Trip to Surefire

The trip to Surefire did not go exactly as planned but I still learned a ton and had a great time!  Hannah Williams, her mom, Dorothy Curlin, and myself, set out for Surefire Monday June 11th at 4:30 am. Hannah took both of her horses so she stayed very busy all week.  Frankie LOVES the 2+1 box stall as much as she loves Megan Moore's horse bus!

When we arrived that afternoon, Jan discussed a schedule for the week with us.  She thought we should XC school first since there was a storm approaching that was bringing lots of rain and we may not be able to get out on course for a few days.  We began tacking up and off we went to the XC field.

I watched Jan teach Hannah first on her TB, Liam.  He can be quick so Jan had her slow it all down.  They made a lot of progress from beginning to end.  I warmed up and Jan sent me out to jump several things.  Frankie felt great so we headed to the back field to school the very downhill coffins Jan has.  We jumped a course that included about 10 fences and the prelim and intermediate coffins.  Before I went out we talked about the canter I needed at the coffins.  Frankie jumped well through the course.  Both coffins rode well, and Jan was pleased.  We both agreed I need to do it one more time just to get the feeling of the canter to the very steep, downhill coffins.  Off I went.  Tables one and two were intermediate size, flat top tables .... nice flowing gallop down the hill then back up the hill to a prelim size table.  I saw the galloping stride and Frankie saw an add that was not there.  I was pitched and tried to use my hand to break the fall on the far side of the jump.  There I was, roughly and hour after arriving at Surefire, sitting on the ground, hand bleeding and clearly not in good working condition.  Jan was right there so she had Frankie, who did not run off even when my vest exploded, and let me catch my breath that I had lost from the force of my vest.  Jan walked Frankie back we discussed the "miss" and how sometimes it just happens.

Kendal Tracy drove me the the ER while Kelty O'Donoghue took Frankie from Jan and did a wonderful job taking care of her and icing her while we were gone.  THANK YOU KELTY!  Kendal stayed with me for HOURS at the ER (and probably learned more about me than she ever wanted because they ask you so many questions) but we had a great time people watching.  Hospitals are interesting places.  Kendal kept me updated with what was going on with Frankie.  Another working student named, Hannah, whom I'd met last year, was getting dropped off with her young rider horse when we were headed to the ER and her Mom is a vet.  Jan had her Mom go over Frankie so I was relieved to hear that she checked out ok!  When Hannah and Dorothy finished up with Hannah's other lesson on Picante, and completed the feeding and all the wrapping, they met us at the hospital.

Tuesday was a day of downpours!  Hannah got SOAKED riding as I stood in the trailer and watched her lessons.  Jan got me into an Orthopedic Dr in Middleburg that day as well.  He was nice to see me on short notice.  Between the small fracture on my 3rd knuckle in my pointer finger and amount of soft tissue damage to the top of my hand, there would be no riding for me.  I think I expected him to have some magic dust! I am just glad that was all that I had done and I'd be back to my old self in no time.

Hannah with Frankie after tacking her up for Jan.

Jan rode Frankie the remainder of the time we were there and Hannah was able to get two lessons a day the entire week.  Frankie became more educated while we were there and Jan gave me some great tips on the flat to use with her.  Frankie looked amazing as I am sure you can imagine.  I am bummed that I was not able to ride more than the one day but I'm glad a minor hand injury is all that came out of the deal.

Jan & Frankie

In true me fashion, I am already planning on going back to Surefire to get the work in I feel I need to get done to be prepared for the CIC 3* at Richland in August.  Maggie and I have come up with a plan that I just have to clear with Tom!  

Jan & Frankie

I cannot thank Jan and ALL of the Surefire people enough.  Everyone was so helpful.  Hannah and Dorothy took great care of Frankie,and me as did the staff at Surefire!  Hannah has committed to a year at Kyle Carter's but has an invitation to Jan's- oh to be a kid again and have those types of decisions to make!!  I wish her the BEST of luck!  I will miss traveling with her and her Mom.  

