I had a really amazing, fun weekend with Beautiful Storm at the 3-Star Long at Maryland. First, it was such a nice competition, and so great to have it held basically right in our backyard. I wasn’t sure as I started this year that it was going to be my goal, but I began to think I would do it and it’s nice when a plan works. I don’t know if you remember that I bought Storm as three-year-old who’d raced ten times from Jessica Redman. It’s amazing to bring up a horse from that stage of their career to where he is right now. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that they’re not a baby any more and that you have to train them, because he’s kind of like my little best friend.
I was super lucky because my mom and sister came to support me, Sara Shuman groomed for me, and then on Saturday, Laila Martin and Marlene Lyons came to help as well. I also had my great cheering squad from Vermont. My dressage warm-up was both the best work I’ve ever done, and some of the worst work I’ve ever had as far as Storm's tongue and the bit go. I wouldn’t say he felt nervous, but the connection was difficult. Other than Tuesday night, when I first got to Maryland and Storm found everything so impressive (I could hardly walk him), he otherwise never felt nervous and I was impressed with how he handled the whole competition. My test went better than expected, which is always a nice thing. Although I always have trouble with connection, which is a work in progress, and Storm still needs more strength in the canter, I can feel it coming together.
I was so excited when I walked the cross-country Wednesday afternoon for the first time, and couldn’t wait to get to gallop Storm. With the rain on Thursday the footing was ideal, and I knew he could answer all the questions and lucky for me, he did and I could ride to plan.
I thought the show jumping was quite technical, plus Storm had a little cut on the right side of his mouth and my connection was worse than normal because of that. I thought I could have ridden with better connection and more power the whole course, and had three down behind—the first was Storm’s, the second at the oxer in the final line was mine lacking power, and the third was the next jump that he took behind as well because he got a little inverted. It’s amazing how much the connection, starting with flatwork, always plays a huge part and shows up when you least expect it or when your horse is most vulnerable.
I’m so excited to see what Storm and my future brings and I’m so proud of him! He received the seven-year-old 2022 USEF Young Horse Eventing National Championship Reserve Champion. Storm’s currently on vacation trying to arrange his rugs every day because he’s so bored and thinks he’s done something wrong because he doesn’t have all the attention. He might have to start hacking next week…
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