SprinklerBandit wrote this in the last posts' comments and I had to steal it because it was hilarious, yet so apt. I cannot think of a better way to lead in to the Tales of Day Two.
After leaving Carolina Horse Park, we followed a long and complicated set of directions which ended up at a place I had been before -- only now I actually knew what it was! It was our fellow Adult Rider Alison's farm, where Encore, mum, and I were graciously allowed to spend the night.
I was a bit concerned about Encore because he was going to have to stay in this horrible pasture overnight, but he seemed to decide he could make do with the conditions.
Just awful, isn't it?
There, I also discovered the cutest pony of all time. Don't argue with me, because there can be no comparison.
Meet Ponytail. 100% purebred Pony.
Yes, yes, she seems all innocence and preciousness, but I got the eerie sense that Ponytail KNOWS things, that she merely allowed the humans to think they were running the show. I caught her, for just a moment, during breakfast, watching us with superior expression.
Heh. Those humans. They think they're soooo smart...
Ponytail and her mini horse companion (minion?), whose name I missed.
The minions wonder why I am not preparing pony breakfast immediately.
After a lovely night, it was time to load up and head back to CHP!
Whoa. Mom. Check it -- shrunken hairy horses. What's up with that? And why do we look like blueberries?
It was hard to leave such an idyllic retreat, but we had a hot date with a XC course that I couldn't wait to run.
Fun while you wait: put Russell the russell in my bicycle basket. How can you not??!
He always rides around on his mom's scooter, I think he secretly liked my awesome milk crate...
Our time came though and we took the long hike back to the start box and warm up area. As I let Encore trot out the kinks, I realized he was actually TIRED from the day before. This horse never gets tired -- maybe I wouldn't have to do a wrestling match to avoid speed penalties after all! He immediately locked on to the warm up jumps, took them all beautifully, and we were ready to go. I already posted the helmet cam here, so I'll leave you with a few snapshots of a course that was fun, inviting, and as I always feel at the finish flags, far too short -- I want that feeling to last forever!
Check out his new muscle-butt!
Sigh. Really, mum, this is the hardest you can come up with?
Yay, galloping, NOW you're talking!
Wait, what? Gallop slow? Why do you ruin everything!?
And then it was over. But I was thrilled with my horse; he'd run double clear XC and the only problem we had was that the jumps were so small, he barrelled right up to them! Had I not missed my turn in SJ, he would have jumped clean (he is quite careful and hates knocking rails) and we would have finished on our dressage score -- putting us in 5th place in OPEN Beginner Novice in a division of 18 at his very first recognized horse trial. Just knowing that was enough for me! Even with the real results (rider error included), he finished 11th, middle of the pack, and had a healthy row of zeros across the most important phase (XC) and came in just 18 seconds under optimum time, so we were pretty close to smack on the pace. Not bad for an ex-racehorse who just got back under saddle late last summer.
I can't wait to see what happens a month from now...
It is hard when great joy and soul-wrenching grief co-exist in your heart. On one hand, a person I love deeply is gravely ill and it will be some time before a resolution is reached or even in view. I am a fixer; I like to repair people, problems, jump standards...but here, there is nothing I can do. I am helpless to fix what is so much bigger than either of us. I can wish that I was a doctor, or perhaps even better, a wizard, so I could wave a wand, cast a spell, and dismiss the dark cloud overhead. As it is, the only things I can do are love deeply every single day, treasure each shared word and rare moment, and give all the emotional and moral support I have in me plus a little bit more. But that love and support never falters nor wavers, even though I cannot be as close as I would, given my choice. One day at a time has become my mantra.
At the same time, in the same emotional space, there is great joy for the unexpected gift that a young horse brings to the same battered heart. He cannot take the pain away, but what he does offer me is a bright spot in each day, a kind face that always makes me smile, that I can lose myself in for a period of time in the evenings, a balm for the open wounds and a therapy for a mind in turmoil.
