2012 Is My Year!

Finally I have the horse, I have the confidence, 2012 is going to be my year!

What brought this on you ask?  Well I was taking a look at the provisional calendar for USEA and I'm really getting excited about eventing next year.  I'm finally in a place where I feel comfortable and confident riding.  I have a horse to event who has the talent to win everything, and the brains to keep me safe.  For the first time in my life, I feel like we wouldn't be a joke going to the AECs.  So I'm tentatively planning out my 2012 season.

April 7-8, 2012 - Spring Bay Horse Trials, Kentucky

I love this event!  And early season is great for us.  The way we work over the winter always has us well prepared for the early events.  Our horses usually look better than the ones that spent the winter eventing down in Florida!  

May 19-20, 2012 - Greater Dayton Horse Trials, Ohio

Dayton is always a nice event.  And we have the option of staying a Hearthstone rather than the grounds.  So it saves us a bit of money and we can bring along an extra horse or two to school cross country depending on the room in the trailer.

June 16-17, 2012 - Lost Hounds Horse Trials, Pennsylvania

I've had great experiences at Erie in the past.  Two years ago that was my first event back with Kaye, and it's at the same place Bugsy and I won this summer.

June 30, July 1, 2012 - South Farm Horse Trails, Ohio

I can't say enough good things about South Farm.  I love this place.  Sarah is a wonderful organizer to work with and she always puts on top notch events, recognized horse trials and schooling shows alike.

September 6-9, 2012 - AMERICAN EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS, Georgia

I'm putting it out there.  That's our goal.  The AECs.  I can't believe I'm even writing it down.  But I am and that's what we are going to spend the next year working towards.  And saving for.  lets not forget that part.  I'm sure all said and done the trip will cost me a grand.  But it will be worth it. 

 Of course we will sprinkle this will combined tests and some dressage shows.  And I'll be getting the youngsters out next year as well.

I can't wait already!  Only 155 days till our first event.

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2011 Show Schedule

Well one of my goals for January and February was to start looking at a show schedule.  Of course this is all going to be very tentative yet, as three of the four horses I haven't even sat on since fall.  Also assuming I have the money for all this.  And Bonnie is willing to haul us.  And let me show her horse.  And Tammy lets me show her horse.  But fingers crossed that all goes well, this is what I'm hoping for.

• May 7, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Fashion Statement, very green
• May 8, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Special K, novice
• Special K, training
• May 22, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Special K, training
• May 28-29, 2011 Red, White and Blue Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• June 4, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Fashion Statement, baby beginner novice
• June 5, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Special K, training
• June 10-12, 2011 ICHA Double Points Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• June 17-19, 2011 Inter-State Triple Points Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• June 24-16, 2011 WHA Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• July 17, 2011 South Farm Farm mini Trial
• Color Me Mellow, intro dressage
• July 31, 2011 Grand River Mini Trial
• Fashion Statement, baby beginner novice
• August 5-7, 2011 Catt County Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• September 2-4, 2011 MEHA Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• Color Me Mellow, intro dressage
• Bugsy, liberty
• September 11, 2011 South Farm Mini Trial
• Fashion Statement, beginner novice
• September 16-18, 2011 Randolph Classic Charity Show
• SA Dalal, western pleasure
• Bugsy, liberty
• September 25, 2011 Basset Highlands Mini Trial
• Fashion Statement, beginner novice
• October 1, 2011 South Farm Combined Test
• Special K, training

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2010 Show Schedule

Well I know I've had it out there on the sidebar for a while now, and I've alluded to things in my posts. But I figured it was time to officially go over my plans for the 2010 show season. Of course this could all change and it's pretty much dependent on how things are financially.

