They say that saying something out loud makes it real. Well then, let me make real the overarching goal that has been driving me to bring Solo along and making the fire in my belly.
It started a year ago when I drove north to volunteer at
Waredaca's Training 3 Day Event (T3DE) in Maryland. The 3DE series is one that is steadily growing with support of USEA. These are full,
long-format, "classic" events, the way Rolex used to be before FEI and the Olympic committee had their way with the sport.
This means you not only do your three phases, but cross country day is a TRUE endurance day, starting with Phase A, Roads and Tracks, Phase B, Steeplechase, Phase C, Roads and Tracks II, and Phase D, Cross Country.
I spent my Waredaca weekend running scores, setting up arenas, running the start box on Phase D, and keeping the jog up running smoothly. The cross country course blew my mind, it was so amazing and the grins I saw at the end of endurance day were unmatched at any I have been to.
I was also watching and learning and participating in all the educational stuff that was offered for competitors and volunteers alike. As I drove home that Sunday evening, one thought burned in my mind:
I WANT TO DO THIS. This, this one incredible event, this will be MY Rolex, MY endgame, and my goal for Solo.
So here we are a year later. Solo has made fantastic strides this year, progressing far more than I could have imagined. After our jumping lesson on Saturday, I was talking with a friend and suddenly, it dawned on me:
"
I think I have a Training Level horse," I murmured. "
Excuse me, I have to go throw up."
The problem with T3DE though, is that you can't just sign up; you have to qualify. This sport has no mercy for poor people like me. If the soundness gods smile upon us, we somehow scrape funding together, and I stay on my horse, my goal is to qualify for Waredaca in 2012. Solo will be 16 and I don't want to push my luck any farther than that.
So, to qualify, here is what we have to complete in the next two years:
Four recognized Training Level events (
we take donations of any type, thank you!), with "Nationally Qualifying Rides:"
- Dressage score under 50
- NO jumping penalties on cross country (yes, this means no run outs, no refusals, no falling off)
- 12 or less stadium penalties (4 rails, no refusals).
What could possibly go wrong???
