Since my last blog both horses have competed at both Woodside Horse Park and Galway Downs Horse Park. Two of my favorite shows! At Woodside Rockefeller, owned by The Garrets, competed in the CIC 2 star adding only a rail to his dressage score to finish the weekend in 7th place in a very competitive division. I was so proud of his effort all weekend long. And although having a rail was a bit of a bummer its a improvement that I am proud of and the fact that I can take full responsibility makes me feel better about it as well. Condi and Tito both finished the weekend strong with a third place ribbon for Tito.
All three horses went on to compete at Galway Downs and it was an insanely busy weekend. Every horse did a different phase everyday with a random jog thrown in there. I really could not have done it without the help of Kassi McMillan!! The weekend started with the YEH Championships competition for Condi and he put in a wonderful effort. It was a huge course and asked a lot out of him and he stepped up to the plate. It was a great prep for the competition itself. He then went on to compete in the long format Training Three Day and finished the weekend in 2nd place out of about 50 horses. He is such a little superstar and I am so excited for his future! Congrats to all of his wonderful owners! Tito stepped up to the plate this weekend completing his first preliminary event and he did it easily! another young one whos future I am excited for! Rockefeller had a great week of lessons with David O Connor leading up to the competition and on dressage day put in a wonderful test. I threw some points away with an error but it is exciting to see how far his dressage has come! Cross country day he felt super as he always does eating up the course but unfortunately I had some trouble at a turning question. He locked on to a one star jump located directly next to the two star jump and it was everything I could do to pull him off of it. I felt bad for him because he really did try but unfortunately it was not a question that was easy to re approach. Our partnership is young and I have no doubts he will be back out kicking butt and taking names in know time. In the mean time though It is back to the drawing board. Like his owner said ” If you can believe success will happen you will achieve. So we need to keep believing it.” I am so lucky to have the support group I have and even more lucky to be able to be sitting on the lovely string of horses I have. I cant wait for the 2014 season!
All my horses are on vacation except for Spot who seems to be rehabbing quite nicely ( knock on wood!) I am looking forward to another Ireland trip in the month of December and looking forward to taking some time to enjoy the holidays with the family before the show season rolls around! Since the year has come to an end its only appropriate that I take the time to thank everyone who has made this past year possible. First and foremost my parents are awesome and incredibly supportive and on top of that my mom is one amazing coach!! My boyfriend who was thrown into this show season in the middle of it and is definitely a certified “horse show boyfriend” now. Its not an easy title to hold!! All my wonderful sponsors who keep my horses happy and healthy. They are on all the best supplements and dressed to impress thanks to SmartPak. Revita-Vet, helping more horses feel happy and healthy. My saddles that fit my horses so incredibly well letting them be able to perform to the best of their ability thanks to Voltaire Designs. APF for helping them (and myself) recover from tough workouts and travel well. And to Multi-radiance ActiVet laser, keeping all their muscles tendons and ligaments happy and contributing to Spots amazing recovery!! I am so lucky to have you all and I look forward to adding more sponsors to my team come 2014! Everyone at the barn, it is such a pleasure training and competing with you all! We have a great group of people!
I will be sure to update my blog during the Ireland trip!!
-Kelly
