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Proposed Calendar
A Glance at Goals...2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2010 Proposed CalendarJacksonville Winter Series, Clay County Fairgrounds, Green Cove Springs, Florida - Open
January 6 - 17 Week I Ophelia Week II Ophelia RMI Tri-State I, Tri-State Fairgounds, Cleveland, Tennessee - Open
March 18-21 Week I Ophelia HITS Culpeper, HITS Commonwealth Park, Culpeper, Virginia - Open
April 14 - 18 Week I Ophelia Devon Horse Show, Devon County Fairgrounds, Devon, Pennsylvania - Invitational
May 27 - June 6 Ophelia 2009 CalendarHITS Ocala Pre-Circuit, Post Time Farm, Ocala, Florida - Open
January 14 - 21 Week I Orlando HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, Post Time Farm, Ocala, Florida - Open
February 3 - March 15 Week I Orlando Ophelia Week II Orlando Ophelia Week III Orlando Week IV Orlando Ophelia Week V Orlando Ophelia Week VI Orlando Ophelia High Prairie Spring Horse Show (Week III), Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - Open
May 21 - 24 Week III Orlando Ophelia Colorado Summer Circuit (Week III), Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - Open
July 15 - 19 Week III Orlando Ophelia 2008HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, Post Time Farm, Ocala, Florida (Weeks II, IV, V)- Open
February 20 - March 16 Week II Orlando Week IV Orlando Week V Orlando Open Secret Lake Saint Louis Spring Horse Show I & II, The National Equestrian Center, Lake Saint Louis, Missouri - Open
May 7 - 18 Week I Orlando Open Secret Week II Orlando Open Secret Grand Prix de Santa Fe, The Santa Fe Horse Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico - Open
June 12-15 Orlando Open Secret Colorado Summer Circuit, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado (Weeks I, II, IV) - Open
July 2 - 20 Week I Orlando Open Secret Week II Orlando Open Secret Week IV Orlando North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - FEI Two Star Young Rider Continental Championship - Invitational
July 28 - August 3 Orlando Estes Park Summer Festival, Stanley Fairgrounds, Estes Park, Colorado (Week II) - OpenAugust 6 - 10 Orlando Open Secret High Prairie Fall Horse Shows, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado (Weeks I & II) - Open
September 4 - 14 Week I Orlando Week II Orlando 2007HITS Tucson Winter Circuit, Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson, Arizona (Weeks IV-VI) - Open
February 27 - March 18 Week IV Orlando Week V Orlando Week VI Orlando Lake Saint Louis Spring Horse Show, The National Equestrian Center, Lake Saint Louis, Missouri - Open
May 16 - 20 Orlando Open Secret Showplace Spring Spectacular, Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne, Illinois - Open
June 12 - 24 Week I Orlando Open Secret Week II Orlando Open Secret Colorado Summer Circuit, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado (Week II) - Open
July 11 - 15 Week II Orlando Open Secret North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships, Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Virginia - FEI One Star Junior Young Rider Continental Championship - Invitational
July 30 - August 5 Monday - Barns Open and Examination Midstates Fall Horse Show, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Mason City, Iowa - Open
September 12-16 Orlando Open Secret Minnesota Harvest Horse Show, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, Minnesota - Open
October 2 - 7 Orlando Open Secret * Schedule is tentative. If you are interested in going to any of these competitions as a spectator, please get in touch with Grace via the contact page. UpdatesYear 2009This year has been simple a relaxing - no chasing points or goals or stressing about qualifying for this, that, and the other. I've simply enjoyed riding and showing my horses in classes that are simple and enjoyable for all of us. We started the year, as is seeming to be tradition, at the HITS Ocala Winter Pre-Circuit and Circuit, Post Time Farm, Ocala, Florida - Open - January 14 - March 15, 2009. I had a new addition - Ophelia - and we weren't quite sure what to expect from her. She'd only been in training since October and had only jumped with a rider but a handful of times. Well, the name of the game with horses is surprise, and boy did she ever! We just ticket schooled the first two weeks in the hunter rings to get a feel for her over strange jumps in a strange place and she couldn't be braver! Throughout the six weeks of the Circuit she advanced from Level 1 to Level 3 in extraordinary style and even placed 6th in a Level 2 with more than 50 entries! She finished off competing with just one rail in the Level 3 in the new Grand Prix Ring over World Cup jumps! What a horse! Meanwhile, her brother Orlando was up to much the same in the area of surprise work. Our expectations for him were no more than success in the Low Junior Jumpers, and hopefully a sale or lease by the time we needed to go home. Well, he