Championships!!

After Millbrook we spent a lot of time training and trying to get focused for the rest of the season.  It was tough after Bromont...nothing seemed that excited because there was so much anticipation leading up to it.  We had some really great lessons with David learning how important the half halt is.  He taught us that to properly half halt you contract your back muscles like you are trying to tip a chair forward and then squeeze with your upper thighs.  I got Legacy and Hobbs both responding to that and now Legacy actually walks instead of jigs!!  We had a great XC school with Danny working more on our gallop.  I need to set my hands to get him rounder and stretch and strengthen my chest before the jump.  That's all I need to rebalance him so he jumps better and lifts his shoulders.  I also spent some time with Martha Redman who taught me that I need to sit back into the saddle and ride quicker after the fences instead of going to my hand.  That helps the fussiness during stadium.

We went to MD HT in September and showed some improvement.  We had planned to get their early and do the double warmup, but the ring steward failed to mention they were 35 minutes behind, so  my 10 minute warmup ended up being 45 minutes.  He was calm and stood by the ring, but then during the test he got tense and we ended up not scoring very well.  I was pretty disappointed because we had done so well at Millbrook and I thought we had cracked the code.  Stadium was better and flowed more, so there was some improvement.  The warmup ring wasn't run very well and I ended up being rushed...no excuses!!  The XC course was straightforward, I overcorrected the gallop and the first 4 or 5 fences were just backward and I got really tight spots.  I got it together and the rest of the course had a really nice rhythm.

Then we were on to the Prelim Championships at Morven.  I had some bad rides leading up to the show and  Hobbs took a funny step and I thought he tweaked something and wouldn't be able to go, so I had a bad vibe about the weekend.  Seth being Mr. Positive ignored me and on we went.  We tried the double warmup  method again for dressage.  Warmup #1 was not so good...he was tense and fussy, so I had low expectations for dressage, but I had convinced myself I was there to have a perfect XC run so I could feel comfortable moving up.  Well warmup #2 was better and the test went much better than expected...a 33.0, putting us in 9th place out of 22 (way more competitive than last year's championships!).  The XC course was pretty tough...I thought #2 of the year behind Bromont.  He warmed up great...I couldn't turn to the right w/o him freaking out but he was jumping amazing ;).  For the first time I got him in the start box by myself....it was huge!!  It cost me a few seconds because I had to trot in and I didn't time it right, but I'll take it.  The course rode great and so smooth...I was really, really happy.  The weather wasn't great, but the rain somewhat held off so it wasn't sloppy at all.  All of the combos rode exactly how I walked it.  The only bobble was I let him trot off the huge drop and then I got a really long spot on the chevron out.  I need to be more confident riding forward into the combinations and not get sucked into riding backwards because of him getting strung out.  If I have him in the proper balance the striding will be there.  I got 5.2 time faults, 13 seconds over...but I know where I missed it.  I had a large turn from #3 to #4 and I just let him wander instead of riding him forward through the turn. I easily could've made the time and just slightly lost focus.  
Stadium was a little tough on the grass...the footing was a bit deep.  Again, he warmed up great.  Fence #1 and #2 were a little backward, but then I woke up and the rest of the course rode really well.  We got a little disconnected in the first triple combo...I lost my reins and had to just use my body to hold him together.  He got pretty flat but tried his heart out and got through it clean.  With the clean round, we moved up to 6th and finished as the top placing amateur!!  It was a great weekend and again I was so lucky to have the support of Seth, Mom, Dave and John...I'm a lucky gal ;)  

Moving on..

Well Hobby had some well-deserved time off after Bromont.  The plan was to try nd go to a recognized dressage show in Jersery on July 4th weekend, but the forecast was 108 at my ride time and I decided to scratch...Hobby would definitely hate dressage forever if I put him through that!  So I decided to take it easy until Millbrook. 