Each one abates the other, in small pieces.
Yes, in a roundabout way, you are getting your event report.
It was a gift of a weekend when I towed that bright-eyed young thing into the organized chaos of the Carolina Horse Park on a Trial weekend. Warm, blue, with perfect sandhills footing, the stage was set and we were even lucky enough to have the Amazing Mum with us to capture pictures and help with the endless tasks of shifting things about that events inevitably involve. Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let them tell the story instead.
Please feel free to admire and comment on my cuteness at any time, thank you.
Quiiiit, I'm not a stinking barbie!
I is workin' on my mohawk. Check it.
Correct leads! Both ways! No starting gate leap!
All 10's, right??! Look how cute I was!!
He was actually quite obedient. If he didn't have a rider handicap of an oaf hanging on the right rein who would instead just let him flow through the bridle, he would have done very well indeed. There were some lovely trot moments across the diagonal and his rider is slowwwwly learning to sit up straight. All in all, a quite respectable 38.6, not bad for his first recognized show where I ran out of time in warm up and didn't even get to canter.
Encore, of course, thought he was done after what he felt was a brilliant performance. To say he was surprised when the jumping saddle went on is an understatement. So his ears were swiveling twelve ways at once when we got to warm up, leaving me concerned that he would be a bit wild over the jumps.
Arrrrrrggh! I am ready to jump sweet jumps!!!
Er...your jumps do not impress me.
Meh.
Whatevs.
Ok, fine, I suppose I'll put some effort into it.
Then it was time to breach the ingate and start the show. The first 2/3 of the course were like a dream. I kept the rhythm, I re-balanced him, I softened my hand and closed my leg in front of the jump, letting him find each jump and arc over it perfectly.
It didn't last. You see, they had opened the course for walking while I was doing my dressage test. I hopped straight off when I finished and went into walk my stadium course. I knew the course in my head and I had walked up to jump 7 when they kicked me out of the ring to put it back in play. It became our epic fail.
I watched the riders before me, but apparently not closely enough. Jumps 6 and 7 were a line down the far wall, then you made a sweeping rollback to 8. I missed the turn. My eyes frantically searched for the numbers and found it, but we had already passed our line. I sat back and did a desperate, frantic detour and Encore gamely dug in and we found our way back to the jump. Flustered, I lost my focus, and we pulled rails at both 9 and 10 and our detour cost us 8 time penalites as well. But the fault was entirely mine and I still patted Encore for a job well and bravely done.
But can you ask for better engagement than that? As I apparently attempt to climb to his ears?
It was time to pack up and go. We had a sleepover date for the night at a friend's farm. Who also owns the cutest pony you have ever seen. But you'll have to wait for the next post to see the evidence.
I am not holding out on you on purpose, I swear to you. I am so swamped this week, am completely booked solid for the weekend, I don't even have time to eat! I managed to get Encore out for a great hack last night (THANK YOU, TIME CHANGE) complete with deer and turkeys and streams and very large puddles and he proved once again that I bought the right brain. Hopefully, we will be back in work next week and things will settle down a little. Of course, my field season for work will start soon so that will mess everything up again! Argh, work really gets in the way of my eventing!!!
As a consolation prize, I offer you this, Encore's XC run from Sunday. He DEFINITELY needs some bigger jumps to back him off. His only real hesitation was a pause of a bulge at 3, with the logs and brush, but I kept my left leg on, touched his shoulder with the stick, and he went boldly on. I thought the log and drop at 5 and 6 were a fairly significant question for BN, but the more I thought about it, it made a lot of sense -- for most of them, the momentum of going over the log at 5 would carry them the stride or two to the drop at six and they wouldn't have time to think about stopping. Encore, of course, took it like a pro, we've diligently practiced our banks and I make him walk through every puddle we see, much to his annoyance.
So....
5...4...3...2...1...Have a great ride!