didn't find a new home but we had top ribbons in the Low and High Junior Jumpers including a 1st Place - the only clear round that day of over 50 rounds - and a Reserve Championship! Then, the last week, he shocked us all placing top four in every class in the Regular Working Hunter Division, top six in the Age 16-17 Equitation, and performing wonderfully in the USEF Hunt Seat Medal! What a Circuit! We took it easy and stuck around home in the spring for the High Prairie Spring Horse Show, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado (Week III) - Open - May 21 - 24, 2009. Orlando was wonderful - top ribbons in the Regular Working Hunters, Low Junior Jumpers, and Meter 1.30 Jumpers. His sister was equally as stellar, placing 3rd in the Meter 1.10 Stake. A great show! Lastly, Colorado Summer Circuit (Week III), Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - Open - July 15-19, our last horse show of the year. What a whorl wind it has been and what a great year we had! We wrapped up at a great horse show in our own backyard. Orlando floored me with his success in the High Junior Jumpers, and Ophelia was clean and fast in her first Level 4 - proving she has more than what it takes to compete against her peers and placing 5th in a very good crowd! I am so thankful to my horses for the fun time they showed me! And now, it is off to college for me and Ophelia! Orlando, ever faithful and loving, is still trying to find a new mom to care for him until I can resume in four fast years. As for me and my filly, we are headed to Virginia where we will proudly represent the Vixens as Sweet Briar Girls Class of 2013! GO PINK AND GREEN! High Prairie Fall Horse Shows, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado (Weeks I & II) - Open - September 4 -14, 2008The madness continues... Yes, it's true. This year has been like a bad soap opera and it just. Keeps. Getting. Worse. We decided to show these past two weeks to prepare for Indoors, and in reality it had the opposite affect upon everyone involved. Bad courses worsened Orlando's lack of confidence, and therefore my own, and everyone else's! A rough first day of Week I started with a fall just two fences from the finish. Friday was better, with a win of the class. Saturday we were 2nd, and things were looking up. Then we stopped out of the Mini-Prix on Sunday. Everyone hoped two days off and a deep breath would improve things for Week II, which it seemed so schooling on Wednesday and showing in the Low Junior Jumpers on Thursday. Wrong again! Friday we took off, but Saturday was a mess. My trainer flipped her and her horse completely over the out of a combination, and Orlando refused to even jump into it later in the day. Consequently, we only got four jumps into Saturday's $1,500 Junior Jumper Classic. And so, we bumped down to the $500 1.30 Meter Stake on Sunday. A cheap rail cost us 1st place, and we trailed the two faster four faulters by fractions of a second, sitting us in 4th. It was an okay finish to a not so fantastic horse show. I must inform you that, due to a rough year, we decided not to travel east for Indoors. It was a devestating decision to make, but the right one for myself and my horse. There's always next year! As for now, I'll just keep looking up and plugging along. Summer Shows 2008This has quite simply been the most inconsistent year of Orlando's - and my - life. Whether it was the panic that was Orlando's freak muscle pull that occurred unavoidably in his stall dangerously close to our departure to Ocala, to the bad footing and confidence scare that occurred there, and the resulting consequences we have suffered sense, it has been a physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging year. The Colorado Summer Circuit (The Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - Open - July 2 - 27) kicked off well. Orlando started the week off slowly in the $250 Low Junior Jumpers (Level 6, 1.30m, 4'3"). With Santa Fe's falls and stops fresh in our memories, this entire show was to be focused not on big classes or prize money, but on confidence. We moved up to the $250 1.35 Meter Jumpers (Level 7, 4'5") on Friday and Saturday, and up again on Sunday for the $2,500 High Junior Jumper Classic (Level 7, 1.40m, 4'7"). We were 7th in the Low Junior Jumper, won both 1.35 Meter Jumpers, and were 4th in the Junior Jumper Classic. Things were looking up, and we seemed to be rapidly approaching our goal of 1.50m (Level 9, 4'11") before the NAJYRC. Of course, the moment you think something is going to sail along beautifully something must go wrong. Which it did. Orlando acted slightly uncomfortable upon landing beginning on Wednesday, but I ignored it as it wasn't drastic. He had just been worked on by my therapist the day before, so I imagined that just needed to take affect. I was wrong. The next day I was entered in the $10,000 Open Jumper Classic, and Orlando couldn't jump a three foot oxer without significant pain on