Unfortunately when we got back from Bromont, Legacy's leg was blown up again but no fever.  We put him on some bute and Seth showed him at the MCTA Starter Trial and had his best dressage ever, scoring at 29!!!  Still had some issues on XC, but it was a huge improvement!  After that a few abcesses popped out of his leg and he took him to New Bolton for a biopsy.  Of course, no results....then we had another relapse.  He seemed to trip in the pasture and hit his leg and the next morning he had a fever and was three legged lame...I just about lost it.  Although Dr. Blauner was not positive about it, it seems

that Legacy's leg is quite resilent, within a few days it was somewhat back to normal and he was back in work.  It's really frustrating and we tried to buy a compression stocking but it didn't work. We are trying some natural supplements to boost his immune system to see if we can't keep this under control.  Seth showed him again at Bucks in mid-August and he shut down again on XC.  Seth rode wonderfully and got him through it, but he banged his leg pretty good on the last jump.  I walked away and just thought, this horse doesn't want to do this.  Seth and I had a long talk and decided it was time to hang up Legacy's eventing career. 

In the meantime, Hobby and I went to Millbrook and had some ups and downs.  We warmed up early on our dressage day and then he had a 2 hour break and then I got on 15 minutes before my ride time.  I also put him on a Calm & Focus supplement and dabbed some lavender oil on him before my ride, who knows what worked, but we had an awesome dressage test and were sitting in 2nd on a 30.4!!  The XC course looked small but technical, so I was a little worried.  I didn't ride until late in the day, so I had all day to think.  We started on course and he felt great...was raring to go.  I was really happy that the coffin rode much better than Bromont.  Then we got to the table/corner 4 stride combo and I just missed...he was too flat and forward and we just glanced right off the corner.  We got through the rest of the course and didn't have much time which was an indication of our problem.  We're going too fast...and it's not b/c I want to go that fast, but b/c I don't check him back b/c he's so excited.  Stadium was kind of a mess, my head just wasn't there...I overcorrected on some lines and it was just a choppy round.  I got through it with one rail and some time faults.  I walked away feeling really confused...I was so happy about the dressage, but I felt like I couldn't follow through...I had some work to do....

So we came home and I did some work with Danny on how to change his balance on XC and make sure I was in the correct position.  I need to set my hands and slow down abit and not worry about time until I get the right feel.  Then I started to doubt...every jump workout I overanalyze and overcriticize myself.  As soon as something goes wrong I automatically think I'm terrible.  I started to feel like I should just give up...Seth was stunned.  Then I had an amazing lesson with David...he was so positive and told me to go for my dreams.  I had decided that I was going to try Legacy in dressage and keep going with Hobbs.  Which, yes, means we are looking for a new horse for Seth.  David just clarified everything for me...I need to realize that when I'm working on tiny little details and refining, I'm progressing.  Sometimes it feels like it's taking steps backwards, but that's what it's like to ride at the upper levels.  I need to not get so down on myself b/c I'm not working on flying changes.  I need to refine everything so that when it's time to do a flying change it's easy!   I'm going to spend the next few weeks working on basics...developing the topline and developing a half halt.  I need to stop riding with my hands and use my back and seat to talk to my horses.  I need to make that a focus and get that right.  I need to ride perfect and expect perfection.  It's tough during a work week to have those type of workouts, but I need to try.  I'm re-motivated and want to get to the top!!!

BROMONT!!!

Leading up to Bromont there were some doubtful moments as to whether I should go or not, Danny had some issues with injuries so he was debating the trip, I had been struggling a bit with his tenseness in dressage and didn't want to make a fool of myself and, as all of our horsepeople know, the dollar requirements were quite high. Seth and I decided that this was our vacation for the year and you never know what could happen in the future with qualifying, so I wasn't going to miss this for any of the reasons listed above. At one point, we just threw it all out the door and said, "Bromont HERE WE COME!"  It has been my dream to compete in the Olympics and this was an amazing opportunity to be able to ride at the Olympic facility from 1976.



We got to the facility on Monday afternoon...it took about 9 hours to get there.  As you approach the facility you can see the massive XC jumps and there is a Bromont sign with the Olympic rings up on the side of the mountain...I have to admit I got goosebumps and was teary eyed each time :).  We spent the next few days getting acclimated to the place and I got to watch some pretty amazing workouts.  It was a very focus

ed environment with it being an Olympic year.  This was the Canadian team's last mandatory outing and many of the U.S. pairs still fighting for spots were there.  Twice a day Linda Zang, David O'Connor, Silva Martin and many others would be working with the Olympic hopefuls right next to the stabling area!  Most of the events I go to, professionals are always around, but amateurs are the majority, so it definitely had a different feel.  I was just in awe... everywhere I went I saw all of these "famous" horse and rider combos...I guess I was a bit starstruck.