Frankie and I are home now at Donamire and Maggie has been a HUGE help tacking her up for me to ride and doing all the things that require two hands- which is a lot of things I am learning!  Craig will be out to jump her this week as my hand is not quite strong enough to grip the left rein and Maggie will do some more serious flat work for me on her. I leave next week for a trip with my family to France so this vacation falls at a time when I need it and it will give mt hand time to heal.  I will be back just in time to be cleared and expect I'll be 100% by the time I return.  I have already improved tremendously!  I plan on returning to Jan's as soon as I get back from France.

My first event going into the fall will be the OP at Cobblestone.  With school beginning in early August my options are somewhat limited with where I can go.  So when looking at the schedule, I chose to go where I know they will take care of the footing and provide some questions.  It's too bad a venue has not picked up the Advanced HT we lost when Maui Jim went away.  I have not really made plans beyond Richland but I have several scenarios.  I like knowing all my options more than feeling like I only have one option.

Good luck to everyone at Mid-south at the KHP this weekend!!

Chatt Hills, Fun Times, & Good Friends.

I am definitely learning a whole lot these days and enjoying every second of it! I am the first to admit that I am green at the level.  At my last two shows, I have learned what happens when I don't have enough canter and what happens when I am not patient, balanced, and run her off her feet into technical combinations.  My motto this past weekend was to attack.... and well, I attacked and twice I over attacked!  She came out of the box really going this weekend and I had an absolute blast! 

We had one of best dressage tests this weekend!  I also earned a huge compliment from Megan Moore saying it was the best she's seen me ride! Wayne would have been so proud!  We had two stops on XC, for the same reason, and both at "A" elements.  Her attitude was not, "I am not doing it."  It was more like, "I cannot do it from that canter." Once I circled and organized, she answered the questions perfectly.  What I am thrilled with is how well she held her line everywhere!  I watched some more experienced riders take the option at the "D" element of the water and even though I thought about taking the option once we stopped at "A", when I landed in the water, look for my line up the angled bank to the skinny, it was right there!  She sailed through angle tables and negotiated the terrain at the corners. The sunken road was an A,B,C,D and the horses were asked to jump in over a solid roll top then down the bank and up the bank at an angle with a skinny angled bounce out at "D" inviting the horses to run out right.  Once I got my canter correct, Frankie sailed through straight as an arrow. 

Show Jumping is getting better.  At least when I make a mistake, I seem to make one.... even if I make the same one more than once!  I am getting better at knowing where I am in the shorter distances but when the distances are seven strides or longer, I have a tendency to disrupt the canter on the landing before I know if I need to stay the same, wait, or move up.  Two of the three rails we had were this exact mistake.  I jumped in and took a tug then found myself wanting to move up three strides out.  The other rail was a gentle roll out of the cups.  I left all my rails up out of combinations and that is huge for us.  Now, to just keep working on putting the numbers together.

I had an amazing weekend, with an amazing group of people from Lexington!  Tom was SUPER and very helpful all weekend!!  Having him there to support me is important so even though he probably does not LOVE it, he is a great sport about it all!  Jen O'Neil and Megan got Frankie safely to GA and all set up in her stall.  When I arrived the next morning, she was re wrapped, my packet picked up, and my stuff nicely placed in front of my stall.  What an SUPER group of friends.  Megan and Andrea were a huge help and both so incredibly positive as always.  As were Elissa, Lindsey, and Drew.  (So many KY people were there- it was almost like KHP South.)  Jen and I went around and around the advanced course, once even with the help of Micheal Pollard.  I know how disappointed she is in how the weekend turned out.  My other friends, Hannah Williams and Heather Johnston didn't have the best of weekends either but you've of never know it from their attitudes! I LOVE traveling with this group.  It seems we really understand each other and have formed our own little team.    I have surrounded myself with people that care about others and are excellent horsewomen.  May your next journey be as much fun as the destination!

Frankie Tee Shirts and What's Next!!!

