The End of the Smitty Journey

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Britt

I have been keeping a secret from you, and I apologize. And that secret is that despite all my best intentions, Smitty and I were not working out.

I moved him to a quieter barn just a couple days after Christmas, hoping that the change would be what we needed to further our partnership. And on the ground, things were better. But I had learned a bit of a distrust in him after he developed a spookiness that I now realize are a symptom of his ulcerated stomach. I involved professional help, teaching me how to best work with him from a groundwork perspective as well as training him under saddle. But about a month ago, I suspected that I might not be truly confident enough to get in the saddle myself. Full training was of course an option, and one that probably would be a great solution, but not one I am financially capable of pursuing at this time.

So I made the decision to send his information to respected professionals both local and up and down the east coast. And not even two weeks later, I had someone interested to buy him. A well respected professional eventer with an outstanding young horse program. We chatted at length, and she was fully empathetic to my situation as an amateur finding myself between a rock and a hard place. A PPE was done, and this morning, just like that, Smitty loaded on a trailer bound for a new home.

My reasons for keeping the situation quiet are manifold, but mostly, because I wanted some privacy while I determined the best scenario for both Smitty and myself, without the pain of answering questions or having to explain myself. Not even my father, or the other boarders at our barn were aware that I decided to sell Smitty, though now of course the news is out and his stall is empty.

I am definitely sad about it, and for sure self-medicated with much vino to dry my tears last night. But I feel confident that Smitty will benefit from the tutelage he will receive, and become the amateur-friendly mount that I know is in there. And for myself, I hope to find the horse that is right for me, to go have fun on and get back in the saddle. Here’s hoping he finds me sooner rather than later.

Let’s Discuss: In the blood or in the water

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Britt

My mind is on journeys this week, and as such, I think it’s just as interesting to celebrate the rider’s journey into equestrian sport as it is the horse that brought them there.

As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I come by the horse-bug pretty naturally. My mother was an equestrian in her own right from her early days in England, and horses were a large part of my childhood right from the beginning.

First ride @ 18 mo.

I was plunked on a horse named Ghost at 18th months old, and the obsession was basically instantaneous.

Lessons started at 4 years old, and showing began not much later- first in lead line classes, then in open show walk-trot type classes, where I remember being the smallest competitor by many years. The face of how riding since then has changed in leaps and bounds- from foxhunting to parades, training young draft horses to learning eventing, and eventually becoming an avid eventer and dressage enthusiast. Though I’ve taken a couple breaks from showing over the course of my lifetime, I don’t think I have ever given up on horses, or riding, at least not without kicking and screaming.

And the obsession looks to continue for a long time to come.

How did you come by horses? Was it a family thing? How were you first introduced to the sport, and how has your participation in equestrianism changed throughout your life?

Two Years

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Britt

A friend sent me this over the weekend. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since Foster and I’s last outing, a clinic where we aimed to get around our first Training level showjumping course.

While it wasn’t without its blips, I’m still pretty effing proud of having at least done this with Fosterpants, despite nearly peeing my pants in the process. (Two one-stride combinations, max height/width fences, and a horse without a motor- I shudder to think of it still!)

This was also the one of the few clinics I did with Foster, and I think I learned more from it than any other clinic I’ve done before- those lessons still stick with me today.

Because this makes me happy, I will reuse it for eternity

Part of me is also a little sad that the only “competition” I’ve done between now and then is the little GaG CT I did with Smitty back in October. Of course when it comes to horses there is no such thing as plans written in ink, but somehow I imagined having done just a bit more over the last 24 months. How on earth have I kept this blog going otherwise?

Still, one day I hope to get back there, jumping all the things, even if I have to convince myself not to be a total weenie in the process.

It’s all about the journey, right?

Let’s Discuss: Half Chaps or Tall Boots?

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Britt

When it comes to leather goods, there are plenty of options when it comes to leg protection. Half chaps and paddock boots, full chaps, cowboy boots, tall boots, and recently, Dubarrys.

When I was a kid I had a pair of full chaps that quite frankly, never felt right to wear for more than 5 minutes. In college, I really preferred the convenience of just pulling on my tall boots, zipping them up and heading out the door.

Super awkward photo complete with dirty horse and clunky tall boots

Then when my tall boots finally died, I decided to replace them with more cost-efficient half chaps. With Foster utilizing my right leg more than anything, I would burn through these guys pretty quickly. My [new] tall boots would be reserved for shows and lessons, anything formal.