 

Onto the acutal competition...first of all, there were 58 entries in the CCI1*.    I had had a bad workout on Tuesday, but on Wednesday he seemed to settle in, so I thought our arriving early was the ticket....I was wrong dressage on Thursday was a MESS.  The atmosphere got the best of Hobbs' nerves and he was incredibly tense.  Let's just say I was just happy to finish and not get eliminated for jumping out of the ring.  It was tough to swallow the disappointment...I did get to watch a lot of other rides on Thursday and Friday and saw a lot of other horses melting down, which made me feel better.  One actually came in the ring and just froze...wouldn't move at all, so it DEFINITELY could have been worse. 

Saturday it was on to XC....the course was HUGE!!!  Optimum time was 7 minutes and it was hilly, so time and fitness were going to be a factor.  The first water complex was a maximum brush, one stride to a log/drop into the water and then a slight left bend out over a skinny...I was worried about this one.  I think the easiest jump on the course might have been a corner...there weren't many gimmies.  Well Hobbs was a champion, he galloped around the course like it was Beginner Novice.  Once he got out there, as always, he was super focused.  We finished up double clear and he was still raring to go in the vet box!

We ran late in the day on Saturday and then were the first to jump on Sunday, so I was hoping I had done my homework with conditioning and he would be able to rebound.  He felt great in warmup and despite a delay and being in the big stadium again, he jumped

 really well and we ended up with 1 time fault and 1 rail.  It was amazing to hear the sound of applause as I crossed the finish line.  We ended up 31st out of 58, but were 7th of amateurs which I'm really proud of.  The atmosphere was so electric and it was such an amazing week.  I feel honored to have had the opportunity to compete at that level and will keep moving forward.  Who knows, maybe it's the Bromont CCI2* next year!!! 

Below are some more pics of the trip!

Beautiful XC Course!

Love the volvos in the background...

2nd water complex with the ducks!

Huge and airy...oh and then a 90° left turn to offset houses!!!

I forced as many pictures as I could with the Bromont sign

Gotta love the corner shaped like a hot tub behind us :)




Having fun in the town with Mom & Dave...

 









Star at the 1*

Well I have lots and lots of updates.  Last season went really well with Hobbs and we finished out the season with the Preliminary Championships at the Virginia Horse Trials.  It was such an amazing facility and brought back a lot of memories from Pony Club Nationals and doing my musical kur in the Coliseum on Pizzaz!  It was a crazy weekend in October 2011 when we got a snow storm up the East coast!!!  The weather caused the schedule to get changed around and I had to run XC on Friday afternoon unexpectedly.  The terrain caused some time faults for us and I learned he wasn't in the best shape for hills...but of course we were clean jumping because he's amazing.  I did the jumping derby on Friday night and ended up getting second to Holly Payne thanks to some creative lines my trainer, Seth, and I came up with ;).  We had Saturday off because of snow and then show jumped in the Coliseum on Sunday...it was a terrible round.  We had 5 rails and it was ugly.  I think the arena backed him off a bit and I didn't adjust plus he was still tired from XC.  We ended up in 6th and it was a good experience but not the best.


The Coliseum

Over the winter I really wanted to focus on dressage and show jumping (obviously after VA HT).  I never thought I'd say this, but XC is our strongest phase.  I really focused on my jumping position and did a lot of jumping with one hand in the air to try and get my upper body back.  I am also still working on getting the landing to be softer with the big jump of Hobbs.  It helps me to think about trying to sit in the saddle sooner on the way down.  Those adjustments have helped Hobbs to jump a little smoother and me to stay out of his way.  I also focused on getting him rounder and using his hind end more when cantering/galloping.  That has also helped him jump better and smoother.  I need to make sure that I have enough power in his stride without chasing him and getting him flat.  On the flat, Seth and I started working with David Smith.  He's a tough trainer and doesn't let you get away with mediocre work...he definitely calls your bluff and makes sure you are getting the most out of each workout.  The first thing he worked on with both Hobbs and Legacy was working a lot of long and low to develop the topline muscle and atrophy the muscles on the underside of the neck.  He has really focused on getting Hobbs into the outside rein so that I have more control, especially when he decides to have a meltdown.  He has also focused on getting his hind end engaged through many, many transitions.  My typical workout now must include at least 5 minutes when I get on of long and low to get his topline stretched out.  I then move him forward and make sure I can't hear his inside hind leg ticking the ground.  After he's forward and in front of my leg, I pick him up into frame and begin my work.  I have also done a lot of cavaletti work to get his joints flexed and moving.  The most progress I've felt is in our medium trot.  David had me do tons of walk/halt, trot/walk, canter/trot transitions in a row prior to asking for a medium.  This really gets Hobbs sitting on his hind end and he's become much stronger and able to hold his mediums longer.  We're still working, but they have come a long way.