And get this: he was quite tired from Saturday, so we actually got within 18 seconds of optimum time, something I NEVER managed with Solo. At BN and N, I was always frantically trying to slow that train down so we didn't get speed faults. And I can't believe I finally found something that makes Encore tired....but it was a big mental AND physical day Saturday with dressage and stadium to deal with, so everyone slept well that night.
My entire body and brain is tired, but I promise many media are coming. There are photos to be cropped and videos to be uploaded and it all takes time.
I do want to say one thing immediately: THANK YOU.
Thank you to the volunteers -- I try to be one whenever I can and I think it's a fantastic job, but it's also a long day(s). I was happy to see some of the jump judges chowing down on a really good lunch, so good job, CHP, for taking care of your peeps.
Thank you to mum -- none if it would be possible without you. Having an extra pair of hands for the weekend was an extra bonus!
Thank you to everyone who stopped and said hi, sent a text, or wrote a note of encouragement. Each one is so special and unexpected to me, it makes it all that much more fun to know that Encore is sharing his journey. A shout-out to Alana and Ryan, I wish I could have had more time to talk!
Thank you to the atmosphere, which gave us two perfect, Carolina blue days in the sandhills.
As for the event itself, well, you will just have to be a little patient with me. I'll give you some hints:
Our dressage test was much better than two weeks ago, but would have been even better if I had listened to a friend...
Our stadium round was nearly flawless, until...
Our cross country run was, as it always is for me, an exercise in pure awesomeness, but there's a funny story about a ditch....
I will say that I was THRILLED with the way Encore handled himself, it's amazing to watch a horse who spent three years racing take in a whole new scene so professionally. Any and all mistakes were rider error, we crossed the finish flags on XC clean and clear within 18 seconds of optimum time, and a month from now...you'll see us back at the Horse Park...at Novice.
For now, it's all between Encore and the giraffe...
I'm used to having a difficult to fit horse. Solo, with his curvy back and hollows behind the withers, is enough to give any saddle fitter a case of the shakes. When I saw Encore, with his textbook TB-flattish back and high withers, I thought, sweet, I finally have something normal. Even if it is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE SHAPE FROM SOLO. Ha.
I got a copy of his tracings and sent them off to the lovely Jay at Trumbull Mtn, as they are always helpful and very experienced, dealing with hundreds of horses and saddles a year, trying to find the perfect for for equine and human. I also worked with my saddle fitter here at home.
This is where we started, my beloved Black Country Eden MW. A more wonderful saddle to ride in was never made, I swear it.
However, the tree was a "banana" shaped tree longitudinally, as I talked about here, so it rocked like a grandaddy on a Southern front porch. You can see that Solo's special wither gussets didn't sit quite right on Encore either, so it was off to the "tasting room" to try and find the porridge that was just right.
Behind door #1: A Verhan Odyssey, complete bliss to sit in on "Bucky," our tack shop's patient plastic mount. On Encore, however...
I can see already that the tree is too curvy.
The shape doesn't match his back and look at the upsweep of those back panels. Their shape side to side isn't bad, but the back 1/3 doesn't even touch the horse!
We want full contact, not "some" contact!
On the plus side wither clearance was lovely, so I rode in it anyway, just for one go, since it felt so amazing on the shop. Turns out, on Encore, it felt like C.R.A.P. It was hard, it pitched me forward and was generally the most unpleasant, unbalanced ride I've had in a while. It ended quickly.
We moved on to door #2: A Passier Nicole Grand Gilbert. I heard so many folks rave about their Passiers and their TBs, I had to try it.
Sitting on him, it was not terrible, although still more upsweep at the back of the panel than I'd like -- you really want your panels resting evenly on the horse's back to distribute weight and avoid pressure points. But then I hit the deal killer:
AHHHHHH! Wither doom imminent!
Yes, it was nearly touching his withers with no weight on it. Needless to say, I did not test ride this one and it moved to the "REJECTED" pile with the Verhan.
