Still on plan A

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 in the fall of 2010.  The girls that were with me saw a lot of tears that weekend.  I do not know when things had started to go so wrong and I was so frustrated with myself.  This once exuberant mare that LOVED to jump had lost all her confidence and I had lost mine.

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!