I just finished my eventing season and as horses go in general, it’s been up and down. Some competitions have been great, but I’ve also been a little bit unlucky. Morven Park was quite good with little Helloway, but I misjudged my time, and then I had a super ride cross-country on Steely until he made a little mistake and was punished because of the design of the jump. He hit with his right front and twisted behind, and that made him hit his left hind on the upright post, which wasn’t forgiving. I was quite lucky I didn’t have to ride for a week after that, because I hit the ground so hard I slammed my hip and tailbone at same time! I was so sore!
Taken at the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam when Tom and I traveled to Boekelo. The reason didn’t ride was because I went to Boekelo as a selector. The trip was super fun and it was really great to be around our Nations Cup team. I thought all four riders—Jenny, Liz, Tami, and alternate Matt Flynn—and their whole team were really well orchestrated, from the leadership of Eric and Jenni, to team moral, and of course veterinary support from Dr. Johns. Plus, the other thing that was really fun was that there were over 50 Americans that came to watch—owners, friends and supporters.
The dressage is always fun to watch at Boekelo because what is good, is really good. The cross-country had a new course designer, Adrian Ditcham, that I thought opened up the course in a good way. It’s always interesting to watch how great our sport is when done well, and certainly watching the German team illustrated that. They were great in dressage, fast and clean cross-country and had a fantastic show jumping. That is certainly what you have to do if you want to be the best, right?
The dressage is always fun to watch at Boekelo because what is good, is really good. The cross-country had a new course designer, Adrian Ditcham, that I thought opened up the course in a good way. It’s always interesting to watch how great our sport is when done well, and certainly watching the German team illustrated that. They were great in dressage, fast and clean cross-country and had a fantastic show jumping. That is certainly what you have to do if you want to be the best, right?
Having been super inspired from watching Boekelo and Fair Hill, I got to the Virginia Horse Trials for my season finale with my 2-star horses in the CCI2-L. My dressage was really good on Steely, he was all class. Lilly was fussier than normal, suffering a little all weekend with hives, and didn’t quite seem herself. That became more apparent on Saturday, when on cross-country we galloped up the mountain for over two minutes, and then had a couple more minute pulls, and she just ran out of steam. She never lost her jumping style, just got going slower and slower. They did give me a 20 when I pulled up, though I feel I was clearly retiring, but she’ll be fit to go another day. Steely, on the other hand, was full of run—it was the easiest thing he’s done. He was clear in the show jumping to finish third, and was reserve U.S. Equestrian USEF CCI 2-star Long National Championship Reserve Champion (that’s a mouthful!). I did not have the easiest season with him between lost shoes, an abcess, and falls. He’s a super Thoroughbred, and I’m so happy for for Katlyn, who bought him from me after I started him as a three-year-old and now he’s nine.
It’s nice to be done for the season but the other part of me can’t wait for next season to get going again. I’m focusing on no stirrups this month, strengthening my position, and making the horses correct, rideable and better.
It’s nice to be done for the season but the other part of me can’t wait for next season to get going again. I’m focusing on no stirrups this month, strengthening my position, and making the horses correct, rideable and better.
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