Perhaps door #3 would be kinder? It held a Prestige 2000D. I've never been the biggest Prestige fan; they have always seemed overpriced and of variable fit and quality to me, but I gave it a shot.
The balance was...not bad! And look at those panels, perfectly following his back! Wither clearance was lovely and, even though I have a general hatred of external thigh blocks, perhaps I could learn to live with it?
I took it out for a couple rides. My balance felt steady and Encore felt comfortable. But I couldn't get away from the fact that the whole saddle was just...uncomfortable...for me. The seat was rock hard, the thigh blocks were maddening and awkward, and I just didn't feel the love. So even though fit was decent, I rejected it too because for several thousand dollars, a girl needs to have a little bit of love for her butt (yeah, I know your brain went there too).
Door #4 (how many freaking doors am I going to have to open already?): An Arthur Kottas (made by KLM) sent to me to trial by Trumbull Mtn (the others I had borrowed from local shop). It was a lovely saddle and it had a...wait for it...subtle blue pinstripe around the seat that EXACTLY matched my eventing colours. WANT.
Good balance, nice panel contact
Width is ok, maybe a bit narrow at the top, but not horrible and withers are CLEAR.
Hmmm, panels look like the stuffing fairy got a little too excited, but perhaps with some softening, we could un-sausage them?
It was quite comfy to sit in and rode well. My hopes were rising that I would get to keep my beloved blue stripe (oh, how shallow I can be). However, on the second ride, Encore made it clear that it was too narrow and he was being pinched. He was unhappy and the sides of his withers were quite sore after the ride, so I had to send it back. I asked Trumbull if perhaps just getting the next size up might fix all of our problems, but she was very cautious and said don't do it if you can't trial it first.
With a heavy heart, I called local fitter to see if she had any other suggestions. She offered a saddle from a new line -- the folks who make Thorowgood (synthetic and leather) and Fairfax (all leather version) saddles had come out with a new leather model called the Kent & Masters (all are made in Walsall, England, just like the Black Countries, so my heart rose cautiously). My BO had a Fairfax that fit very well on her TB, but had the external thigh blocks that I hate. The K&M was essentially the same saddle, but specifically redesigned for the many folks who had complained about the blocks. So we gave it a go.
The balance...was perfect. Wither clearance lovely, panels sat on his back perfectly. It rode very nicely and seemed designed for the TB back. It was even reasonably priced for an English built, decently made saddle, at $1595 (which I will note is cheaper than all the consignment saddles I tried except for the Kottas). I could find no complaints (other than it wasn't the complete hiney bliss of my Black Country, but it was still quite comfortable and I didn't have another $3000 lying around to satisfy my BC longing) so I said "ORDER IT!"
I've now had three rides on new saddle. Encore seems to like the fit. It doesn't have the instantly broken in magic of my BC so I'm still working on getting the flaps to lay nicely. I'm carefully watching some flap wear, but my fitter assures me that if there are any problems, the company has been fantastic about service and any warranty issues should they arise. So while it may need a flocking tweak in a couple places, I think we have found the right tree for Goldilocks and can end (for now!) the horror that is the saddle hunt.
Thus endeth Saddle Wars 2012 (at least Round 1 - I am far too experienced to think they ever really stop!) and hopefully we can have some peace for a while!
Tomorrow is forecast to be very wet and stormy, so perhaps I will get a chance to put together a real post then, but until that time --
Encore's fabulousness is featured on Eventing Nation! I hope in a couple of years, I can send John the video of a certain little redhead running a Training Level course!
Also fabulousness -- we received Encore's new dressage saddle! He had decided to be difficult and be exactly the opposite shape from Solo so even though we shimmed and jury-rigged, he really wasn't that comfortable with my beloved Black Country. After many trials, which perhaps I will get a chance to write about tomorrow, we found the Kent & Masters dressage saddle. The same company who makes Thorowgood and Fairfax saddles, located in Walsall England (hmmm, I seem to like all saddles made there), build this dark horse of a saddle.