landing. Of course, I scratched immediately and started trouble shooting. When the farriers couldn't find anything, and neither could the chiropractor or therapist, we called the vets. After a lengthy lameness examination and multiple radiographs, we arrived at the conclusion of injecting his left front pastern for the first time due to new arthritic changes, and hocks because he was simply due. Fingers were crossed as we cut everything down to the wire. It was now exactly eight days before the NAJYRC was to start. Orlando had the three days off required after joint injections, and I was cantering up to a very small obstacle. The moment of truth, and nothing. No head toss, no pain. Perfect! I jumped a $250 Low Junior Jumper that Wednesday and called it good until the NAJYRC. After a relaxing week at home, we set up and got ready for the North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships, Colorado Horse Park, Parker, Colorado - FEI Two Star Young Rider Continental Championship - Invitational - July 28 - August 3. I got reacquainted with the Junior team members Chenoa McElvain, Navona Gallegos, Kelsey Thatcher, and Emily and Amanda McConnel and their coaches. Sarah Tredennick would be the only other Young Rider for Zone 8, and we would be combined with Zone 5's Kristen Vanderveen to form a full team. The biggest challenge this year would be keeping my nerves in check, which is an abnormal thing for me to have to focus on. Usually, there is a moment immediately before I walk in the ring when I am full of butterflies, but then the tone sounds, and I find the first jump, and it all goes away. This week I was experiencing it constantly, mostly during the course walks. The nerves weren't coming because of the obvious reasons - this being the single most important week of my year, the courses being big and technical, or having a team depending on me - those things were constant at the NAJYRC and had never affected me before. This year it was coming from not having jumped my horse 1.50m in or out of the show ring since October. I couldn't anticipate him as well, and when you have a relationship as deep as ours, that's a very unsettling feeling. Nevertheless, the Zone chose me, and I would do my best and keep a good attitude. After passing jogs and using the Training Session to school the horses over the show jumps at lower heights on Wednesday, the team got geared up for the first competition on Thursday. As a Young Rider this year, any faults on course would be converted to seconds, and the fastest overall time would win. As much as I wanted to keep winning in mind, my only thoughts while walking the course, and riding it, were getting around. Which we did. In style, too. We had a blazing time of 76 seconds, with our two rails adding eight seconds for a total of 84, putting just 8 seconds between us and a Gold Medal. "You are sitting chilly for tomorrow, Grace. I'm so proud of you," were the words of my team mate Sarah on Thursday afternoon. I agreed completely. My horse was brave, and he was there for me. He wanted to get to the other side just as much as I did. It was a wonderful feeling. Even more wonderful was the news we received after completing the first round of Nation's Cup on Friday. All three members of the Zone 8 and 5 Combined Team were sitting as qualified for the Individual Final, and we were sitting Team Silver by a large margin, with just two rails keeping us from Gold. Sarah went first of the team, and laid down an incredible clean second round. Then it was my turn, and I knew what I needed to fix this time to give the team a clean round. I got past our bogeys from the first round, but Orlando's eagerness got him a little out of control. When I pulled, he didn't listen, ending me up on the ground, and the team out of it completely. Kristen and Sarah were both supportive as could be, which I appreciated more than what could be expressed. My Chef D'Equipe and second Dad Guy McElvain entered me in the Young Rider Farewell Competition. Saturday morning Orlando jumped great, and a light last rail put a pink ribbon (5th) on my horse's bridle and a smile on my face. On Sunday I watched the final, and Sarah ended up just out of the medals in 4th. I couldn't have been more proud of her. A VERY last minute decision brought us to the Estes Park Summer Festival, Stanley Fairgrounds, Estes Park, Colorado (Week II) - Open - August 6 - 10. We kicked things off with Opie in the Level 4 Jumpers on Wednesday. Thursday he moved up to the Level 5 Jumpers, immediately following Orlando's spectacular performance in the $5,000 Welcome Stake. He was clean, but I decided not to jump off. It was a very bizarre first round, and to jump pieces of it in the jump off was even more bizarre. The risk was having something happen that would shake his confidence, so I left him with a good experience and let him rest until the Grand Prix on Saturday. Meanwhile, Opie was being Superman in all of his classes. Friday was a very big