We're here! Fair hill that is...

I arrived on Tuesday with Sarah, and her 2 ponies.  We had a lovely trip up, catching up, talking about winter plans, and predicting fair hill results! We settled in the ponies and made it out before the mad dash of late afternoon arrivals started.

Laura arrived Wednesday morning, and after round 2 of unpacking, the riding began, and then the washing, braiding, etc. It seemed as if the jog snuck up! But all 3 of the boys were passed. The word accepted never sounded as good!

The 2 3star boys did dressage today, and as per usual at fair hill, there was some rain involved! However that didn't stop us. Everyone had there first walk around the lovely xc courses, tatton has dressage tomorrow, and the 2 big guys have a light day planned.

I'll try to keep everyone updated, and hopefully I don't get stuck in the mud!

Before I run off to bed, I want to thank Mary for the amazing job she does at fair hill! She is wonderful, and I for one am thankful for the job she does!!

Qualified!!

Maryland horse trials was my last qualifying run for the 3day at waredaca, and the pressure was on to make it happen.  Let me go back a second... When I bought lena, we mapped out a plan to make it to waredaca since my qualifications had expired.  The plan however changed rather rapidly as it was clear with my busy grooming schedule that getting lena back in shape was not happening.

So we waited and kept revising and then it ended up being only 5 horse shows. We ran one novice and I waited to see how it went before getting excited about the t3d.  We spent the whole show season taking it week to week, and evaluating if it was still in the cards. After Maryland I can confidently say its on the horizon, but I won't get too excited until I'm there. It is horses after all!

So Maryland was an okay weekend, lena was such a star! Me not so much. I memorized the wrong dressage test, managed to make it through the test with 2 errors, and a few 4s for not getting some of the transitions exactly right.  After all that I still managed to pull out a 41 something. Which kills me, because she should have rocked it. We certainly won warm up. I tried to relax but really the longer I sat there the more upset I was at myself.  I tried talking myself down to no avail, but forward progress had to happen eventually.  Show jumping was not quite our best, as I got a bit to forward to the last 2, but she put in a double clear, she always puts a smile on my face. 

The course was the perfect last run, it had great questions, and lots of terrain.  Lena ate it up.  She is so light and quick across the ground.  We had a fabulous go through the first water, and at the ditch and brush, which I was super worried about! The 2nd half of the course I decided to take it quite slow and just sort of coast, since I had breezed that morning and my pace was a bit off! I was also still wound up about the dressage, so I used it to take a deep breath and relax! She was great, I saw all the distances, and could not feel more prepared.  I brought north along to hang out, and ride around.  He was awesome, doing flat work, hanging out, and stopping to chat! I can't believe how grown up he is, and am excited to see what he's capable of!

This week is fair hill, where I will be grooming 3, and lena will be enjoying a quiet week.  I promise lots of updates, and I really might have a problem with owning red heads...with white faces :)

Middleburg. Morven. Monday....O my!

Lena has been out and about rocking it at training. literally, the ribbons just keep on coming. I headed out to Middleburg, and was excited to be working out of my own rig, and to show off those circles we had been practicing with Mara. Lena did not disappoint, scoring a 34, I still gave away a few points in the lengthening, but I am really figuring her out. Mara came out to walk the courses with me that afternoon, and I was excited to have a plan. Mara gave me plenty to think about. The SJ was on the side of a hill in a narrow space, and it is very easy to find yourself pulling to find a distance., so in warm up I focused on getting her forward and soft to the jumps. She went in and posted a lovely clear round! I was pumped for xc, with the terrain it was going to be a perfect fitness run to get ready for the T3D. She was a star! She loves XC, comes out and wants to jump between the flags. I literally show her the jump and she's on it. I could go on for hours, but that would be a bit boring! She finished 6th, and after a little vacation it was time to start prepping for Morven.