This tree (the same one that resides in the Thorowgood T8 line) seems perfectly built for the OTTB shape -- gorgeous wither clearance and a fairly flat profile with panels which have lots of bearing surface. It's even comfortable for the rider, although it is not the sigh-inducing butt candy of my Black Country, oh how it spoiled me. It also does not come with the same gorgeous leather that you just want to rub against your cheek, so the flaps will take some breaking in to shape them. But as soon as we stepped into trot, Encore stretched down his neck and lifted his back, as if to say, Finally! Thank you!
Sorry, buddy, not my fault it takes those English guys five weeks to build your tack.
Once again, I must thank the generosity of my wonderful mother, for the perfect birthday present for what I hope will be an exciting spring season!! Here we go...
I think I giggled at every single one. He's just so...earnest! And he looks so annoyed at the jumps where he didn't get the footwork quite right. And I think he has more scope than I originally thought!
Well, actually it was a chilly and windy day, but close enough. I'm short on time, but I'm going to give the rundown of our very, hmm, interesting horse trial on Saturday.
There were some time hiccups and some OMG, the XC course is 47 miles from my trailer and I only have an hour before dressage moments. But it was the first time this HT has been run, so one expects some speed bumps until the process gets sorted out. I tried to take deep breaths and everything worked out fine in the end.
Since the HT was situated at a farm where we regularly XC school, I had not bothered to read the direction on the bottom of the omnibus listing. After all, I've been there heaps of times. You smell an ominus turn coming in this story, can't you?
Oh yes, I get there, driveway is blocked and sign says go around to the back. Which means turning the trailer around and going back to a different road and it's a few miles around. I finally find the correct entrance and it felt so familiar....oh, because we are parking on the Moss Foundation, a massive property where lifehighway and I have ridden many times, as it is managed for longleaf pine habitat and trail riding. So the XC course IS actually about 47 miles from my trailer.
Uh oh.
I had an hour and a half before my dressage time, so I hiked as quickly as humanly possible to do my course walk. I was lucky enough to have bribed asked a friend to come help and I must say to her THANK YOU, CINDY, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
I left the trailer at 9:30, leaving her in charge of Encore and told her I planned to be back by 10:00. At 10:00 I was on jump four of my XC course and I called her and said if I'm not back by 10:10, please tack up my horse. I actually arrived sweatily (it was hilly!) back to the trailer at 10:20. My dressage ride time was 10:43 and I still had to put on boots, helmet, gloves, spurs and GET to the dressage ring, which was only 20 miles away, instead of 47. I was on my horse by 10:32 and I took off at a trot, reins in one hand and eating a Powerbar with the other. Keep in mind, it was 50 degrees with 15 mph winds.
In brief, we arrived, steward said ring was running 20 minutes late. After I restrained my from leaping off my horse and hugging her, we warmed up. Encore was good, I got him round and reaching for the bit and as supple as I could get in that situation. My plan was to only walk and trot in warmup so he would not be anticipating the canter in the test.
This was not us.
That was a horrible plan.
He went in the ring and decided to go the confused llama route. He did not understand the little white chain that made the arena in the grass and he did not understand what his job was supposed to be because it didn't look right. I think had we been in the other arena (covered with footing) he would have been much better. At best I would describe the test as....apocalyptic. You know you're good when you (eventually) halt in the general vicinity of the required location and you salute, then look up to the judge cracking up laughing.
Oh well, I patted him and told him, good try, buddy, but not quite what we were looking for.
Next time, there will be much cantering in warmup to take that edge off! Note: find a place with a grass dressage arena with chains to practice.
I didn't worry -- I was at the HT primarily for jumping mileage for Encore, so I was satisfied he stayed in the ring and we were on course (approximately).
