As we all know too well, plans change very quickly. I
took on the attitude last year to take things as they came and
keep going as long as I was having fun. That seemed to work for me.
This year, two HT's into my season, I am still on plan
A. That means I have at least 25 potential plans left
and if I need to go to symbols and numbers, I am open to that
too.
I have learned a
lot about myself in the last year or so. Last winter I had to make a
decision about my future with Frankie when the going got really tough and
I was eliminated in the OI show jumping at Poplar Place
I took that winter
of 2010/ 2011 pretty much off and spent it hacking around the farm with
Maggie but not doing any serious work. I needed to take a step
back. My family, husband, and friends were very supportive and never
stopped believing in me but didn't push me. If we wanted to ride, we
rode, if we wanted to go to In and Out Market down the road and have a warm
breakfast, we did that instead. No pressure, no agenda. I
realize I needed those few months to decide if I was going to fight my way
back and attempt to reach my dreams or if I was going to have a great
prelim packer. Really, either decision would have been fine but
my personality is not one to be down for long. I knew Frankie was better
than the slump I had let us fall into.
Jenn O'Neill convinced
me that winter to take a few lessons with Craig Shegog. When he came
to the farm I told him I really did not want to jump over 2'9 and I did
not want to jump any oxers. We laughed about that this past week as we
were discussing our mental game plan for my first Advanced last weekend.
Craig has really changed my entire thought process as well as really focusing
on Frankie's canter, my ability to know what is going
on underneath me, and to be straight- truly straight.
Everything is very calculated from the time I begin tacking up for my show
jumping round, until the moment I finish my round. This has given
me productive thoughts to think about rather than giving me too much
time to think about things that are not helpful.
I was also able
lucky enough to go to Jan Byyny's Surefire Farm this summer for a short
training session before heading to Loch Moy to run the
OI. Jan noticed Frankie's unique jumping style right
away. We worked a lot on the canter and really built off what Craig
had been saying and doing with us at home. Frankie has this amazing
ability to make you think you are on a 12ft stride when in actuality she is on
an 8ft stride and going really fast. I am now constantly thinking
about my canter and not finding a distance. Jan also saw right away
that Frankie thrives off of positivity. When she gets flustered or
rattled things will fall apart quickly. Jan was in KY last Aug for Young
Riders so Frankie and I got several lesson from her that week as
well. Working with Jan paid off even more as we were able to walk around
the XC and SJ courses this past weekend. Having seen us at her farm,
in competition at Loch Moy, and in KY she gave me specific advice to negotiate
both the XC course and show jumping course at Pine Top this past weekend.
I am only beginning to scratch the surface with her and look forward to
returning to VA this summer.
So now that I have
kind of explained how I have seemed to climb out of a very deep, dark, lonely
hole, I know that in a moments notice things can change. I know I will
take those proverbial steps back however, even in those steps backward, in my opinion;
I will still be going forward even if those forward steps are baby steps.
When people ask me
this year what my plans are, I tell them to be safe, have fun, and enjoy every
second of this amazing ride. It has been difficult to make a long term
plan for this year because I feel maybe I got so focused on where I wanted
to be at the end of that 2010 season that I forget to listen to what Frankie
was telling me she needed from me. Perhaps that is how the downward
spiral in 2010 came about- I forgot to listen. I have spent the last year
listening to her and our partnership is stronger than ever. She had one
of her best show jump rounds ever at the Advanced at Pine Top with only one
rail down, that I completely own. Then, she came out of the box on XC and
settled into the gallop as quickly as ever and did not take one wrong step.
I cannot explain what riding a horse like her on XC is like. The
dressage, well it is coming along, Wayne Quarles is not being easy on us, and I
am learning how to ride her while she is in the best shape of her
life. She is working really hard at it and I know it will come.
Dr. Newton came
out last night and was very happy how she came out of the competition. We
head to run the Advanced at Southern Pines next March 23-25. After that,
well let’s just say I know what shows are out there and I will make a decision
after we run Southern Pines. As my students and friends begin planning
their show seasons, I wish you all the best of luck and a safe and fun 2012!