Sept. 2013

I know a lot of folks that ride in their Dubarry type boots, and for me I don’t feel secure enough in them to give it a whirl. But who knows, if someone ever ~~gets me drunk enough~~ convinces me to go on a casual trail ride, perhaps I would sport something like them.

Mum in hunt tack and cowboy boots for the win

What type of footwear do you prefer to ride in? What exceptions do you make based on lessons, shows, or other events?

The Rotational Fall at the Eventing Showcase

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Britt

They say that money is the root of all evil. But in equestrian sport, money is essential to funding the endless supply of bills that go hand-in-hand with horses- vet bills, shipping, show fees, and of course the everyday costs of simply owning a horse.

So in theory, something like the Wellington Eventing Showcase provides a rare opportunity to put our sport in front of an audience that is well known to shell out dollars for equestrianism. It’s been discussed many a time how we need to be able to educate future fans, inspire potential patrons, and draw new upper-level owners to eventing, and the showcase’s intention seems to be just that.

But there are some differences between the polish and ponce of the Wellington event and your typical event. Instead of thousands of people lining the gallop lanes at Rolex, instead there was a sparsely populated hillock lining one of the sides of the derby field. And there were other differences, too. What I want to discuss today is the falls and near-falls of the cross country field.

Watching the cross country, it was clear that the bogey fences were not the gimmicky, entertaining obstacles like the tent jump, or the fence at the top of the Land Rover embankment. Instead it was a massive corner coming out of the water combination, a skinny at the base of a hill, and a pair of brush fences that could either be angled or, being numbered separately, could include a circle in between to allow for a straight approach to the second element. There were some run outs, to be expected for a course of this level, and that was okay.

What was strange to me was the difference in the way the couple falls were treated after the fact. I include the above fall sequence only as a result of both horse and rider walking away fine. The miraculous recovery of Woodge Fulton garnered the cheering and applause of a typical eventing audience. But the rotational fall of Marilyn Little and RF Demeter has been oddly swept under the rug from a media standpoint.

The pair jumped beautifully over the cabin in front of us, out and over the water combination with the corner, and then proceeded to the angled brushes like a bat out of hell- I mean this lady was hell-bent for leather on making time, and was easily moving faster than anyone else was at that stage on course. I cannot say for sure what happened at that next combination, as it was at the opposite end of the course from me, but there was no denying seeing 4 legs in the air and a definite rotational fall. Luckily Demeter trotted away, and an ambulance came over for Marilyn, who we could see was having trouble sitting up. In the end she opted for a ride on a golf cart rather than the ambulance, all the while the announcer attempted to assure the spectators that all was well between awkward pauses.

Trying to understand exactly what happened, my friends and I scoured the internet looking for some mention of the fall. And, nothing. The impression to us was that the fall was a stain on the showcase, and so nary to be mentioned, nor discussed, in public. The only mention I’ve seen so far of the fall has been in this article by the COTH.

There is no explanation of what happened, no mentioning that the horse went ass over teacups and landed on its human rider, who fortunately seems unscathed by the accident. Just a casual shout-out to sponsors, a week off in a paddock, and a lamentation of not being able to run the other horse.

While I am not trying to point fingers, I must admit that for me, the whole situation leaves me wanting. Wanting to be able to understand why something as scary and dangerous to both horse and human life as a rotational fall happened at a showcase event, with one of our top riders. Wanting to be able to learn from the scenario so that the sport is made a safer discipline for future generations. And wanting to be left feeling like the showcase really is a great way to bring in the support that the sport so desperately needs.

Wine Snob Wednesday: Wellington Edition

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Britt

Drinking wine in Wellington? No big deal. Commonplace, even.

Videoing yourself drinking wine in Wellington? Or anywhere else, for that matter? Weird. Lucky for me my tribe is totally down for anything, especially when fermented grapes are involved.

So excuse the interruptions, the background noise, and the wind (who knew how windy it could get down there?!), and enjoy this week’s rendition of Wine Snob Wednesday.

Cheers!

PS- That 14 Hands White Blend… delish.