Team Frankie tee shirts have been designed and will be available to order next week I hope! Shirts will be $20 and available in blue or white. I am having one made so I hope to have it posted online soon! These shirts will help fund a trip for Frankie and me go to Jan's this summer to prepare for the CIC 3* at Richland Aug 23-26. After that we plan to head to Plantation in Sept, before hopfully being quilified and goint to run the CCI 3* at Fair Hill in October! It is going to be an exciting summer and fall! Please buy a tee shirt and show your support! :)

Summer is almost here! There are only six school days left and for one of those, I will be at Chatt Hills. Frankie will leave Thursday morning with Megan, Jenn, Hannah, and Heather on Megan's horse bus and head to Atlanta. Tom and I will head down right after school on Thursday. Between my school team and my horse team, I am able to go to Chatt Hills for another Advanced run. I wish I would have been able to go to Jersey Fresh to run the CIC 3* this week but we had state testing and being present for testing is really the only thing that is nonnegotiable in my job so I consider myself lucky.

My principal, Kyle Sexton, has been very generous to me this year. It is hard to explain qualifications, "move up" shows, flow of competitions, and ALL the rules that go along with this sport to people that are not actively involved in the sport because let's face it- It sounds crazy most of the time! I also have no good answer for him when he asks me why, with the horse park right here, are all my shows are so far away and require two days off! Having his support is imperative and he has really worked with me this year and I cannot thank him enough! The support I continue to receive from my friends and coaches is just as important and always present.

I have had some great show jumping lessons from Craig in the last two weeks. As I was warming up yesterday for my lesson, watching Craig put the jumps in the 4'3" cups, I thought about how far we've come in a year, and how a year ago I would have NEVER jumped those jumps! I was just gearing up for the OP at Maydaze this time last year! It was just a surreal feeling as I even noted to myself how different her canter is and how different she feels in the bridle. If you find yourself in a rut right now, hang in there!! Peaks and valleys- remember! That is why we love this sport- we never truly "master" it. Horses will always humble us and even the best of the best have bad days!

I remember when I heard Mary King speak this winter and she talked about William Fox-Pitt having something like 7-8 rails in the show jump somewhere.... I thought to myself...."Well, no one WANTS to pull rails and we all try not to but if WFP can have that many.... I surly can have the many." (and I have).  By filling my head with productive thoughts of what I need to do to jump well, I don't have time to think about things that are not helpful and often distracting. Trust me, the canter can still get too quick, flat, and off the pace out of the turn, and my reins still get too long, and I let her neck get a little long at times but I am to a point where I can recognize, adjust, and move on. This is huge for me.

I hope your summer is filled with big dreams and that you don't let anything get you down! I will keep you posted from Chatt Hills!  Look for the tee shirt design to be posted next week!!

Peaks and Valleys

Well, another Rolex has come and gone. Now the Olympics seem very close. Jersey and Bromont are the only 3* competitions left before the games!  I LOVE the summer Olympics!!!

I was able to get in two more lessons with Jan and having her here right after the 3* was perfect timing. If Jan told me once this weekend, she told me 10 times to "let Fair Hill go." She's so right... No harm was done and now I know what feeling I cannot have in terms of gallop and contact when I am in xc warm up and leaving the box. Still... Ugh.  It seems in eventing you're either on a peak, waiting for a valley, or in a valley climbing to the peak.

Jan was able to watch us go all spring and knew exactly what she wanted to work on when our lessons began this week. Since I already blogged about day one, I'll start with the dressage lesson we had on day two. We started out leg yielding down the rail and in that exercise we worked on having the correct angle and focused on my position. Once we did this a few times around the area, incorporating straight steps now and then, I already felt a difference in her trot. By tweaking my position and Frankie leg yielding down the rail correctly, she was really working through her back! It felt very correct.

 From there we went to canter. Actually, we went to counter canter and lots of it! Jan seriously addressed Frankie's swinging haunches in the transition as well as my position through the transition. We did about 50 trot counter canter transition along the rail. I think I cantered on the true lead once each direction and we used it to 1/2 circle back into the counter canter. By the end of all of this work, Frankie was truly up in the bridle, carrying herself, and not tense at all. Needless to say, she felt great. From that work, the 1/2 pass felt rhythmic and flowing.