day for him. He won both the USEF Medal and WIHS Medal Hunter Phase. He also recieved a score better than 75 in the warm up, which is very, very good, and was 7th in the $300 Low Junior Jumpers. He also caught someone's eye in the process, and was tried successfully that afternoon. Saturday morning the potential buyer showed him in the the Children's Hunters and she couldn't stop smiling! Needless to say, Opie was excellent all week long, and has since been sold. It was bitter sweet losing him, but his new "Mom" already being in love with him makes it so easy. Saturday was an early morning, starting with Opie's try first thing, and not ending until dark after the Grand Prix. I rode a little tired that night, which just doesn't work on a horse like Orlando. The course design was again not at all encouraging, so I pulled up with just the triple combination to go, knowing that I was out of the ribbons and there was no point in perhaps shaking Orlando's confidence. Estes Park was more than a worthly trip. Selling a horse and having an excellent Welcome Stake ride was more than worth it. Now I look forward to the High Prairie Fall Shows, which will prepare me for Indoors back East. Though things did not go exactly to plan this summer, I can look back and say I learned a lot. Everything we did was well worth the experience, and I am better rider for it. Grand Prix de Santa Fe, The Santa Fe Horse Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico - Open - June 12 - 15, 2008The easy six hour drive to Santa Fe was well worth it. The horses were training very well and I was excited to get them in the ring again. It was Opie's first time on grass footing, and being that no Level 4's were offered and I didn't want to throw him in the Level 5's, Opie jumped around both $500 Level 3's wonderfully. I was thrilled. One of the many things Orlando has taught me is that horses are completely unpredictable. Each day I get on him there is a certain amount of suspicion as to what he'll be like. There are certain things that remain consistent, but others can change multiple times within one fifteen minute ride. What can I say...he keeps me on my toes! The thing that sticks out in my mind about Santa Fe was the consistency in his flat work and relaxation. He was calm and cool the entire week, which for him is a huge step in the right, confident direction. Relatively consistent, also, was his jump schooling. He was, with one or two exceptions, very brave and lovely to school. The inconsistency occurred in the ring, unfortunately. The first class we entered, a $500 Level 7, was perfect. He was brave and bold to everything and was very eager to do his job. Something in the next day's class threw him off, however, and he ended up throwing me as well! No worse for the wear, I tried the $7,500 High Junior Amateur Owner Classic on Saturday. Sadly, there was not much more success as we did not make it past fence nine. Nonetheless, there was marked improvement in his flat work and schooling. He has since been schooling well at home and we are looking forward to showing at the Colorado Summer Circuit. Lake Saint Louis Spring Horse Show I & II, The National Equestrian Center, Lake Saint Louis, Missouri - Open - May 7 - 18, 2008After what were months of less than confident jump training with the horses, we gambled and made the decision to make the day's drive to Saint Louis for two weeks of horse showing. The drive was easy, and the horses arrived comfortable. After setting up and a night of good rest, I schooled with the idea of expecting mediocrity from my horses and I was neither pleasantly surprised or disappointed. The tone of the horse show was set early on: the next two weeks would be used wisely as a tool to gain my horses' show ring confidence and competitiveness. With the help of coach Jane Schweiger, we formulated a plan to achieve our goal. Both horses would start in small, simple classes well within their comfort level. So, Wednesday would present Orlando with a Level 6 Jumper, and Opie with a 2'9" Jumper class and 2'6" Hunter class. The reason for entering Opie in the Hunters - something he had never done before - was to get him in as many rings as possible and to keep his young mind challenged and interested, and to present a new, fun challenge. It was a challenge that he conquered! By Sunday, Opie was winning top ribbons in the 3'6" Hunters and Equitations. To add to our thrill with his rapid progression and success, Opie moved back into the 3'6" Jumper classes where he belongs! Week II brought even more excitement. He continued in the 3'6" Hunters with a win in the Horsemanship Medal, qualifying us for the Regional Final this fall. In addition, Opie also moved up to the 3'9" Level 4 Jumpers. He was, to say the very least, a star throughout the entire two weeks of horse showing! Orlando's progress, though present, came slower than his younger counterpart's. Both weeks he jumped the Level 6 Jumpers with ease and in good style