Both Storm (Beautiful Storm) and Tate (Orientated) have been going quite well, though the scoreboard didn’t necessarily look it for Storm at Tryon though we did great things. In the dressage he had good trot work but needs a better canter. Show jumping I had two down but our round was actually much smoother, so we’re making progress. I didn’t have the best eye on cross-country day, I’m not sure what was going on but that’s on me not Storm. I didn’t have a great ride to the coffin, I still need to do a better job setting him up earlier. When I have to shorten Storm’s stride, I find it hard to keep him quick, so I often go quicker than I should. In my head, I think that faster will be better to make him quick with his feet, but then he’s not in the correct balance. Other than the coffin he actually got better and better out there and some of my best riding was at end of the course. We still have tons of room for improvement but I think we’re going in the right direction.
I had my last cross-country school before Morven with Phillip at Windurra. We practiced rideability and the coffins.
The week after Tryon and before Old Tavern I got to ride at Morningside Farm with Tom McEwen. He gave me a lot of awesome information— nothing I haven’t heard from Phillip, Lynn or anyone else but good reminders. We worked on keeping Storm wanting to work, and keeping his right mindset on the flat. For Storm, that means getting the connection without putting too much pressure on him. For show jumping and cross-country, we worked on about making him rideable, on my leg and using his body correctly.
The more I can get the right balance and connection, the easier Storm's job is. Sounds simple but it’s hard to do! We practiced over little longer courses, every jump changed direction so you had to always think about getting the new side of your horse. Everything was bending. Outside of ring, there was a vertical offset from rail, 45 degrees to the jump, then curve in four strides back to the rail to another vertical and curve to a faux ditch and then a curve the other way to another vertical. We have to be precise about our horse's body. Tom said that in England, there are so many great riders that you have to be precise to be competitive. It was a real pleasure to ride with Tom.
I had my last cross-country school before Morven with Phillip at Windurra. We practiced rideability and the coffins.
The week after Tryon and before Old Tavern I got to ride at Morningside Farm with Tom McEwen. He gave me a lot of awesome information— nothing I haven’t heard from Phillip, Lynn or anyone else but good reminders. We worked on keeping Storm wanting to work, and keeping his right mindset on the flat. For Storm, that means getting the connection without putting too much pressure on him. For show jumping and cross-country, we worked on about making him rideable, on my leg and using his body correctly.
The more I can get the right balance and connection, the easier Storm's job is. Sounds simple but it’s hard to do! We practiced over little longer courses, every jump changed direction so you had to always think about getting the new side of your horse. Everything was bending. Outside of ring, there was a vertical offset from rail, 45 degrees to the jump, then curve in four strides back to the rail to another vertical and curve to a faux ditch and then a curve the other way to another vertical. We have to be precise about our horse's body. Tom said that in England, there are so many great riders that you have to be precise to be competitive. It was a real pleasure to ride with Tom.
 |  Tom McEwen Clinic, photos by Janet Gallay |
 RF Blue Moon (Molson), photo by Janet Gallay | Then I had three horses at Old Tavern the next weekend—Tate, Prime Time and RF Blue Moon. Tate’s dressage wasn’t the best—unfortunately, they had just started cross-country when we did our test so he was a bit distracted. He had one down behind in show jumping and then his cross-country was awesome. It was the first time that he hasn’t been a racehorse on course. Prime Time did a good job, too, with just one rail down and a much more mature cross-country, especially at the water. Although I thought RF Blue Moon had a beautiful dressage test, the judge didn’t think it was so splendid. He had a really good show jump and cross-country, though, and is certainly one for the future for someone. He just has a great mind and is quite talented. |
In preparation for the Morven YEH 5-Year-Old Championships I competed Tate at Loch Moy and I also did a dressage test with Storm to practice the sequence in real time for the 4-long at Morven. I did Molson’s second Novice as well. It was a busy weekend at Loch Moy and everyone was actually quite good. Unfortunately, I had a stop on Molson at the bank because I decided to trot a few steps and I think I surprised him. It was a shame because he was such a good boy otherwise and a beautiful horse to ride. I decided not to show jump Storm in the combined test because I felt like it would be better practice to set him up the way I wanted to in a lesson with Grant Wilson instead.