Yesterday we jumped again starting with the same exercises that we did on Thursday. I am happy that I only had to do it about 15 times instead of the million it felt like I had to do it on Thursday! We continued to work on Frankie carrying the bit so I could have a supporting feel, not a dragging me, running through the bridle feel- also not to be confused with no feel where she has slipped behind me.

By the end of the lesson, Jan had us jump a 4'- 4'3" course where we actually ADDED between an oxer and a vertical that walked 5 strides.  Jan had us do the six and I cannot believe how slow, balanced, and confident she felt.  She gave me such a collected and powerful jump and by adding the stride to get the six, early, the last three strides to the vertical were the same, she was not pulling, and she did not jump past her distance like we so often do!

It was really unbelievable that Frankie jumped so well out of that canter!  Jan and I discussed that in some cases in SJ, I may want to add on a 5,6,7 stride line so that when I jump in and she sees it, she does not run down to it and jump past her distance.  The key is deciding BEFORE I land that I want to add!  It cannot happen 1/2 way there because then I am just pulling to the next jump.  I told Jan that had we not worked so hard on our canter and had the exercises to build us up to a big course, there was NO WAY I would have believed that canter was possible to those jumps!  Jan laughed and said, "Yeah, I know.  I watched you SJ."  HAHA!  I think this is funny because at Pine Top I wanted to go around a jump to have more time to "fix" my canter and she said to me, "Sometimes I think you think you are fixing your canter but in really you are just going faster."  It's pretty amazing what she sees and remembers!

Luckily I will get to see Jan again this summer when Frankie and I go to Surefire for a week and then again when she's here for Young Riders.  We were able to discuss what my schedule with Frankie should be and I am looking forward to a great run at Chatt Hills next month!

Not just Rolex weekend!

Of course everyone is excited that Rolex weekend is finally here.....  However, this weekend is double exciting for me since Jan Byyny is in town coaching at Rolex, we are able to get together for lessons.  Jan originally had two horses headed for Kentucky's 4* this year but sadly, both had to be withdrawn.  The good news, both horses will return to competition this late summer/ early fall.  She has a wonderfully written blog series on the Rolex web site if you want to read more.

Lesson Day 1:  Thursday April 26th: 
Thursday was a jump day for us.  Jenn O'Neill and her upper level horse, Lewis, joined us for a lesson.  Jan asked me if I had anything specific I wanted to work on.... then paused and said that she had something in mind.  She wanted me to work on putting the numbers together.  I said, "Sure!  That sounds great!"  And in my mind, that sounded easy enough. 

Well, I did not know that these two little white boxes Maggie owns could be so evil!  LOL.  Jan had Jen and I canter the boxes on 5 strides, 4 strides, and 6 strides.  Jan mixed the numbers up and I quickly learned that adjusting the canter was essential and I learned that my canter was not very adjustable!  Needless to say, those of you who know Frankie can imagine that the 5 and the 4 were way easier than adding for the 6!  And doing the 6 strides did not mean pulling all the way down to the 2nd box with her running through my hand like a fire breathing dragon!  I am sure you are getting a visual! The exercise was to teach us react, almost before you landed in some cases, especially on the 6!  One time I actually got 7.  Well, getting 7 strides was not the exercise but what I learned was that I was unaware of the canter I needed to get the 6 strides until it was too late.

Next, we incorporated this to a 3'+ vertical to a 3'+ oxer line set on 7 strides.  We had to do the 7, 8, and 6 strides, both vertical to oxer then oxer to vertical.  I was happy that Frankie was getting better and the canter had really improved.  Lewis was really adjustable and they made this exercise look really easy. 