May

• May 1 - South Farm CT ~ Valley Miss (Very Green or Baby Beginner Novice)
• May 2 - South Farm CT ~ Special K (Novice)
• May 21-23 - ICHA Red, White and Blue Show ~ X-Tra (Hunter Pleasure) and SA Dalal (Western Pleasure)
• May 29 - South Farm CT ~ Valley Miss (Beginner Novice)
• May 30 - South Farm CT ~ Special K (Training)

June

• June 5 - South Farm CT ~ Nothinbutagoodtime (Beginner Novice or Novice)
• June 6 - South Farm CT ~ Special K (Training)
• June 11-13 - ICHA Double Points Show ~ X-Tra (Hunter Pleasure) and SA Dalal (Western Pleasure)
• June 19-20 - Lost Hounds HT ~ Nothinbutagoodtime (Beginner Novice)

July

• July 2-4 - South Farm HT ~ Nothinbutagoodtime (Novice)
• July 31 - EHSC Dressage Show ~ Special K (First Level) and Valley Miss (Training Level)
  

August

• August 6-8 - Catt Co. All Breed Show ~ X-Tra (Hunter Pleasure) and SA Dalal (Western Pleasure)

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I had a couple of good lessons this weekend with Miss. The weather was beautiful on Friday, and since my brother no longer needed me to babysit, I made it out to ride after work. Tacked Miss up in the dressage saddle and had a short dressage lesson. She felt really great in the trot, canter still needs some work though. I'm not consistent enough in my aids and Miss is a horse that you need to be consistent otherwise she doesn't know what you want.

Saturday we had birthday cake to celebrate Miss's 21st birthday (we like any excuse to have cake!) I was going to have a jumping lesson with Astrid. However the evil little pony managed to dump her a few times and so she was too sore to ride Kaye. So I ended up working on dressage again. And I managed to get a couple of nice canter departs. Bonnie had me riding a shoulder in and then asking for the canter. First couple of times weren't real great. I actually had to really crack her with the whip because she wasn't listening (completely my fault, I had way to much spur on her for the shoulder in) But on the fourth one we nailed it. I kept her flexed and on the bit. All in all I was very pleased with how our lesson went.

Sunday I rode with Kelsey and Rachel. We started out jumping just a single fence. Then added another one to make a bounce, and eventually added a third fence as a bounce. I shortened my stirrups another half hole on Sunday to jump. I need to have shorter stirrups with her (I ride Miss on the flat in my jumping length on every other horse) Last week I felt like I was reaching for my stirrups too much over fences so I thought I would try shortening them another half hole. But the I felt like they were too short and I was up out of the saddle too much. I didn't feel very secure and actually a couple of times I felt like I was almost falling off. I got very nervous for the three fence bounces, and our first time through was bad. I didn't let Miss move on enough and we were very slow going through. Bonnie made me get off and kneel down to kiss Miss's nose and ask for forgiveness! I think Miss probably thought I was crazy getting off to kiss her int he middle of the lesson! Second time through was better, but still I just didn't feel very secure. Bonnie then turned the last fence into an oxer and I begged out, not feeling comfortable with the exercise as verticals, let alone oxers. I guess I need to play around with my stirrup length over fences, and find what I'm comfortable with. I also need a lot of practice with oxers, I tend to get a little nervous about them.

Anyway, I have Friday off this week. Yay Spring Hoiliday! The dentist is coming out in the morning, so X will get his teeth done. Maybe if it's warm enough he'll get a bath as well. I did ride him for a few minutes on Saturday before Vicky got on for a lunge lesson. He was not too pleased with having to work, and so I threatened him with Bonnie. :) He really hates when I do that!

I think I've figured out our show schedule for the summer. At least the recognized shows.

• June 19-21 Lost Hounds HT in Edinboro, PA
• July 3-5 South Farm HT in OH
• July 25-26 Gemwood HT in Dayton, OH
• August 15-16 Erie Hunt and Saddle Club HT in Edinboro, PA
• September 9-13 American Eventing Championships

Of course the AECs all depend on getting qualified and having the money to go. Lost Hounds and South Farm I'll be going for sure. Gemwood and Erie will depend on if I can get qualifying scores in the first two. But I have a plan. We'll also probably do some mini trials this summer. I'd like to take X to some and maybe even Naughty after she somes back.

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