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.

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.





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!

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!