From there we did the same thing but jumped a 4' vertical on the diagonal line and from that jump we had to adjust the canter to get the 5 or the 6 strides to a 4' vertical out of the turn down to a 4' oxer.  This was tricky for me because it was out of a turn and when I "add" it is from pulling at the base of the fence from not seeing a distance and usually it's not on purpose!   It is at this moment that I panic and take my leg off.  The outcome is usually not ideal.  Luckily, all the work we did prior set us up for success.  I was able to adjust the canter before my turn to the first vertical and stay in that canter when we landed so the last two strides to the oxer, I was not pulling but supporting.  It felt great.  Had we started trying to do this with the jumps at this height, I would not have been successful and can only imagine how disastrous it would have been. 

Jan said she knew by watching me go at the two Pine Top's, Southern Pines, and Fair Hill that this was an issue that had to be addressed and as it turns out was my undoing at Fair Hill.  The "soft" jump into the corner combination, my lack of response, combined with me not believing in the adding stride then supporting with my leg, caused the first miss at the corner.  The second miss was my line.  I made the same mistake at the sunken road where I picked up my 3rd stop.  I came to the "A" element of the sunken road with a powerless canter.  I have a better feel today of a slow, balanced canter that has power- and that I can believe in, and I realize that was NOT the canter I had at Fair Hill. 

Friday we will have a flat lesson and I am sure it will be just as eye opening and something tells me there will be a lot of working on the canter!

Day 2 Fair Hill CIC 3*

   

Expensive lessons are sometimes the ones we get the most out of!  I earned myself three stops on the CIC 3* course today.  As I sit here at Fair Hill, with Frankie happily resting in her stall, I think about how strange it is that I am not upset.  I, of course, feel really disappointed in myself because I am capable of riding better than I did today but I am not upset or feel that I've lost any of the training we've added the last year.  Hell, a year ago I was entering the OP at Maydaze wondering if I'd ever even run the OI again!  Now look at us, we are running the Advanced level and qualified for the 3*!  I've had a GREAT spring and that cannot be taken away from me.  

I think today can be taken in stride for several reasons.  One reason is I have seen and heard of a lot heartbreak this year.  Early this year, my friend lost her horse, currently Jan won't be riding at Rolex this year due to injuries with her horses that are just enough to keep her from competing, and all the stories I've read and heard about riders trying to make the Olympic team.  Everyone in this sport works hard and sacrifices, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has days where it just does not go their way.  I am just feeling lucky that I will have the opportunity to work on what I need to so that I can give Frankie the ride and support she needs.  To sum all that up, I have been careful this spring to not let the highs get too high, so the lows (that we all know are inevitable), don't get too low.  

Jan warmed me up for XC and even though the ground was ROCK hard, I felt like she was really relaxed.... maybe a little too relaxed after the 35 min hack to XC warm- up.  Fences 1, 2, 3 were very simple and perhaps a tiny bit smaller than what Pine Top and Southern Pines threw at us so I never really got her into a good gallop before the first big question at 4A, B, a chevron then bending right in 4 strides to a left handed corner (with the ground really falling left- pulling you left.)  I galloped down the hill to 4A, stretched up and she came right back, a little too easily for her and she was no longer in my hand.  The soft jump I had at A, needed to be my clue that I needed to land and do something.  Oh... wait, I did do something- I pulled.  That is never the right answer and I know that.  Frankie thought about it and luckily knew the power was not there to jump the corner and ran out left taking out the flag with her face.  Now I really had a problem.  I was not real sure HOW to get back to the corner nor did I know if I could get her to jump the corner with the flag now gone.  I came around again hunting for a line.... nope; it was not there- circle #2.  I figured I'd try one more time and to my surprise, she jumped the crap out of it!  

From there we had a hammock then a table that allowed a little more of a gallop and she jumped them well.  Next we had to somewhat pull them off their gallop to make an "S" type turn to the first sunken road.  For fear of over riding her and using up all my power at the beginning of the sunken road, I did not do anything with my canter out of the "S" turn which left us powerless and flat.  Combine that with no leg and we all know the result.  It was not a jarring, sliding stop.  It was almost a walk/ stop.  

