My Goal Was Not to Die! (At My First Horse Show in Years)

It turns out I’m not the only one who is back in the show ring and entering in my first horse show in a long time!

Today’s guest post is by a friend I rode with in Chicago many moons ago. Amy sent in her recent show report. Sounds like she had an unforgettable time and made quite an impression. Enjoy her show story below!

In June I went to a show that’s part of a series here in Northern Illinois called “A Place to Start”.  It’s a one day open show that’s designed for people just starting to show and learn the experience of showing.  Low key, but run really well. I did a PTS show back in 2010, but before that it was 1994 when I showed last.

Needless to say, I’m rusty. I‘m 39, and not 18 so A) I don’t bounce like I used to (more on that later), and B) everything hurts!

I took my trainers trusty OTTB, Color by D’or, or more affectionately known as “Colby” or “most patient OTTB in existence”.  Keep in mind that I have ridden Colby regularly, but only jumped him 4 times in the last month. Colby is an outstanding leadline pony too, and my friend’s daughter came to the show and rode in leadline.

I ride at a very low key farm with a very low key trainer, “Saint Karen,” but everyone else just calls her Karen [Sedlock of Marmont Farm].  I went with one other boarder, Sara, at the barn with her OTTB, Syvie.  Sara is 19 and woefully reminded me of how I used to be: no fear.

We hauled in and set-up Saturday afternoon without incident.  I tacked up and got on to warm up and school.  It was pretty warm and with me having MS, heat isn’t always my friend.  However, in the 10 years that I’ve had MS, I’ve learned to deal with it.  Flat work was great.  Colby is like riding a couch.  Very smooth, consistent, auto-changes and generally perfect.

I entered in the beginner hunter and equitation divisions, along with one warm up round.  That’s four jumping classes and two flat classes.  Jumps max out at 2 feet with no oxers.

I was a bit anxious to start and was chipping a few fences, but I settled in and started to make some progress.  The ring is slanted so going away from the gate I had to be very careful to build too much speed.  I had one simple outside line that was my nemesis.  It was a simple four stride, but for some reason, it was just getting me.

I finally came into it slow and steady so I wouldn’t be flying down the pitched ring.  I jumped out in an easy four and it was great!

Then the corner happened.

As I sat up to go around the corner, my stirrup slipped and my foot came out of the iron, and I fell off.  I tired for dear like to hang on, but nope, I fell flat on my butt!  Good ole’ Colby stood like a champ looking at me on the ground. (Have I mentioned, this horse is a rock star?)

I just started laughing.  I couldn’t help it.  I was so funny.  One second I’m on the horse, the next second, I’m not. Karen, my saintly trainer, about had a heart attack.  I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and left the ring to re-mount.  I chalk it up to getting tired, and a bit of weakness on my right side from the MS.  Not a big deal.  No broken bones, but the bruise on my butt was rather colorful (I found out later).  I came back in, and did that line one more time, and all was right with the world.

Schooling Sunday morning was great. The skies opened up for about an hour right before the show so we were delayed in starting by about 30 minutes.

I posted for my classes right away so I would have plenty of time to rest after jumping for my flat classes.  I thought two rounds in between mine would be enough to keep me rested.  Not really.

I did my first two rounds and they were pretty good.  Not perfect but considering I hadn’t shown in a long time and Colby hadn’t jumped in 3 years before we started back (forgot to mention that tidbit) it was pretty darn good, but the third was just flat out ugly.  We chipped a lot and I was having a hard time keeping it together.  I was exhausted.

I came out of that round and had the ring steward give me more time between rounds.  I went in for my final round, my equitation round, and I killed it.

It’s a bit of a faux pas to pat your horse while still in the ring because, you are still being judged.  I came off the last line and I gave Colby a big old pat on the neck and hugged him as I left the ring.  I still placed 6th, so the judge could not have been that offended.  Did I mention the judge was Diane Carney?  That woman has George Morris on speed-dial so I it felt good that she liked me enough to place me.

I had a nice long break before my flat classes and they were great.  Sixth in the hunter, and I didn’t place in the equitation.  I was exhausted and there was a lot of sitting trots involved.  Needless to say, it wasn’t pretty.

Overall, I could not be happier with how things went.  Colby and I did really well all things considering.  My main man Manny is retired so he was at home enjoying the pasture and probably secretly glad he didn’t have to go.

Well, I lived!  I had so much fun and did so much better than I could have imagined.

Photo Credits to Chelsey Fowler

Humor Credits to Amy Cherwin

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