In my last post, I talked about finding my voice in riding and encouraging YOU to find your voice!
It has been long overdue connecting with you, but I am hoping that you, too, have been working on your homework ... haha
It has been long overdue connecting with you, but I am hoping that you, too, have been working on your homework ... haha
My voice, well, I'd have to say it has been out of breath!
There hasn't been a single dull moment since the time I stepped foot back in Reinholds, Pa ...
from the challenge of reentry in the classroom to prom to school banquets to graduation
to making a sales video for Mi Alma to competing Livingston in preparation
for North American championships ... it's been a thrill of a ride!
from the challenge of reentry in the classroom to prom to school banquets to graduation
to making a sales video for Mi Alma to competing Livingston in preparation
for North American championships ... it's been a thrill of a ride!
After three months of intensive training in Florida, I felt a need to balance my riding schedule with school and a social life. I had a blast at my senior prom, frequented C.J. Hummels (where I go line dancing), traveled to Northern PA for a weekend road trip and Albany, New York for a graduation party, got pelted with mud at the Numidia Mud Bog
oh, and not to mention ... I graduated high school!!!!!
oh, and not to mention ... I graduated high school!!!!!
Dressage at Blue Goose kicked off my Northern show season where I practiced my "She's Country" freestyle for the very first time ... and let me tell you, there were some definite moments where we were 'freestyling' the freestyle. What I love about my freestyle is that it is unconventional (most musical freestyles are wordless and some form of classical or traditional music) and makes me feel like I'm line dancing.
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| Second lesson with Lendon after WIT |
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| Again...Liv's always posing |
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| Took Mi Alma (my 5 year old who is for sale) to his first show of the season and he scored a 68+% at training level!! |
A few weeks later was CDI Allentown ... my last qualifier for NAJYRC. One of the best parts about the show was that I got to stable with Alex and Nick (my fellow WIT graduates)!
And to top off the weekend, Livingston and I earned the last scores needed to qualify for NAJYRC!
And to top off the weekend, Livingston and I earned the last scores needed to qualify for NAJYRC!
Then came the waiting game. I had finished qualifying for NAJYRC a month before the qualifying period was over which meant I had a month to stare at the other riders' scores as they, too, finished qualifying... hoping and praying my 'voice' would be strong enough to be one of the top 4 riders in Region 1, which covers PA, MD, NJ, D.C., DE, VA and NC.
Let me tell you ... it was close. Between spots 2 and 4 was only about a half a point difference in the averages. By the end of June, Livingston and I clenched the 3rd spot on the team :)
I was ecstatic and I was over-the-top happy that my voice was loud enough to be heard!
Let me tell you ... it was close. Between spots 2 and 4 was only about a half a point difference in the averages. By the end of June, Livingston and I clenched the 3rd spot on the team :)
I was ecstatic and I was over-the-top happy that my voice was loud enough to be heard!
At that point there was less then two weeks to finialize all the paperwork, hotel and depature logistics, squeeze in a few more lessons, straighten out who and what was needed to take care of the horses at home, and pack ... lots and lots of packing.
On July 13th, my parents and I hit the road in the truck with Livingston. Gert (Livingston's owner) and Helen (Gert's mom) surprised me by announcing that they, too, would be joining us as my lead supporters. I felt so happy and blessed to have that kind of support.
It was a smooth 11 hour drive to Lexington.
No mishaps. No bad weather. No bumper-to-bumper traffic.
We stabled Livingston at a farm about 20 minutes from the horse park for two days so that he could stretch and roll around and be turned out as much as his heart desired.
He was greeted with a large, comfy stall and good ole fashion Kentucky bluegrass music heard across the fields from a neighboring party.
It was a smooth 11 hour drive to Lexington.
No mishaps. No bad weather. No bumper-to-bumper traffic.
We stabled Livingston at a farm about 20 minutes from the horse park for two days so that he could stretch and roll around and be turned out as much as his heart desired.
He was greeted with a large, comfy stall and good ole fashion Kentucky bluegrass music heard across the fields from a neighboring party.
That Monday, we headed over to the Kentucky Horse Park where NAJYRC was being held.
Livingston settled right into the show atmosphere. I was able to school him that day in one of the warm up arenas and he felt fabulous: supple, responsive, and light.
I will say though that being in a warmup arena with 30 other riders with powerful 'voices' was rather intimidating.
Livingston settled right into the show atmosphere. I was able to school him that day in one of the warm up arenas and he felt fabulous: supple, responsive, and light.
I will say though that being in a warmup arena with 30 other riders with powerful 'voices' was rather intimidating.
Tuesday I schooled Liv bright and early in the Rolex Stadium (where I was going to be competing).
It was a timed schooling meaning each team had 20 minutes in the regular warmup and 20 minutes in the Rolex Stadium. Liv was so nonchalant about everything ... I on the other hand acted like I was, but looking back I barely remember anything about riding around that arena ...
It was a timed schooling meaning each team had 20 minutes in the regular warmup and 20 minutes in the Rolex Stadium. Liv was so nonchalant about everything ... I on the other hand acted like I was, but looking back I barely remember anything about riding around that arena ...
That night was the vet jog. For those of you not familiar with vet jogs it is the deciding factor on whether you are given permission to compete. Just because you make the team, pack up your belongings, travel across states, and set up hotel and stabling does NOT mean your horse automatically gets the green light to show. The vet jog is conducted by FEI veterinarians who examine the horse's movement for soundness.
Livingston, being the giant puppy dog he is, just jogged right next to me no questions asked.
The sigh of relief came when the announcer said "Just Livingston is ACCEPTED!"
Woo hoo time to compete!!