Storm and I competed in the 4-long at the first-ever U.S. Equestrian Open at the great venue, Morven Park. I also competed Tate in his first-ever 1-star short. Tate has really shown me how much he’s matured and I was super excited for Morven. I arrived on the morning of the jog, and rode Storm there after the jog. He was so good, but unfortunately I did not reproduce that on Thursday! With the temperature change he was wild, more tense and not as good in the contact as he’s been in some tests. I loved all the courses, though—Jeff and Derek do a great job and it’s a privilege to ride at Morven.
Storm and I competed in the 4-long at the first-ever U.S. Equestrian Open at the great venue, Morven Park. I also competed Tate in his first-ever 1-star short. Tate has really shown me how much he’s matured and I was super excited for Morven. I arrived on the morning of the jog, and rode Storm there after the jog. He was so good, but unfortunately I did not reproduce that on Thursday! With the temperature change he was wild, more tense and not as good in the contact as he’s been in some tests. I loved all the courses, though—Jeff and Derek do a great job and it’s a privilege to ride at Morven.
  Tate at Morven, photos by Janet Gallay |   |
I had a really nice dressage test with Tate Saturday morning in the one-star. It was great to have him at Morven along with Storm because I didn’t have time to be nervous about Storm’s cross-country later that day. I had a little jitters but was so excited to be competing him. Unfortunately, I was too fast and not connected enough at the Leaf Pit and surprised him a bit, where he stopped, stepped back and then jumped off. But, I was so pleased with the way Storm handled the whole course, I’m not sure we’ll ever look smooth but he was so on it from jump one. I didn’t run quickly because of my stop, but was so proud of him! I really feel like he gets his job even if he’s a little unorthodox. After my cross-country I had show jumping with Tate and he was great. He had one down behind but was smooth and super fun to ride.
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  Beautiful Storm at Morven, photos by Janet Gallay | On Sunday morning I got held at the jog because Storm had a bad grab on his heel, but passed on re-inspection. We put bar shoe on him before I show jumped. Tate’s cross-country was amazing, quick, and he read everything—so mature! That gave me something to do while waiting for Storm’s show jumping in the afternoon. Storm was super, just one down behind at the first jump of the in-and-out because I needed to bend the line out a little more. It’s amazing how much stronger and smooth it was for us. Storm was the Reserve American Bred horse at Morven to Mik’s Master C, who won. They were the only two American breds in the division. It was really fun to have my sister and parents all there at Morven. I can’t wait til next year, and feel like I made progress with all my horses. |
I took Prime Time (Tiger) to the YEH five-year-old Championships at Maryland the week after Morven. It was super fun because his owner, Lorna, came to watch as well. The organizers have really turned the 4- and 5-year-olds into really good competitions the way they’re set up and run. I rode Tiger on Wednesday and he was so mature. Last time I had horse in the YEH at Maryland it was Storm and he was out of his head! Tiger thought the show was put on for him and strutted around calm and cool. Unfortunately, Tiger was a little inconsistent in the dressage, maybe because I roped him too hard and he got tired. He was super for the confirmation and the bees knees for jumping. He won the Safe Harbor award, given to the horse most likely to suit an amateur and that would be safe and fun to ride. I’m so proud of him and pleased for Lorna. A year ago July Maryland was Lorna’s goal and I wasn’t sure I could do it, but it shows how much education and time spent with him has changed and molded Tiger into a beautiful character.
Prime Time (Tiger), photo by Janet Gallay
I decided not to compete for the rest of the fall; I’ve done enough this year. But I am going to do a Tim Price clinic with Storm, teach some clinics, and have a little time with my family and Tom’s family.
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