Jan and Wayne were both on course and were able to see the mistakes at both fences.  Jan was so positive as I walked over to her and says it happens to everyone and that it will happen again down the road.  She reminded me that I will have days where my inexperience shows and days that I don't ride as well as I can.  "The only way to get experience is to get out here and get it. Today showed your inexperience but this is an Advanced mare.  You will get it."  Jan said. We also talked about me never having her in my hand and how my reaction has to be to kick- never pull.    

I have spoken with Wayne too and he felt the same way- that I just never got her going and that she looked way too "quiet."  I have to admit, I was a little shocked at her quietness as well.

I always try to find the positive in every situation and in this situation there are actually several.  I learned several lessons today, the ground was REALLY hard so maybe it was a blessing in disguise, Frankie is smart and I am glad she knew I did not have her in the canter to get it done, nothing happened today that took away our confidence, and best of all, Frankie and I have the opportunity to get it right the next time.

Luckily Jan and I can have a mini- camp next week while she is in town.  I am prepared for a good butt whipping!  LOL. I deserve it after today and am actually looking forward to it!  

Hope everyone makes it to Rolex and that all the horses and riders have wonderful rides next weekend! 

Fair Hill CIC 3* Day 1

Well, day one is coming to an end.  I am having a great time and enjoying every second!  It is still hard to believe that we are here doing the CIC 3*!  I have not said those words (CIC 3*) a lot so when doing in-barns, having them check my arm band, and other reasons to identify what division I am in, I find the words, CIC 3* sounding so foreign as they come out of my mouth.
We did our in-barns yesterday and they went well.  Frankie actually stood while they looked over her.  This is way better than in the fall at the 2* at Chatt Hills when she was trying to take everyone out!
Finding the dressage, discovering "THE Tunnel," and hacking through the forest have been adventures in themselves!  When ever Lindsay or I ask someone where something is we get, "You know where they have stabling for the Fall 3-Day."  Or, "Oh, you run XC in the field where they run the Fall Fair Hill."  Apparently, having not ever been to Fair Hill is incomprehensible by some! LOL.  Well, we are here now and I am getting my bearings.  I actually made it over to dressage today in 28 minutes and did not take one wrong turn!
I was able to walk around the course with Jan at 8:15 this morning.  As always, it was very informative.  We spent the longest time at the waters that Jan warned will ride very BIG on the out fences, the coffin, and the sunken roads... Yes, two of them.  The first sunken road comes up early, has a one stride in, 21 feet across the bottom, and a significant bounce out.  I have very specific instructions here and Frankie bounced out of the water really well at Southern Pines so I hope to have the same feel here.  Jan is very specific about where to be out of the saddle and where to have your "butt down" to the fences.  I have also learned to walk distances but not to depend on the number and to be ready to ride what I get.  Often, especially with terrain questions, such as the second sunken road- which is an actual ROAD, if they shuffle down the hill it will come up different than if they leap down the hill.  This will be the same case at the second water.  It walks a 5, but that my not be what you end up with.  This course is going to give me PLENTY of opportunities to work on closing the left side by putting my left leg ON, left hand down, opening my right rein, and NOT dropping my shoulder right to try and direct her where to go.   The shoulder is not a good means of steering! The course looks fun and rideable.... and ride is what I will need to do.
Our dressage test was a huge improvement from the test we did in the Fall.  She is more rideable.  Wayne was able to see my test and his biggest comment was that I need to RIDE her in the ring.  I think I back off her for fear of that blow up she is  was capable of.  She was behaved today, got both changes and good scores on some movements.  Early in the test my curb chain came undone on one side and was swinging rhythmically, hitting her in the side of her face.  Luckily, after the third whack, if went flying through the air, free of the other clip.  She was really good through all of this.  I am finding pliers and closing those clips as soon as I get home!  We got a qualifying score of 67.5 and the good news is there is so much room for improvement! She is only getting better and better!
I wanted to send an update from here but now, I am headed to bed and going to try to sleep (hope my typos are minimal tonight!) - I am really excited about tomorrow!  We have a busy day and again, I am going to enjoy every second.  :)