We then ripped off tack, threw on jumping gear (XC gear too, they were back to back) and Cindy was literally stuffing Powerbar in my mouth as I was buckling my bridle. Show jumping warmup was small and crowded but Encore warmed up well again, although that wind had him ready to GO! But he listened when I said whoa and jumped well, so that was good enough. Result:
You can't really tell, but I am about half in control and Encore is going at a great pace...for Prelim. I really thought we had that brush box, even though my steering was a wee bit off. He made it TO the takeoff spot, then did this amazing tango twist around the standard. We were so close to the jump, I saw top of standard about a foot from my face. I almost lost it; if my saddle had been slippery, I would have been a goner. But this situation is why I REQUIRE horses I ride learn the one-rein stop. Encore's only thought was RUN LIKE THE WIND, AHHHHH!!!!! I had no stirrups and just kept my body centered and pulled his head right around. The key was not to rush now, I needed his brain back. I got my stirrups back, took my time, walked calmly to the edge and resumed our course.
It was then straight to cross country from there. The course would be a bit of a new challenge. Designed by Gina Fiore, when I walked it, I felt it the BN course was really a Novice course with some smaller logs thrown in. There were some challenging questions and use of terrain and I felt fortunate that we had jumped many of the complex jumps before (and my horse remembered).
Want to ride it? 5...4...3...2...1...Have a great ride.
The circle mid-course where we slowed down was where Encore took a flying leap of the house and I had NO brakes anymore (someone is going to meet Mr. Elevator bit for jumping at competitions, we must balance, my dear). The next line was a hard right turn and down a steep hill to a suspended log and then a hard 90-degree turn to a bank line. It was not going to happen at Mach 10 on the forehand without a chance of killing us both. I pulled his head hard around uphill and he quickly broke to trot. I said, honey, I need your brain back. We then went downhill at the trot, picked up a much more balanced canter in front of the log, and pulled off a beautiful turn to our bank.
The last three or so years of eventing have taught me, forget the clock, when you lose your horse's brain, you will get in trouble in a big hurry. Stop everything you are doing and get him back. You may get a few penalty points, but they are very low and continuing in a crazed fashion will only end with someone getting hurt. It is critical in this sport to think on your feet and make quick decisions no matter where you are. It just good safety practice and good horsemanship -- your horse learns nothing bolting around unbalanced, every moment you are on his back, you are teaching him something, even if you don't mean to.
In summary, a crazy day, but very educational for horse and rider. I learned what young-OTTB-on-a-windy-day feels like. We achieved our goal of good jumping miles, even the runout taught me something (aim for the middle of the jump, doofus). We kept the rails up and were completely clear XC.
I've already painted one of our brush boxes at home bright white (yesterday) and Encore will be jumping it until he's sick of it. Southern Pines HT is in two weeks and I know what I need to work on, so I better get busy getting busy!
The night before a horse trial is always a tense one -- did I pack both girths? Is my armband where I think it is? Did I remember to make a post-dressage snack for Encore? Are both cameras charged?
Tomorrow's forecast in SoPines is clear and sunny, although windy and since the hosting farm is in the sandhills, footing should be nice -- although you always have to keep an eye on those pine needle patches, they can slip! If I have any lucky at all, that sun will shine on Encore making his 2012 eventing debut. He completed one horse trial last year at the Maiden level, so I'll start him at Beginner Novice this spring to build his confidence and begin to teach him the little routines of horse trial day.
But what will make or break our ride tomorrow won't be weather or footing or gear -- it will be whether I have the patience and calm to warm him up correctly. The KEY is getting the horse supple. You don't have to do x number of 20 metre circles or 5 perfect leg yields or a set number of gaits in each direction. You need to produce a supple and attentive horse using whatever means are most effective to get him there.
For Encore, this means bend, change the bend, bend back, counter bend, change bend again, leg yield on a spiral, bend again -- all the while my goal is to work him softer in the jaw and balanced beneath my seat. If I can acheive that, then I will have succeeded.