Thoughts on the Eventing Showcase

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Britt

Eventing is typically seen as a fairly “gritty” sport- where results are less about polish and more about the combined determination and skill of a horse and rider to tackle the obstacles ahead of them. So seeing a cross country course that winds through fountains, expensive cars, and big screens is an interesting experience.

Just like at the American Eventing Championships in Tryon this past year, it’s obvious what stamp the Bellissimo brand has on an event. Even the simplest hanging log was emblazoned with the Tryon logo, and the elegant mansion fences made their appearance on an immaculately groomed (read: vacuumed) grass footing.

Big screens made sure no one missed any of the action, which in itself is an interesting addition that is so far unique to a Bellissimo event to my knowledge. And as a showcase, well, it does help to be able to see everything at once. It was obvious from the crowd that not only eventing fans were in attendance at the showcase- many a polo player, dressage queen, and U25 jumper star was there to catch the cross country phase.

It was a pleasure to see some of eventing’s greats up close and personal, and the course walk with Boyd, William, and Sir Mark Todd was enlightening and entertaining. I use the word entertaining to really describe much of the showcase, because really that’s what it seemed like in many aspects- the stars, the jumbotrons, and the stage tricks (such as dodging Land Rovers, and running through the VIP tent) all playing a part.

And yet, despite being an invitational for some of the biggest names in the eventing sport, the cross country phase was still one to be respected- this was no derby class. The gimmicky tent fence caused not a single issue, instead, the bogey fences proved to be one giant corner coming out of the first water combination and a combination later in the course that allowed itself to be angled brush-to-brush or jumped, then circle to get a straight approach to a rather vertical brush fence.

All in all, the showcase seemed like a great way to display our sport in a condensed fashion that invited spectators of a kind that may bring more owners and patrons to the eventing discipline. And while it was an enjoyable experience for most horses, riders, and spectators alike, there were a couple drawbacks. But more on that later in the week.

First Impressions from Adventures in Wellington

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Britt

Florida is a mecca for winter equestrian sport in all of the english disciplines. And why not? It’s warm, it’s relatively dry, and you can’t beat that sandy footing.

So when my friend J made her second trip down to Ocala to work and train with Schramm Equestrian, it didn’t take ~~any~~ much convincing to cobble together a plan and visit for the Wellington Eventing Showcase.

Since highlights of the trip include a marked lack of sleep, the introduction of multiple patches of sunburn, and a lot of wine, I’m feeling a bit foggy this morning trying to process everything.

He wanted to come home with me. Oh yes he did.

Wellington specifically though… made me feel poor. Here live the ultimate .001% surely, since nowhere else would you be caught wearing stilettos at a horse show. It was eye-opening to see the practices of the equestrian elite, including pruning their palm trees to the nines, hand grazing their horses in lieu of turn out, and so much more.

I will say, the only obvious commonality I have with the residents of Wellington is a love of horses, and wine. For once, my group was not the only ones to be found carting about coolers filled with arrays of chardonnay and pinot grigio. We made plenty of friends with fellow spectators who in true eventing style, were more than happy to share the shade of a palm tree and pass glasses of wine to and fro.

While I can’t wait to share with you the thousand photos I took, some really exciting portrait sessions (at least to me), more stories will have to be saved for future posts!

Wine Snob Wednesday: Battle of the Chardo-neighs

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Britt

Starting off hump day the right way!

Hope you enjoyed seeing myself and my friends get progressively more intoxicated on a raucous Tuesday evening. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about this vlog series!

Let’s Discuss: Training Rides

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Britt

When I was younger, I did not understand the point of training rides. I mean, why would I pay someone to ride my horse, instead of having me in the saddle?

Regurgitating old content like…

Now that I have a trainer that is willing to hop on my horse, I can clearly see the benefit of having a more educated person in the saddle from time to time. Especially with a green horse, but really with teaching any new skill, having someone with the proper feel to demonstrate the goal to the horse is always going to help than a case of the blind leading the blind.

April 2014

It takes a lot of trust though to hand over the reins to another person, up to and including a professional. But recently I have found that it’s the best tool in my arsenal for working with a very specific horse like Smitty. Right now, training rides are worth a lot more to me than even lessons, though at some point I hope that will eventually flip.

Do you implement training rides in your program? How often do you use them, and why? Have you found training rides to be helpful, hurtful, or did you have any unusual experiences as a result of a training ride? What kind of professional would you allow in your saddle, and vice versa?