My trainer, doesn't go easy on me. She knows I want to go places with my riding, and she knows that it's going to take a lot of hard work to get there.
At my last show, I wasn't all that organized. I didn't have my horse wrapped to get on the trailer in time, forget my lunge whip (among a few other things), and didn't have any of my white show blankets washed (I ended up having to buy one at the show). As soon as we got back home, my trainer made me get organized.
I spent the first day back at the barn doing laundry, unpacking my tack trunk, and cleaning. Lots of cleaning. I washed all my white saddle pads so that I wouldn't have to worry about them come my next show, unpacked all my things from the last show, and completely reorganized my locker. I cleaned just about everything I own at the barn from my saddle to the Tupperware I keep Esso's sugar cubes in.
As I was walking back from the washing machine to the tack room, my bright whites under my arm, I passed my trainer. She cracked a grin when she saw me and asked, "Feels good to be prepared, doesn't it?" And it really did.
Showing posts with label horse shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horse shows. Show all posts
Monday
Butterflies for Breakfast: A Typical Day at the Show
Last weekend, I competed in a show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. It reminded me how much I love showing. I love dressing up, I love the excitement, but most of all, I love spending the whole day at the barn.
My typical show day starts early. I wake up and walk to the fridge, but I can never get myself to have any breakfast. I'm too nervous. I'll drink a couple sips of water, pack up, and get in the car.
I always make one stop before the barn, though, and that's my local Vons. I pick up the same thing every time: two vitamin waters (one dragon fruit and one lemonade flavored) for each day of the show. It's something I started a while back, and has become more of a superstitious thing than anything.
So, once I have my vitamin waters, I head for the show. I say hi to my baby, Esso, and sit down in my trainer, Kristina Harrison's, tent. It never takes long before my hunger triumphs over my nervousness, and I eat a muffin, some chips, or whatever other delicious and unhealthy treat I find sitting around on our table. I spend the morning lunging, watching rides, braiding Esso, and dressing myself up for my ride.
About half an hour before I get on my nerves really kick in. I sit down, sip on my vitamin water, and go over my tests again and again, until I am absolutely positive that I'm not going to forget where I'm going half way through my ride. That half hour tends to fly by pretty fast, and, whether I'm ready or not, it's showtime.
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| Despite my pre-ride jitters, I always do my best to pose for my mom's pictures. |
My typical show day starts early. I wake up and walk to the fridge, but I can never get myself to have any breakfast. I'm too nervous. I'll drink a couple sips of water, pack up, and get in the car.
I always make one stop before the barn, though, and that's my local Vons. I pick up the same thing every time: two vitamin waters (one dragon fruit and one lemonade flavored) for each day of the show. It's something I started a while back, and has become more of a superstitious thing than anything.
So, once I have my vitamin waters, I head for the show. I say hi to my baby, Esso, and sit down in my trainer, Kristina Harrison's, tent. It never takes long before my hunger triumphs over my nervousness, and I eat a muffin, some chips, or whatever other delicious and unhealthy treat I find sitting around on our table. I spend the morning lunging, watching rides, braiding Esso, and dressing myself up for my ride.
About half an hour before I get on my nerves really kick in. I sit down, sip on my vitamin water, and go over my tests again and again, until I am absolutely positive that I'm not going to forget where I'm going half way through my ride. That half hour tends to fly by pretty fast, and, whether I'm ready or not, it's showtime.
Sunday
The Scholarly Equestrian: A Balancing Act
I am what you might consider a "scholarly equestrian". When I'm not at the barn I'm usually at school. It used to not be that big of a deal. In middle school, I only rode three times a week, and even though I might have thought differently then, I really didn't have very much homework.
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Things have gotten a little more intense now that I'm in high school. Not only do I ride almost every day after school (on Mondays I do Pilates instead), but my homework load has increased. A lot. So, I've learned to balance the two. I've learned that I need to focus at school and get as much of my work done there as I can, so that I don't have to stay up too late in the evening. Once I get to the barn, it's important that I forget about everything having to do with school and only focus on my riding. Luckily, that's not too difficult. Then, when I get home at six, it's back to school mode. I know that I have to sit down and get to work right away. After I've done all my work then I can catch up on my TV shows. I also have to make sure that I plan in enough time for me to do my exercises every night, or my riding will suffer.
I've got this routine down pretty well, and I usually don't have a hard time staying on top of both my schoolwork and my riding. Some weeks, however, present a bit more of a challenge. Take this week, for example. Starting Tuesday I have final exams in all my classes (until Thursday), and the coming weekend I'm riding in a show.