We'll be all over the warmup ring -- it's not about staying on the rail or using a common routine, it's about loosening and suppling my horse so he is round and on the aids when it is time for us to go in the ring. It doesn't matter how we get there as long as we arrive.
I'll trot my horse down centerline at 10:43 am tomorrow and as we turn right to begin our test, everyone will know whether or not I've achieved my goal and that moment of truth will set the tone for the rest of our day.
It was a stupid stoplight thing. We were sitting in line, the light turned green and the guy in front of me went go - NOSTOP and slammed on his brakes. You just can't stop 7,000 lbs of truck in 1 second so we went bump. Fortunately, the universe had a little pity and it was another 3/4 ton truck (damn Dodge didn't dodge!!). I hate to think how long I would have been stuck there had we eaten the back end of a dang Civic, even at all of the 3 mph or so I was moving.
His truck sat a little higher than mine and had a 4-way hitch on it, so it was not damaged at all (whew!). He looked a bit worried when he got out and saw I was a girl -- perhaps he feared histrionics? But I was wearing my wildlife agency uniform jacket and I saw him look at that and appear relieved that I may not dissolve into tears and scream. We ascertained that both parties were fine, we looked at my bumper, I said, "Meh, I don't care about dents, that's what BUMPers are for," we shook hands, we went about our business.
Actually, the only thought I had getting out of my truck was, OMG, PLEASE DON'T HAVE BENT MY SPECIAL SOLO PLATE!!! But it was unscathed and I could breathe again.
The dents truly don't bother me, it's just the gaps on the side where the whole bumper is twisted down. On the plus side, the Precious now does fit in as a true NC truck. Eventually, I suppose I will go junkyard diving, we have a good one nearby, but it's hardly an essential part. I crawled under when I got to work and nothing on the front end is bent, tranny cooler is fine, and all is well.
But next time you see the Flying Solo rig, it will just have a bit more...character.
The entries are sent in. The checks are signed. The Coggins papers are emailed to the appropriate people. After a single outing at Maiden last fall (during which he thought the XC course was the best present he'd ever gotten in his life), Encore will make his spring debut at Beginner Novice in February and again in March.
I am very tempted to bump him up to Novice in March. I have taken an informal poll among fellow horse people. David says if he goes perfectly in February and it's all easy, go for it. My friend, and my gut, say give him two BN's to build his confidence.
The February event (in two weeks!!!) is at a gorgeous farm in Vass where we school XC regularly, so I know the facility and I know the jumps. I have not seen the stadium jumps but am well at home in the XC field. I have no concerns whatsoever. Dressage may be a bit messy, but I don't care -- I'm there for the horsey mileage and the sooner we can kiss BN goodbye, the better!
But it's complicated.
Solo competing at CHP at Novice in 2010. Photo by Pics of You.
Because the March event is at the Carolina Horse Park (CHP), my favourite place to event, but traditionally the courses are maxed out on XC -- that is the jumps are at the maximum heights and sometimes widths for the level. The show jumping courses are designed to be ridden forward and confident and usually have at least one funky turn. There is a new XC course designer for the lower levels this year (sniff, I LOVED Jeff Kibbie's courses), so I'm not sure what their approach will be. Regardless, I hesitate to use this as a move up event as Encore has never been to CHP before and it is big, professional, and the last thing I want to do is overface him. I want him to believe he is invincible.
So the likely plan is that he will remain entered in the Open Beginner Novice in March (it just doesn't feel sportsmanlike to enter Beginner Novice Rider when I have ridden at Training level, even if I didn't complete the event) and I will move him up to Novice at my very favourite event, Longleaf Pines Horse Trial, also at CHP, in April.
Of course, because I have long since learned my plans are made only to be derailed, I am not telling Encore any of this and I am confident something insane will happen between now and then.