We decided that since I was running 3 weekends in a row, it would be best to jump Lena once on Wednesday's, and to jump as little as possible. Lena doesn't need to practice, but I do! I had a fantastic lesson with Mara, really working on the quality of canter and what type I need to different jumps. We ended jumping some skinnies and a corner. Lena was awesome, Mara still laughs as I look like I might cry when she puts the jumps up! I should know better than to worry, Lena never bats an eye, and I always have a huge smile on my face after. Thursday and Friday Lena practiced circles, and I was excited for Morven.

Morven was awesome! I was grooming for Laura Vello, and her awesome ponies, and riding. Saturday was a bit hectic, but it ended up being easier than expected. It was only misting when I went to get on for dressage, and a few minutes before I went in, the skies opened up, and well I bet you can see where this is going..... Lena was pretty offended, she just wanted to get it over with and go back (not that I didn't feel the same way! I was soaked and freezing.) She was very obedient but just a bit tense, not that I can blame her! The judge blew the whistle in the middle of the test, but it was a total misunderstanding, she had looked at the test wrong. so I'm not going to lie, after that I got flustered to, so while we had some 8's, I gave away alot of points, silly rain, judge blowing whistle. I was highly disappointed with myself, but had no time to dwell because I had to get Laura on, and then tack up to jump. At this point I was cold, wet, and miserable, and it was still raining sideways, and if I didn't need this run to finish qualifying I would have scratched. Mara came down and helped me warm up for SJ, which was extremely helpful, as my legs were having a bit of a problem working!! Lena was a star, I made one mistake going into the second double, Lena sorted it out for me, (lots of cookies for Lena). I think I deserved to have the pole down, but Lena hates to touch them. When I got down to XC I was the first training horse, I don't like being first! I had a few questions about how things would ride, but no time to stress. Lena came out of the box on fire!! Ears pricked, and waiting for me to show her the way! The course rode great! I was glad I ran as the course had some pretty tough questions, and Lena didn't bat an eye. Every time she runs I gain a massive amount of confidence. She finished 4th, in a pretty competitive open division! (Check out the Eventing Nation Training level video to see Lena at the first 2 jumps.... kindly ignore me apologizing to my horse for taking the move up distance to 2!) Sunday was still cold, but not as rainy, Lena enjoyed the day off, and Laura's ponies enjoyed a nice canter around the XC.

Now it's monday morning, still cold and rainy. The furnace is broken at my apartment, and all the girls were a bit wild this morning jogging in the rain. (Luckily I managed to stay on top, it was a bit hairy there for a bit!) Next Lena is off to Maryland and I could not be more excited!

Ups and downs.

The past 2 weeks have gone by in seemingly about 5 seconds. First I was excited to get back to my ponies, which leads me to the up! I have an exciting new member to my team, his name is Ned and I got him off the track from the barn I gallop for. I like to think he picked me, I was totally in love from the first day I started there. Couldn't ride him at first, but once I did I rode him up until his race, which he showed no talent for, and the rest is well history. Ned has been living out and my plan is to start him back hacking after the end of show season.

September is always a bit of a rocky month for me, I lost my mom 12 years ago. Not a day passes that I am not reminded of how lucky and blessed I was to know her. If even for a short time. She inspires me to this day, and I could not be more grateful for that, and I know that somewhere she's watching over me (and has saved me more than once!) 

This weekend lena is off to middleburg to run the training, and hopefully its not a total mud pit!

Seneca wrap up

I'm lucky enough to be headed home from a great weekend at the aecs, with some amazing horses, people, and new stuff... But let's not get ahead of our selves here. First I was off to richland park for a very successful weekend! The courses are amazing the footing was perfect and the competition was fierce.

After a whirl wind trip home, I was excited and nervous to be able to say that lena and I were entered to run training at seneca. One last tune up with Mara and off we went. I had an awesome test, I still need to work on a few things as lena does move a bit like a pony, (a very cute one at that!) And I had a blonde rider error, so I didn't feel so bad about my 38. I know that she is capable of lower and that her scores will only continue to improve. On to the fun stuff! I walked the courses and thought some of it looked pretty tricky, I shouldn't have been concerned. Little lena was foot perfect jumping double clear stadium, and xc. She is absolutly amazing to ride to the jumps, and I think I might need to work on my pace some, simply because of galloping even training speed feels slow! O well.

