo!



Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Sending off 2014 and Not Glancing Back


Well, what a year this has been.  I don't even know where to start.  So many changes, some that I thought would be bad but turned out good, some that have been good from the beginning.  I can honestly say that this has been the best year of my life this far, and I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for me.

I began the year in a pretty low place.  For those who are close to me know that I was quite depressed at the beginning of the year.  I was living in St. Louis and was incredibly unhappy, with my job, my relationship, where I was in my life, and with myself. So I quickly made the decision that led to some major changes.  I quit my job, moved back home, and ultimately it ended the relationship that I was in.  I made the decision to loose the weight I had gained in the last couple of years, and it led to a much more disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

When my relationship ended I was fairly crushed.  This was over 2 years of my life spent with a guy who I actually thought I would spend the rest of my life with.  I believed that he was in love with me and everything would work out.  Life has a way of working out though, and with every day that passed after our parting I began to see how unhappy I was with the relationship as well as other elements of my life.  I learned to love myself again and to be completely satisfied with standing on my own two feet.  I have a wonderful set of friends who have stood behind me and helped me to move forward with my life, and thankfully supported the silly decisions I have made in the months following! Haha

 

Goose and I had a wonderful year.  We completed the Training level 3 day, jumped several clear show jumping rounds, and successfully moved up to the Preliminary level.  We are qualified for the CIC* and are hopefully headed to Chatt Hills in May to contest the 1* there in preparation of the CCI* in the fall.  We picked up a partial sponsorship from the wonderful company, Voltaire Design, and our new custom dressage saddle is on the way. We finished off the year with 3 clear rounds and 3 blues at a local jumper show, giving us both a lot of confidence heading into the off season.  I cannot wait for the spring season to begin because he is feeling stronger than ever and is ready to get out and gallop at some big jumps!
 
I had a wonderful year with the young horses as well with Louis and Cullen both contesting their first event at Dunnabeck horse trials. Both had done well at jumper shows this summer and stepped up to the plate at the event.  It was the first time I had tried 3 horses at an event, and it ran smoothly thanks to some wonderful help.
 
2014 also brought me into the world of Tinder and actually going on dates.  I have some wonderful stories that have been shared, made some good realizations with what I do and do not want in a boyfriend, and made some other realizations about myself.  I talked to a nudist who really creeped me out, several boys who apparently failed 8th grade English, went on a date with a boy that I could not get away from fast enough, and most recently become acquainted with a real life Christian Grey (hey hey hey).  Even if they have all ended without a second date, an ignored text, or me blocking a number I have made some great memories and had some wonderful stories to tell.  I am not in any hurry, as the last one left a bit of a hole in my life, but I am stronger because of these experiences.
 
2014 brought me back to school with lots of awards, recognition, and opportunities.  I will be finished before the end of 2015, which is very exciting.  It brought new friends into my life, made old friends stronger, and got rid of others.  I was able to begin writing for Eventing Nation, which is helping me reach my long term goal.  I have set some pretty high goals for 2015, but I am confident that I am going to do the best I can to reach each and every one of them.  We can either grow from each experience we are presented with, or we can let it bring us down.  I am choosing to remain positive and know that life is like a roller coaster, you have to have to take the highs with the lows.  So thank you all for being a part of this crazy ride!
 


Have a safe night tonight everyone!

Happy New Year!
 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving and some other quick muising

Wow- it has been a long time since I have sat down and written a blog post, I feel like it has been years.

Since my last post quite a bit has happened, nothing too exciting other than work drama, mostly just riding and lots of school work.  I went to a bachelorette party- that was quite fun.  But nothing date-wise, other than getting semi-stood up for a coffee date, which led to me going to dinner and drinking a pitcher of beer with one of my girl friends.  So unfortunately no fun stories there, maybe next time!

