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...