with top placings, but come the Welcome Stakes and Week I $15,000 Grand Prix, the challenge of higher fences and more complicated courses shook his confidence. Finally, my Mom came up with a solution to our problem. She thought Orlando was remembering the two hard falls I had in the show ring in Ocala, and the fact that the first thing he would think of was my leg coming away from his side. Orlando has never been a horse who wants to be squeezed; in fact, he resents it, and prefers to be controlled completely with my seat, and perhaps a little hand when required. Nonetheless, it came to us that he thought by my not legging him off the ground of each and every fence that I was going to fall off. His reaction was to stop and lift his head to keep me in the saddle. It's impossible to explain to a horse what really caused the falls, so the only solution was to adapt my ride to his needs. Thus, come the Week II $25,000 Grand Prix, I legged off the ground at every fence. Aside from a rider error in the air over the second element in the triple combination, the entire round was flawless and confident. I ended up Twelfth as the second fastest four faulter, with my NAJYRC Team Mate Sarah Tredenick acing me out of the fastest position. I was happy to place this well in such company! The Lake Saint Louis Spring Horse Shows were altogether a great experience, full of plenty of success. We covered our stall wall with twenty-three ribbons, four being blue. Everyone was thrilled with our horses' performance, and even more so with the perfect note we finished on! I am very much looking forward to Grand Prix de Santa Fe! HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, Post Time Farm, Ocala, Florida (Weeks II, IV, V)- Open - February 20 - March 16, 2008Following a three day drive from Parker to Ocala, we unloaded and set up for what would be a seven and a half week stay at HITS Post Time Farm. Because we were there on winter board, there was no showing the first two and a half weeks. I used this time to school and prepare my horses for the upcoming circuit. Since HITS Ocala 2006, several things changed about the shows. There was a new Grand Prix field put in, adjacent to a new Main Hunter Ring. Of course, everything about the rings was spectacular. Much more spectator seating was offered, and almost all of the jumps were identical to those used at the 2007 FEI World Cup Las Vegas. Of course, with new rings came new footing. It was the exact same EuroFelt footing that is being installed in Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympics, and in Wellington at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club for several Olympic Selection Trials, World Cup Qualifiers, and many other FEI classes. The difference between Wellington and Hong Kong versus Ocala is that the footing is down and worked for at least a month prior to competition. This allows all of the elements of the footing to combine, settle, and weather. Riders and trainers watched the footing in Ocala be completed no more then twenty four hours before the first class. Our suspicions, unfortunately, were correct. Asking our horses to jump from this footing was like asking someone to bike the Continental Divide in deep sand. Of course, no one realizes it until they step in the ring and give it a shot. I rode Opie in a Level 3 schooling class, and couldn't figure out why he was so hesitant to leave the ground. It was when I showed the next day that I understood. Orlando and I put in a great effort around the $5,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome Stake, but three quarters of the way around pulled up. Every horse had all of the desire in the world, but the footing forced them to strain their bodies to the verge of severe soft tissue damage or other injury. Some were willing to risk it. I wasn't one of them. I shared my thoughts with Tom Struzzieri, the owner of HITS, and hoped for some improvements Week II. As with any living being, unpleasant experiences can leave horses shaken, unconfident, and sour, especially when they are young or inexperienced. Opie, though a brave, talented, and big hearted greenie, was taken aback by his experience in the Grand Prix ring. Though I moved him to a different ring to finish up Week I, he was still unsure of whether or not he was able to take off safely. We continued to show him throughout the rest of the Circuit in the Level 4 Jumpers on good footing, and did finally see a turn around come Week V. For Orlando, things were not so simple. I tried jumping a Level 6 with him Wednesday of Week II, and he did well. Clearly the horse show staff was doing their best to improve the footing, which was much appreciated. The turns and galloping spaces between the jumps were perfect now. It was the take off and landing that concerned me. If you were top three in the order, you're footing would be beautiful, but as the horses continued to dig up the bases of the jumps, it became more and more sticky to