Do you have big spring plans? Training goals you are shooting for? Trail mileage you want to rack up? Dust you want to knock off? Do share! I am tired of sad, I WANT HAPPY!
The Portuguese word "saudade" has no direct English translation, but describes a deep longing and love for something that may never return. It can describe a collection of memories, of cherished moments whose recollection brings joy and allows one to relive past triumphs.
The Armenians have the same word, with a different spelling, the combines the sadness of loss and the nostalgia for times past with laughter, laughter from the unbridled happiness these experiences bring to our lives. It is called "mall" or "permallje" and it encapsulates a complexity of human emotion in a place where English fails.
This afternoon, I took a few pictures (in a very cold wind!!) of the Main Man with his 2011 Area II smurf awards, for they really are his, not mine. Solaris, my partner, my soulmeet, the horse whose spark shot to life with the first glimpse of a start box and who showed me a pureness of joy in his gallop, a relishing of the very motion and speed itself, that I had never known before. I'll never ask him to jump a 3' jump again, but we may yet have a few gallops to share. And there really is one word that fits what I feel when I look at these pictures:
Saudade, my friend, joy for the journey and sorrow for its end. Permallje, my mate, for the laughter in those memories and the ones we have yet to create. You changed my life forever and there isn't a single day that your eyes don't touch my soul. Thank you.
I'm going to steal that from Johnathan Larson, because there is no better way to put that apt truth.
I know I have hinted, but not explained but some things I just feel are not appropriate or relevant to this blog. But there are a lot of very bad things going on in my life right now, affecting people that I love very much, and they are things that are impossible for anyone to deal with. (The horses are fine and I am no more injured than I was a year ago) I pour everything I have into Encore and Solo, physically and emotionally because right now, that is the only way I can cope. It is true that, when you boil it down, life is surviving one thing after another, until the thing that kills you.
However, the reason I am writing this sobering post is to tell you with deadly seriousness, from where I am sitting right now, today is all you get.
It's a philosophy I have always lived by, but now it has become very VERY real to me. In one whispered word, one simple moment, your future, your plans, your hope, anything, can be taken away from you in ways that you never even thought of. It's like carrying a tray full of promise and then, with no explanation, your hands suddenly stop working and the tray falls to the floor, shattering into a thousand shards of loss.
In no way am I saying that you should live in fear -- nothing lasts forever, we know everything has its end, but we should not dwell in terror of the end. I am not trying to depress you or worry you. Rather, I am saying, reminding, relish your today. And if you have an opportunity, take it. Because tomorrow, next week, next month, four hours from now, your world can tilt on its axis and change everything.
People often tell me that I am crazy because I'm broke, but I have two horses and I compete (which would not be possible without the help of my amazing mother). They tell me I should save my money, be more prudent, just wait until later.
But I am taking my opportunity now. There is one thing, one passion that I know fulfills me and that I want to pursue more than anything. And I am going to do it every second I have the chance to, to the limit of my abilities. Because that opportunity may not exist next month or next year or in ten years, for physical reasons, for more reasons I can't dream up. That's why, even when I have a not-so-great ride, I still untack my horse, pat his face, feed him a treat, and treasure his warm presence that day.
When I took Solo to his first event clinic 3 or 4 years ago, my SO was with us and snapping his usual 500 pictures a day. I turned to him and said, "You know, you don't really have to take pictures of us just walking around." A woman I didn't know was riding nearby and she turned to me and said, "You never know which ride is your last one."
Those words hit me like a brick and have stuck with me every time I get on my horse, and recent events have reminded me with crashing force that you can lose your plans in an instant that you never saw coming. All I am saying is....
Treasure your today with everything you have in you. Even if it's not the perfect ride you wanted or the score was lower than you shot for or you didn't jump as high as you wanted or even if it is a non-horsey thing....treasure the moments with your partner and treasure the time you spent doing what you love. Time is yours to waste or use. Never put that opportunity on a shelf for later, it is yours to make it happen now.
