Recap of the Past Year

     Hello blog, it has been a while. A lot has happened in the last year and a half. I kept happily working for the O’Connor’s, and then last year I had the opportunity to move into OCET rider, Lauren Kieffer’s barn. Lauren has everything from 3 and 4 year old babies, to experienced four-star horses. But then I had to take some time off from riding/competing last fall and winter when I took a fall that left me with a couple broken ribs and a liver contusion. But as soon as I was healed I was back to working with Lauren. I have gotten to broaden my riding skills with Lauren by riding babies, to mid-level eventers, to top international quality horses, and it has been an educational whirlwind. Lauren is one of the very few riders who just ‘has it;’ that natural ability and talent that makes any rider cringe with jealousy. She has such a quiet way of communicating with the horses on a level that most find it impossible to do. The way horses respond to her is so amazing to watch. But Lauren works harder than anyone I know at this sport, and she deserves all the successes she has recently accomplished. Everyone needs to look for this girl in many future Olympics and prestigious competitions to come, because she is a world-beater.

     Another trainer that has come into my life recently is two-time Olympian grand prix dressage rider, Jacqueline Brooks.  I began taking lessons with her in Florida when my friend Steph Rhodes-Bosch organized bi-monthly clinics with her. I took my first lesson with Jackie on Little Phil this past winter. That’s right, Little Phil recovered fully from his injury, and Steph helped me bring him back to full health and put him back into his eventing career. Jackie instantly fixed many problems that I previously had with Phil, so then I decided to start taking lessons on Calvin with her. In a mere few months, Jackie turned my green horse into a dressage horse, and then I couldn't stop taking lessons with her. She now flies to Virginia to train those of us at OCET on a bi-monthly basis, and we could not be more lucky. Watch out dressage world, because here come Calvin and I.

    
I finally sold Phil this past spring to a jumper rider named Kelly Ford. She absolutely loves him, and I am excited to see what his future holds with his new jumper career! I am so happy we found such a great home for Phil. I needed to get him sold, as I needed the money and I needed the change of pace while I start to down-size my bundle of horses. I am still keeping Calvin to ride on my own time, but now I am leaving my barn job to go look for a business or marketing job in the ‘real world’. I have had my fun and had amazing opportunities working with Lauren, Karen, and the rest of OCET, but now it is my time to go make enough money that I can actually afford and support my own horses that I do keep. I am absolutely going to keep riding and training, just as an extracurricular instead of a full time profession. I have realized that there are too many other things in this world that I want to see and do, and riding horses as a full time occupation does not allow much time or space (or budget!!) for those other things. Consider this change as a forward step in balancing my life between the many things that I love, and seeking to be able to afford it all.

     I have also had a couple exciting trips around the world this past year and a half to share with everyone. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a severe case of wanderlust. The desire to explore new places and experience new cultures is a feeling that overcomes me on a regular basis. Travel is something that I cherish, and I am going to start taking advantage of this blog as a place to share my adventures with my friends and family. I am going to turn this blog into not only my equestrian update center, but also a place to share my world travels and general adventures with everybody. So stay tuned for some more types of recaps on what I’ve been doing!

my adorable black lab, Na'vi