jump from. Suspect but encouraged by a positive ride, I began considering entering the $10,000 Footing Authority Prix on Friday. My "neighbor" back in the barns, Manuel Torres, four time Olympian, encouraged me. He said, "Your horse is ready! He wants to go. Try the Open. I'll be a happy second to you!" I went ahead and entered the class. It was seeming a pretty good decision. We were rolling down to a triple combination and a single oxer, the last four fences on course, carrying only twelve faults. Not the desired clear round, but with Olympic designer Leopoldo Polacios doing the courses, just to finish is praised. Well, I over steadied the bending seven to the in of the triple, which left us a bit too gappy, and we were unable to back off in the two. Orlando had no choice but to hit the breaks, and I failed to stop my own forward motion. Needless to say, Orlando may have not cleared the second element, but I sure did! There was one truly good thing that came of riding in the Open. My coach Alex Granato failed to show up for the course walk and warm up. Manuel happened to be there, and ended up coaching me for the class and training me for the remainder of the circuit. We regained Orlando's confidence and finished up the Circuit in the High Junior Jumpers. Manuel said many times, "Perfect ride! These horses (Orlando and Opie) can jump anything!" What an amazing experience it was! Minnesota Harvest Horse Show - Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, Minnesota - October 2-7, 2007 After two days on the road, we arrived at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show. The horses stepped off the trailer no worse for the wear, and after we set up, went for a quick school in the indoor arena. This was Opie's first time ever being ridden indoors, and he wasn't bothered by it one bit...he stepped in the ring, had a look around, and went right to work. Orlando was a little fresh, as he usually is the first day at the show, but it was nothing a little riding couldn't solve. On Tuesday, Opie showed and placed 6th in his $100 Level 4 Jumper. Orlando had a nice forward school in the $400 Level 6 Jumper and placed 5th. Wednesday was Orlando's day off, so he just enjoyed some flat work in the morning and afternoon. Opie moved up to the $300 Low Junior Jumper and cantered around well. Thursday Opie continued in the Low Junior Jumpers. This was Orlando's first big day at the show. He competed in the $2,500 Welcome Stake. We were fifth in the order, and from what we had heard so far, the course was more like a lumber yard. When we walked into the ring there had only been one clear round...Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride, Olympians and the winners of the 2006 $30,000 Grand Prix of Minnesota. If that doesn't put the pressure on, what does? Well, if you ask just about anyone, they'll tell you Grace and Orlando rise under pressure. We slid right into second place, less than a second slower in the jump off than Karen and her mount. We were bumped down to fifth by Nick Novak and Alex Granato, two of my coaches, and Laura Linback, a United States Equestian Team Member. As you can imagine, I was very excited! Fifth in that company...we'll take it! And so then it was time to start thinking about Saturday night. On Friday, Orlando was once again ridden lightly two times undersaddle, and Catherine Azar, our wonderful equine physical therapist, worked on him. Saturday progressed as any normal Grand Prix day. For Orlando, light flat work, a bath, braids, grooming, lots of carrots, and hand walking...and for Grace, well, lots of Gatorade! The course opened to walk at five o'clock. The jumps looked substantial 4'9"-5' but not overwhelming, and the technicality of the course was similar to that of the NAJYRC. We had a block of twenty five seats reserved for family and friends who would be attending, and it was about the time the course opened that they began arriving. Nick walked with me, and I meandered around a little while longer after we had finished. Then it was just a matter of keeping myself busy until it was time to tack Orlando up. Somehow I managed to do that, and after plenty of good luck wishes from my fans, it was off to the warm up. I had learned earlier that I pulled the lucky draw yet again, meaning I would jump last. Things boiled down to the point where I was alone in the warm up, and after finishing up, I walked to the gate, where Orlando and I saw the huge crowd. We also saw a much more experienced horse and rider combination take down more rails than what they left up. Once again...the pressure was on. A quick prayer, and in the ring we went. After saluting the judge, we approached the first fence, which rode great, as did the rest. A light rub cost us the last rail, and we finished up in 8th place, the second fastest four faulter. After a victory gallop and some autographs, I went back and took care of my horse. It was a perfect way to finish off our best horse show yet! *Thank