Livingston, being the giant puppy dog he is, just jogged right next to me no questions asked.
The sigh of relief came when the announcer said "Just Livingston is ACCEPTED!"
Woo hoo time to compete!!
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| Such a lover |
Team jog outfits - checkered top, white jeans & sperry's
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| Region 1 Dressage Young Rider Team - Jennifer, Kaitlin, Arden & me |
The next day started the Team Competition. I believe my nerves kicked in and I forgot how to keep riding after there were some problems with the tempi changes, pirouettes, and tongue issue. On the bright side, I actually had trot and canter extensions that were meaningful! My voice definitely felt squashed and I believe this was the first time in years I have ever felt stage fright. While I was disappointed in my riding that day, I still felt honored representing the Region 1 Young Riders and the United States of America. Our Young Rider Team placed 5th overall and the Juniors placed 4th.
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| Half pass |
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| Our 5th place NAJYRC sash :) |
Thursday we had off from competing. So I was up bright and early to practice with Livingston and see if a difference could be made in my expectations from him and get our voices back.
After about an hour of hardcore schooling, I think the point was made to Liv AND myself:
I needed crisper reactions, ample bend, and to sit deeper in the saddle ... and perhaps turn off the negative voices in my head that kept me paralyzed from moving forward.
After all, I had made it that far, why let my fear get in the way of letting my voice be heard?
After about an hour of hardcore schooling, I think the point was made to Liv AND myself:
I needed crisper reactions, ample bend, and to sit deeper in the saddle ... and perhaps turn off the negative voices in my head that kept me paralyzed from moving forward.
After all, I had made it that far, why let my fear get in the way of letting my voice be heard?
We'll do better tomorrow mommy, I promise
Friday's Individual Competition proved that Thursday's 'kick in the butts' lesson worked! There were no glaring errors in the movements this time around and I actively rode every stride of the test. While we didn't pull a whopping 70% or anything, I was thrilled to receive a 64.xxx% from one of the international judges. In fact, all but one of our scores was above a 60% ... a very respectable improvement from the Team Test. Woo Hoo my voice was back!
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| This has to be my all time favorite picture ... taken by non other than my AWESOME MOM!!! |
Canter pirouette
All done
So happy :)
In my last blog, I talked about just wanting to make my voice heard at NAJYRC ... and Livingston and I made that happen. It was a huge learning experience for us as a team and for me as an individual. I enjoyed getting to know each young rider. Kaitlin, an accomplished rider, taught me that it takes time to arrive at your goals; Arden, an eventer by career, showed me that a change in path doesn't mean a change in career; and Jennifer, a multi-time rider at NAJYRC, taught me poise under pressure.
Our chef d'equipe Debbie DelGiorno was very organized and helped reduce anxiety of first-time nerves by handling all the incidentals so I could focus on the riding. And, she was always smiling.
Gert and Helen showed up and supportive me in anyway needed, no questions asked.
Lendon Gray reminded me who I am and why I was there.
And then there are the Region 1 sponsors .... PanaCavallo/Davis family, the Blythe family, the Wildasin family, the Wolfe family, the Zugel family, Skyland Saddlery,
and those individuals and companies who donated and purchased items for the silent auction to raise money for NAJYRC.
Our chef d'equipe Debbie DelGiorno was very organized and helped reduce anxiety of first-time nerves by handling all the incidentals so I could focus on the riding. And, she was always smiling.
Gert and Helen showed up and supportive me in anyway needed, no questions asked.
Lendon Gray reminded me who I am and why I was there.
And then there are the Region 1 sponsors .... PanaCavallo/Davis family, the Blythe family, the Wildasin family, the Wolfe family, the Zugel family, Skyland Saddlery,
and those individuals and companies who donated and purchased items for the silent auction to raise money for NAJYRC.
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| Our teams were surprised with a delicious cake from the Wolfe family... Lian had qualified for the Junior team, but was unable to attend at the last minute. She was so upbeat and supportive to us despite her own disappointment. |
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| Chef d'equipes Debbie and Eliza with part of their team gift :) |
Since NAJYRC, I was blessed to be invited to ride in the Courtney King Dye Horse Mastership Clinic held at Hassler Dressage at Riveredge, Chesapeake City, MD. Livingston and I had lessons with Olympians Debbie McDonald, Courtney King Dye, and Lendon Gray; USEF Young Horse coach and international competitor/trainer Scott Hassler; and international competitor/trainer JJ Tate.
The common thread between all of my lessons was that I need crisper responses, more self-carriage, increased ride-ability, and I as the rider need to sit on my butt more so I have more weight in the saddle.
My lessons were so inspiring and I finally felt confidence in myself again.
The common thread between all of my lessons was that I need crisper responses, more self-carriage, increased ride-ability, and I as the rider need to sit on my butt more so I have more weight in the saddle.
My lessons were so inspiring and I finally felt confidence in myself again.
(To read more detail about each lesson I had, check out the Lendon Gray, Dressage4kids, Gleneden Dressage Facebook Page for daily postings dates 7/31-8/4. For a brief recap check out the article on DressageDaily!)
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| Lesson with Lendon |
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| Warmup for my lesson with Courtney |
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| Got to see Karen (our stable manager at WIT) and meet new friends at CKDHMC |
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| Wiring up |
Soon it will be time to find my voice off the horse again ... college starts in less than two weeks!
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Until next time, I hope y'all enjoy the last weeks of summer. AND, if you have been procrastinating on your homework from my last post, I still challenge you to do something that puts you out on stage exercising your courage muscles ... I will be here doing the same :)
WHAT'S NEXT YOU MIGHT ASK? See you at Dressage at Devon the last week of September and Region 1 Championships in October!