Today is an interesting day for me.  Obviously it is Thanksgiving, so I am not in school, nor am I working.  This year is very different for me though.  Usually we go fox hunting on Thanksgiving, as it is considered a high holy hunting day.  (Un)luckily for those of us who hunt with Bridlespur though, it is rifle/shotgun season in Missouri, so holy or not we stay home.

As weird as it is for me to not have gotten up at o'dark-thirty this morning to load the horses, I'm totally OK with that, because we will be right back at it Saturday morning to go hunt as well.  I just have to take a moment to say how THANKFUL I am that my mom and I made the decision to move to Bridlespur.  I could not have asked for a more professional, fun hunt to be a part of now.  Every time we go out everyone is smiling, the hounds work well, everyone is turned out well, the runs are great, the country is well-maintained, and we just have fun.  I was to a point where I thought my desire to hunt had burned out, but now I want to go again and I have having such a wonderful time.

It is very refreshing for me to be around a group of people who take just as much pride in their appearance and their turnout as I am.  There is not a lot you can control in this world- especially being around horses- but you can control that your horse has its mane pulled, whiskers clipped, and that it is free of poop-stains.  I have always held my head high when my horses get off of the trailer, and now I feel like I am a part of a big, lovely group who does the same.  So here I am saying "Thank you" to all of the wonderful horsemen and women of this hunt!

We have also picked up 2 new dogs since my last post.  Max and Mabel are two boxer siblings who were up at the restaurant I was working at.  When the weather dropped down to below 20* at night and no one was going to be there to take care of them, my mom and I loaded them up in the car and brought them home.  They have since worked their ways into our hearts and are here to stay.  I am very thankful that we are in a position where we can take animals in need into our homes and give them the life they deserve, especially for these two who are the coolest and sweetest dogs.  They have fit right into our crazy, dysfunctional farm life.

As always I am thankful for my wonderful friends and family.  I have been able to do a lot of really cool things with my life, and 90% of them would not be possible without this awesome support team that I have standing with, in front, and behind me.  They are amazing.

I am thankful for my health, for all of the small things that I overlook in my day-to-day life, and for my good spirits.  I am thankful that I have learned to let-go and forgive in this last year, and that I have learned to love myself and be happy within my own life.  I have a wonderful string of happy and healthy horses who come running to the gate and nicker when I walk in the barn.  They all give me 100% every day, and not a lot of people can say that.  I am thankful that I made the decision to go back to school, and for all of the opportunities that have presented themselves to me and will continue to open up and I continue forward.

I am thankful for so many things that I could continue on for days.  At this moment I am very thankful that I can begin Christmas shopping for the great people in my life, and that I will get to spend today with family and friends.  I pray for those who are not this fortunate, and I especially pray for my home-town of St. Louis that is fighting to stay afloat right now.  I pray for Michael Brown's family, who is spending this holiday for the first time without their son, and I pray for Officer Wilson and his friends/family who are under such scrutiny from the media and community.  I am thinking of my wonderful friend, Kelty, who is spending her first Thanksgiving away from home in Virginia, and we miss her a bunch, along with her four-legged kiddos.

I am hopping off of here so I can check on my ponies, who I am sure are sleeping on this overcast, cold day, and then I am settling in to watch some football.  I never thought I would say this, but I am cheering for the bears today, ONLY so that they beat Detroit and give us some breathing room at the top of the NFC North- GO PACK GO!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and remember to be thankful every day, and for every day spent on this earth.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Turning Over the Reins


My little red horse that could.  Sunny was never supposed to do anything other than sit in a field for the remainder of his life, and he turned out to be a powerhouse Ferrari who tried his heart out for me.  After his injury I made the decision to hand the reins off to someone who would enjoy him, and learn from him at the lower levels, and it has proved to be a struggle for me!

