11/13/2018
2018: My first season of Horse Trials / Eventing
My last post was 8 months ago when I shared pictures from my trip to Ocala, FL and lessons with Clayton Fredericks. Little did I know then how much fun my summer would be competing the horses and setting new goals, facing new challenges and learning new training techniques.
My first event was at Wind Ridge Farm in NC. I took Aero and rode in the Novice division. That went so well I moved him right up to Training after that show and my secret year end goal was to get the two of us qualified for the American Eventing Championships (AEC) in 2019 in the Training Division.
My short term goal was to learn how to manage two horses at a Horse Trial and not get eliminated. So off I went the following month (June) to River Glen with Aero and Ollie. Aero was loving the Training division while Ollie seemed to enjoy the galloping on the XC in the Novice division and the solid fences, but he was entirely uncertain about the ditch and trakehner jumps. I made a ton of mistakes at this show and the learning curve was HUGE. Everything from showing up an hour early for my dressage test to not being able to find anything in my trunks. BUT.... Goal met, both horses finished!
Next we headed to Kentucky where we've mostly mastered getting to the rings on time, braiding, and knowing the correct tests and how to find our dressage ring, bit check, spur check, having our numbers on our halters for hand walking etc etc etc. Again both horses were really good. Sadly though I got Aero and myself eliminated by completely bypassing fence #13 on Cross Country. We did get to finish the course but I was called back and the Technical Delegate explained to me that I missed that fence and was eliminated. Aero didn't know, he did a great job; and for him, he WAS the winner that day!
August was committed to improving our dressage scores and hauling Ollie out every week for Cross Country schooling at River Glen. Then we headed back to KY for another show. This time Aero was in first place after dressage with a score of 23 in the Training division and a clean round in show jumping. We finished 2nd out of 19 in a very competitive division (we had a couple time faults on Cross Country). This 2nd place finish qualified us for the AECs! Ollie finished in the middle of the pack with his first clear XC round and some time faults. Goals met!
Then the following week Ollie went to Wind Ridge Farm in NC and moved up to Training and performed like a champ! I have to say the Cross Country course at Wind Ridge is my favorite so far. It's so peaceful there and the course is so varied from the woods to the meadows and the hills. I was hesitant to move him up to Training but after I did I was very happy about the decision.
Fast forward one month and we're back at River Glen with Ollie in the Preliminary / Training division and Aero in Training. The weather was awful and very cold and I couldn't seem to get warm no matter how many clothes I layered on. The horses were very good especially considering our ride times were early in the morning for dressage when it was 33 degrees outside. Neither horse was as relaxed as they could have been but it WAS 33 degrees out! I wasn't as relaxed either because I was freezing! Have I mentioned I hate the cold weather? With Aero's clear round in Cross Country at this show we have met all the requirements to be part of the 2019 AECs and I couldn't be happier with how my first season doing Eventing has unfolded. I loved the challenges and am officially addicted and I can't wait to try again next season!
If you're wondering if I have plans to go back to the USHJA shows, I probably will. I am thinking of riding Ollie in some Hunter Derbies and Performance Hunter classes. Then perhaps we'll venture back into the Jumper ring again at some future time. I can probably with say confidence that Aero will be exclusive to Eventing now, he was not happy in his work in 2017 and the difference in him from last year to this year is astounding.
If you're an adult rider in the south east who would like to form a group of adult riders to stable with / support each other at the shows, please let me know. I'd love to have some show buddies next season.
Below are a few of my favorite pictures from this summer.