I guess it's safe to say that it's been a pretty busy week. I've already spent hours reviewing and re-reviewing the material from this semester from all my classes, and on top of that I've had to memorize the tests I'm going to ride and focus extra hard on my training. And of course I still have to write out my plan.
My plan is a step by step, literally, description of how I'm going to ride my test. I have to go through every possible scenario that might play out in the show ring and lay out my plan of action for each one. Then I have to study it, memorize it. Know my five-page long strategy like the back of my hand.
Needless to say I'll be happy when finals are over and I can focus on the show, but until then, I'll have to find a way to balance the two. To be honest, I don't even mind that much. I would do anything for my riding.
I've got this routine down pretty well, and I usually don't have a hard time staying on top of both my schoolwork and my riding. Some weeks, however, present a bit more of a challenge. Take this week, for example. Starting Tuesday I have final exams in all my classes (until Thursday), and the coming weekend I'm riding in a show.
I guess it's safe to say that it's been a pretty busy week. I've already spent hours reviewing and re-reviewing the material from this semester from all my classes, and on top of that I've had to memorize the tests I'm going to ride and focus extra hard on my training. And of course I still have to write out my plan.
My plan is a step by step, literally, description of how I'm going to ride my test. I have to go through every possible scenario that might play out in the show ring and lay out my plan of action for each one. Then I have to study it, memorize it. Know my five-page long strategy like the back of my hand.
Needless to say I'll be happy when finals are over and I can focus on the show, but until then, I'll have to find a way to balance the two. To be honest, I don't even mind that much. I would do anything for my riding.
Tuesday
Making a Comeback
Last weekend, Esso and I had our debut into first level. We competed at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on Saturday and Sunday.
On the first day, Saturday, I rode twice and both of my rides were very conservative. I ended up getting good scores but my trainer, Kristina Harrison, wasn't happy. She said it was boring, she wanted me to really go for it. She wanted me to "wow" the judge. I went home that evening feeling disappointed. When I woke up the next day, though, I just felt determined. Krisi always says that if you want to do better, you have to ride better, and that was exactly what I was going to do. I was going to ride harder than I had ever ridden before, and deliver my best performance yet.
After I finished my first ride on Sunday the judge (I had the same judge on both days) yelled out to me from her booth that my ride had been a great improvement from the day before. Even Krisi was more than happy with it. I ended up getting a 77.5%, by far the highest score I have ever received. I couldn't have been more excited. Did I already feel like my legs were going to fall off halfway through my ride? Yes. But it paid off!
Krisi and all of her clients also did very well at the show. I was especially happy that my friend Rison and her horse Etsie, who rode the Prix St. Georges for the first time, did great in all of their rides. More than that. They killed it. Congratulations Rison!
I will post a video of my ride as soon as I have it!
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| Rison and I inbetween rides at the horse show Photo By Barbara Bella |
On the first day, Saturday, I rode twice and both of my rides were very conservative. I ended up getting good scores but my trainer, Kristina Harrison, wasn't happy. She said it was boring, she wanted me to really go for it. She wanted me to "wow" the judge. I went home that evening feeling disappointed. When I woke up the next day, though, I just felt determined. Krisi always says that if you want to do better, you have to ride better, and that was exactly what I was going to do. I was going to ride harder than I had ever ridden before, and deliver my best performance yet.
After I finished my first ride on Sunday the judge (I had the same judge on both days) yelled out to me from her booth that my ride had been a great improvement from the day before. Even Krisi was more than happy with it. I ended up getting a 77.5%, by far the highest score I have ever received. I couldn't have been more excited. Did I already feel like my legs were going to fall off halfway through my ride? Yes. But it paid off!
Krisi and all of her clients also did very well at the show. I was especially happy that my friend Rison and her horse Etsie, who rode the Prix St. Georges for the first time, did great in all of their rides. More than that. They killed it. Congratulations Rison!
I will post a video of my ride as soon as I have it!
Sunday
Big Boy Moves
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| Photo by Kristina Harrison |
We ended up training level Jr. champions! I got a big fat blue ribbon as well as a trophy, but best of all we got to participate in a victory gallop. I'm pretty sure Esso knew what was going on, because he was definitely showing off!
I had an amazing time last weekend, thanks to my awesome trainer, Kristina Harrison, my super supportive parents, my friend Rison who took the train all the way down from LA just to cheer me on, and of course my baby boy, Esso, who never fails to give me 100%!
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