I first met the 16hh gelding when I went to look at a couple of other big bay thoroughbreds.  I had owned the mare he was out of, and we had lost her the winter before due to unknown causes.  I had always owned bay horses (minus the evil white pony) and was looking to stay with those handsome features I was comfortable with.  Sunny was there, just back from his first stint at the track, and was rotten as ever.  He would double barrel the stall wall behind him, pin his ears, and rake his teeth down the wall if I was looking at either of the horses I was to try instead of him.  At one point in time he even reached into the aisle and grabbed the back of my coat as if to say "HEY!  Look at me!"

Cathy wanted to keep racing him, so I purchased the other two geldings and told her to keep me in mind when he was finished.  Little did I know that fate would bring us back together much sooner than anticipated.  Sunny chipped his knee shortly after than and came back to rehab at Cathy's farm.  While they thought he would run again, unfortunately he chipped the knee again while in turnout, most likely from a friendly fire incident.  The vets said he would never do anything again and to find him a retirement home asap.  It had been a horrific year for hay, and since we had the means to keep him on stall rest and then he could live in the field.

Stall rest lasted all of two days before he began trying to tear the barn down.  We ended up putting him in turnout four months early per the vets orders, and he stayed quiet and happy.  After about two years he was galloping around one day, so I began riding him.  He went to his first event and was a professional, so I immediately thought of selling him. Sunny turned into a jack of all trades then, doing a lot of fox hunting, some hunter/jumper shows, a little team roping, etc.  I took him to his first novice the next spring where he won the flat, jumped double clear in the show jumping, and I missed the 3rd fence from home on the cross country- denying him the win.  Whoops.  Sunny continued to put up with my mistakes for three more seasons of work.


He went with me to college, dealt with me while I cried when Bubba died freshmen year, and then subjected himself to my decision to sell him once again.  I took the crazy little horse down to Sam's with me and told her he was for sale, to which she promptly replied that I was crazy.  I continued to stay and work for her for 6/7 months, learning a lot about myself and him.  He turned out to be even more quirky than I originally thought, and despite the pain we finally figured out was in his knee he kept on jumping for me.  I graduated from Sam to Jan Byyny, and he went right along with me.  We hit a snag in our consistency, but became masters on the flat and I finally started to have some success in the show jumping.

Sunny and I moved home, back under the watchful eye of Jill, and I began to dream of running the Intermediate.  We worked hard, knowing that I would not have the opportunity to bridge the gap with a CIC* or CCI*.  We dove headfirst into a hell of a first run, and came out stronger, and with more trust in each other than I ever imagined was possible.

I cried harder than I ever thought was possible after we knew he was hurt at Richland.  I was afraid that he would never be ridden again.  Yet he continued to behave in rehab, and the tendon came back stronger than ever.

Long story short- Sunny has now ended up in the wonderful hands on Geri, an adult amateur who had a great horse that went lame and she was in the market.  I didn't want, and never will again, to sell Sunny- so I suggested that she ride him for awhile until she found something that she wanted to purchase.  Come to find out they get along fabulously and it has worked out very well.

I found out that it is hard for me to not see him every day.  I have a  control issue, and I want to know what is going on with him all the time.  It is also difficult for me because he is 3 hours away, not just thirty minutes.  But when I do see him, his ears are pricked, Geri is smiling, and they look fantastic.  I could not be happier for the two of them.


This past weekend Geri and Sunny took on their first recognized event and finished on their dressage score for a 3rd place!  They also won the adult team challenge for the beginner novice level with their team, and they were the lowest score on the team!  My heart is still bursting with pride at how far they have come in the last few months, and I would have given just about anything to have been there.  I assume this is how parents feel when their children grow up and leave for college.  I want to continue controlling what is going on with him, but Geri is making all of the correct choices, and it is working out in their favor.

I am doing my best to let them do their thing, and only be neurotic about certain things.  I am already waiting for the 2015 season because I want to be able to attend events that they are at.  I could not have hand picked a better home for Sunny to be in right now, and knowing that when he says he is finished that he comes home to me is just as good.  Keep kicking on Geri! And best of luck with the red monster!!!

Now to figure out how to get to StL faster!