Week of October 17: Measures of Success

Posted by pvos on Oct 24, 2011 in Training Journal | Comments Off

Two weeks ago Paige and Katie loaded up both trailers and head to Maryland Horse Trials Unrecognized at Loch Moy. It was jam packed with trailers that were jam packed with young horses and/or young or inexperienced riders. This made for an interesting day.

Keep in mind that this was the same weekend as Fair Hill International. So not more than an hour away many of our friends and colleagues were running THEIR lovely horses around the 3* track at the same time that we were running our lovely horses – around the Elementary Track. But it all starts somewhere – even those beautiful, elegant, wildly fit and athletic creatures at Fair Hill one day started by jumping a log on the ground. It was just one of those juxtapositions that reminded you – it’s all about the journey.

Tebogo Horses at MD Horse Trials

So – back at Loch Moy we had babies Crumpet, Peyton, and Kaz as well as the more “mature” Pockets and Pandora. Pandora of course just successfully ran her first prelim but Katie wanted her to go out and practice her dressage test. And Pockets had missed an event due to a high nail so he needed a little extra trip as well. We expected them to give the young ones a good example to follow – and our plan seemed to work!

Crumpet

Crumpet could not have been better. When Katie and Paige shot off with Kaz and Pandora for their extremely early dressage tests (ie, before 8am, i.e., it was still dark during warmup!) I was left to groom and tack Crumpet up. To be reminded – he is 3. And huge. And has not been off the farm a whole lot and he is now in the middle of a very crowded horse trial. But like I said, couldn’t have been better. Stood like a pro tied to the trailer, trotted off with Katie, did his adorable dressage test, and then jumped both his stadium and his cross country courses with wide eyes and a brave heart.

Kaz

Kaz took issue with the apparently evil rope that the stadium steward had to move to allow entry into the ring but other than that, he too was perfect. About three admirers asked if he was Irish. He is rather large of bone.

Peyton

Peyton got to the dressage warm up when it was most crowded so naturally he had the most to deal with – or I should say, Katie, his rider, had the most to deal with. But he finally did take a breath and march in and got the job done. Stadium wasn’t perfect but he made up for that with a flawless cross country run. His jumping form and his instincts continue to impress me and I’m certain given the right amount of time and attention this is an upper level horse in the making.

Pockets

Pockets of course was foot perfect the entire day. That’s just how he rolls.

So – there were no victory gallops, no press conferences afterward, and very little fanfare after all (Katie, Paige and I were too tired to even enjoy a celebratory beer after that day). But it was a HUGE success for us nonetheless. Who knows really – maybe one day Crumpet will take his turn at Fair Hill. In the meantime his first time out was an achievement worthy of much praise and many carrots.