The first event at Morven was solid.  Hobbs was great in dressage warmup and in the ring, but I got claustrophobic in the small arena and didn't ride an accurate test.  It was ashame because I had the horse and I could've pushed him a bit to try and get better scores, but I wasn't focused enough.  We had a rail in stadium...it was a better round, but still not where I wanted to be.  XC was great again!  I was really happy because it was on the longer side and we came in 15 seconds under the optimum time and I really didn't have to push him, so I felt like I did a better job conditioning him.  So the plan was to shoot for Bromont CCI 1* in June.  Since Morven went so well and I felt comfortable, I decided to go for the Fairhill CIC 1* in April.  It was a bit nervewracking because it felt quick, but I knew the XC was there and I figured the rest would come.  So we went through the process of getting Hobbs' FEI passport renewed which was a nightmare.  I never got the passport when I bought him so I tracked down Gayle Davis on Facebook and got the passport and then had to redo all of his vaccines and put through all of the paperwork to change the owner.  I got everything done in time and we were off to FHI. 

The first blip was the in-barns on Thursday evening.  I never knew anything about them and hadn't planned on stabling on Thursday since I didn't ride dressage until 9:30 on Friday morning.  Well apparently there was some sort of glitch on the website where it said in-barns were Thursday from 1pm-4pm but Keli or I never saw it.  So we got there early on Friday morning and took some crap from the vet about missing in-barns on Thursday, but we got checked in and all was good.  Oddly we had to trailer to dressage on Gallaher Road.  I had a fantastic warmup, but when we got up to the upper ring he started to get anxious and proceeded to meltdown right before I went in the ring.  He was extremely fussy and really had a fit when I asked for the right lead canter, but we got through it and ended up with a 62.8...good enough for 12th place.  I was really disappointed because we are further along than that, but I had to move on and make sure I went clean the rest of the weekend.  The XC course was tough...there were a few tough banks and the water was tough with a turn and an upbank, one stride to the skinny bear.  He was incredible though.  I picked into 5A/B which was a corner combo, but he added a stride and saved me.  That combo woke me up and we tore up the rest of the course.  It was the smoothest ride I've had...it felt like every jump was just in stride and so easy.  I was so happy and proud that I didn't care about my 62.8...plus we moved up to 9th with a double clear.  The weather then turned for Sunday's jog and SJ.  It went from 75° and sunny on Saturday to 45° and rainy on Sunday.  The jog was uneventful, but kind of nervewracking just thinking about something being wrong, plus with the ugly weather I couldn't wear the outfit I wanted!!  I was nervous about stadium just based on the last few rounds and some of the issues I was working through.  Now with rain and deep footing I knew it was going to be tough.  I was still on a high from Saturday's XC and it was nice to have Danny there to warm me up.  After a few jumps, in I went to the ring and we flew around clean...only 1 of 2 clean rounds in my division.  I had one small mistake in a 5 stride combo where I didn't adjust to his big jump in and tried to leave out a stride...again Hobby saved me and jumped out of it with me up his neck.  Our double clear stadium round catapulted us into 4th place!!!  As we were coming out of the ring, Hobb's first owner, Charlotte came up and introduced herself.  It was so nice to meet her and really cool that she came out to see our boy and support us.  The whole weekend was somewhat surreal and I'm still letting it sink in.  As always, I had amazing support from my hubby Seth, my Mom and Dave and my brother John.  Tracy and Matt also came down for XC day.  I can say I doubted my competitiveness in FEI competitions after Friday and felt defeated at yet another nervous dressage test, but we proved why eventing isn't all about dressage...it truly takes an all-around athlete to complete all three phases.