It’s amazing to me that’s it's July, where does time go? I’ve had a great spring in a lot of ways, a highlight being the 4-short at Kentucky with Storm. It was my first time back in 11 years and I was lucky enough to have to have all my supporters there with me—Mom and Dad, my sister Kris, Tom, Debbie Snyder, Maggie and Savanah Carter, Lisa Ball and of course my groom, Lila Bolstein, who is Storm’s and my right hand. That made me even more excited to be there, to have that kind of support.
Amy Woodhead was at Kentucky helping a couple riders on the flat, and because I’d ridden with her in Florida I was able to get a lesson on Thursday and also have her warm me up for the test. I scored a personal best at the level, even though it was raining quite hard. It was so fun and I was so proud of Storm.
Amy Woodhead was at Kentucky helping a couple riders on the flat, and because I’d ridden with her in Florida I was able to get a lesson on Thursday and also have her warm me up for the test. I scored a personal best at the level, even though it was raining quite hard. It was so fun and I was so proud of Storm.
I knew from everyone I talked to and from walking it myself that the the course was stiff, and though I was quite nervous for the cross-country I felt completely prepared to tackle the challenge. I was so lucky to have the support of my coach, Lynn Symansky, who’s been helping me the last three years and was there to help me warm up for cross-country and showjumping. Once I got over the oxer to corner at 4AB, I knew I had a horse that was with me. I don’t know that I executed some of the course as Storm and I normally do, but he never wavered in his confidence and he finished the course in style.
With Lynn at the finish Storm jogged up great on Sunday morning and I had a super warmup with Grant Wilson helping me along with Lynn. Our warmup was great followed by a clean round with a little time, which is easy to work on. My horse tried his heart out! We ended up 10th and won the Thoroughbred award. Interestingly, here’s a recent study about the Thoroughbred’s suitability for eventing: https://paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/study-bias-against-thoroughbreds-in-upper-level-eventing-is-unfounded
I decided in May to run the Intermediate at Fair Hill with Storm for some practice without pounding, Then we did two weeks of jumpers, the first at the iconic Upperville Horse Show where we debuted in the meter-30 with one down. The next week, the same venue hosts the Louden Benefit. The first day we had the last jump rail down, and the second day we had a clean round.
Tate did the Modified at Middleburg and he was quite good in all three phases. I had a rail down in the show jumping—I think I got a little deep at an oxer. Tate was also 3rd in the Take Two Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at Upperville,
Tate did the Modified at Middleburg and he was quite good in all three phases. I had a rail down in the show jumping—I think I got a little deep at an oxer. Tate was also 3rd in the Take Two Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at Upperville,
Unfortunately, neither horse ran at the Maryland International. Storm tripped during a cross-country school and had to have stitches, and Tate came in without a shoe on the 29th, the day he was supposed to run the Modified. We will get the stitches out and Tate’s feet fixed and make a plan for the fall. Right now, Storm is aimed for the 4-long at Morven, as he’s qualified for the Open.
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