you Merlin Stover for your sponsorship, and to the rest of my "Fan Club" for being so supportive! Midstates Fall Horse Show - Iowa State Fairgrounds, Mason City, Iowa - September 12-16, 2007On the road again...just a short five weeks after the NAJYRC we loaded up our trailer yet again and traveled to the Midwest for the Midstates Fall Horse Show. It's a show where no one needs an introduction...everyone knows who everybody else is, so it's a lot of "Hello!" and "Nice to see you again!" Nick Novak, one of my favorite coaches, met us at the entrance Monday night and helped us locate our stabling. Tuesday I did the typical preparation with Orlando...a lunge to let him blow off steam, and a light school over the show jumps. Nick needed a grounds person, so for several of his rides I helped him set jumps. Then it was Opie's turn, and as usual, my young horse did not disappoint. On Wednesday, Orlando did some more flat work, and Opie showed in a $200 Level 4 Jumper. He cantered right around the course, making it look easy. We finished up in 8th Place. On Thursday, it was Orlando's turn to show. He went out for some early morning flat work, and took a break while I showed Opie in a $300 Level 5, in which he finished well but just out of the ribbons. Then it was Orlando's turn. His class was a $1,000 Level 7 Welcome Stake, and straightforward in comparison to the challenging Junior Young Riders' courses. Because he was so rideable on the flat that morning, I never would have guessed that he would light up in the ring as much as he did. His freshness cost us three rails, so he was ridden and lunged once more that evening. Opie's last day to show was Friday. He cantered right around in his $300 Low Junior Jumper, finishing 5th. Throughout Friday and into Saturday I worked hard at getting Orlando quiet for the $15,000 Midstates Fall Grand Prix. The work paid off! He was wonderful, leaving all of the rails in the cups. It was a great warm up for the Minnesota Harvest! *Thank you Tom Pickard of Equi-Venture Marketing and Antares Saddles for your sponsorship! The North American Junior and Young Riders' Championships - Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Virginia - July 30-August 5, 2007
With our qualifiers including eight Grand Prixs, I arrived at the NAJYRC 2007 as planned. Monday was somewhat relaxing, as we unloaded and organized. Orlando easily passed Examination, and we enjoyed some light flat work in the covered arena that would serve as the Show Jumping warm up. On Tuesday, the Zone 8 riders all had one hour in the morning to do flat work in the Coliseum (our competition ring). That afternoon, I successfully presented Orlando for the Jog Inspections and was accepted for competition. I also let Orlando have a little "turn out" on the lunge, and went to visit the Event barns. Meeting up with my team mates was terrific and it was very good to support them, and have them in the stands cheering for me! Wednesday I got up early, did some flat work, took a short break to walk the course, and rode Orlando in our Training Session. We used our 90 seconds to school a short course, and found he was very rideable and ready to show. I had time that afternoon to watch a new friend in the Young Rider Dressage competition. She, along with the Area III team, were well heard on Thursday when I entered the ring. I was last of the Zone 8 riders...and last in the class. I knew there had only been two clears, and went in with the attitude of just leaving the rails in the cups. And that's exactly what we did. Finishing on two time faults, we ended up with third place. It was the best ribbon on the Zone 8 banner yet, and I was so proud to hang it there. On Friday, the team wound up with a strong 6th place finish. Not everyone was so lucky to have a team score that day, and we were thrilled with our placing. That evening, our Chef D' Equipe informed me that I had made the Individual Final, which brings us to Sunday. I was sitting sixteenth when I walked into the ring that morning. Then we laid down one of only two clears in the first round, which bumped us right up to sixth place. With a little less luck and fourteen faults in the second round, we moved down a couple spots and settled out of the ribbons in thirteenth. I can't say I was dissapointed. Just going to the Championships is a huge accomplishment, and I can say I carried a third place ribbon and was part of the sixth placed team. The ribbons and medals are just a small piece of it all. I met some new people from different disciplines and teams, and learned a lot from speaking with them and watching them work with their horses and ride. It's one of those special competitions that you walk away from feeling good, not just because of the prizes, but because of all you learned and accomplished. *Thank you Fox Creek Tack for the "Young Rider Discount", and Only Fools & Horses Tack Shop for the use of the hind boots!
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