The AECs were next, and I must say that the footing was better than last year, the xc courses at the upper levels were still quite soft. I was happy about the footing! Loved the trade fair, and thought it was a great event (the entry fees were a bit crazy!) But I plan on riding next year, not just working. It was great to see old friends, and my dad!

Next I'm off to plantation, and lena is entered at middleburg and Maryland. With plans of making it to the training three day. Until then I have a few more exciting things in the works, and some awesome horses to ride (and gallop!)

Knocking off the dust...

Both literally and figuratively. The past two months have been a blast! When I haven't been traveling....bromont, Stuart, millbrook, surefire, south farms...I have been home exercising race horses and focusing on my ponies. (dont forget about truck shopping!) Found a sweet f250 that will be getting a hitch put in this week. Then LN eventing will be mobile! Watch out world.

Lena and I had a great first run together in the novice at waredaca. (We both hadn't been out in a yearish...) that didn't slow us down. I gave away a few points in the dressage, but I was very pleased with the test. Mara was there and it was extremely helpful to have her watchful eyes, and guidance (lena and I got some serious homework!) Then a quick change and off to show jumping, lena was a total star! It was as if neither of us had missed a beat. Whew double clear. Then off to xc. She walked down to the warm up and I think got about 5inches taller, she just took it all in stood patiently and was very happy to take the oxer out of a forward step, and go to the box.  I can say this with extreme confidence now, hands down lena is an xc machine, she didn't bat an eye at anything, got all the horse strides. We had an absolute blast! I did get a small speeding ticket for being 2seconds fast...whoops. I think my pace is a bit off these days. She finished 8th in a competitive division, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Lena is enjoying an easy week of hacking and working on that dressage homework.  next I'm off to richland and lena is headed to seneca.

pack.unpack.repack.

I have spent most of my life flying under the radar, most people don't know this, but deep down I am pretty shy. So

this whole process of starting out on my own, has been eye opening, to say the least. I have been very lucky to have the support that I do, and people that have helped me spread the word, so far, so good!!!

Where to start, I have been to Jersey and the VA CCI* grooming (congrats to Laura Vello on her 3rd place finish at VA!!) , It was a blast! I feel as though all I have done is dump the clothes in the wash and put them directly back in the suitcase. (people might be starting to think I only own 5 shirts... ) The spring season is winding down, and I have 2 more trips planned, before a small much need vacation to cali! (heres to hoping the snow melts...) and then the planning for the fall...

Class is in full swing, depending on how you look at it I am either 1/3 or 1/2 way done! I will be glad to finish up with school this fall. While it has taken me seemingly forever, (trust me I agree!!!) school has not been my main focus for a while (silly horses), and taking a year and a half off just added to the seemingly never happening graduation, but no fear it is in my sights, and I am crossing the t's and dotting the i's on my last classes, with the hopes of continuing on after Dec... The back up plan is a Masters in Econ. (and it never hurts to get a head start!) plus. hands down I can cook better than you. (not to brag or anything). so maybe that degree has a few perks too!

The ponies have been settling in, and we have been figuring each other out. alot. Mara has been very helpful with North, he is becoming quite the little DQ, and will be doing some local shows this summer, and some HT's this fall. Lena and I are learning. It has been a while since I have had a horse that was started by someone else, so I ask things she says WHAT YOU SAY?!??!?! but those moments are getting smaller and fewer and further between. She is aimed at Surefire and then possibly MD I. and dare I say the training three day at Waredaca this fall. (there I said it). The ponies and I are looking forward to more lessons! I'm thinking circles, they are thinking jumping. (so we shall have to see who wins that one. )

The days are getting busier, longer, and increasingly more humid, but I wouldn't have it any other way.