I cannot believe I didn't even do some sort of wrap-up to summarize my year, but I'm guessing that's because trying to condense all of what I've learned, the lifetime friendships I've made, and the experience as a whole overwhelms me tremendously, so instead of not doing it justice I left it altogether. Well we all know that's the wrong answer. These people deserve more than that!
As far as the riding details are concerned, I don't remember the day-to-day happenings, but I can safely say that Oops was one different horse when he got back up to NH. He didn't quite get the same attention or pampering as he did down in WV, and he had a little adjusting to do getting back up north. I did too though, because all I could do was micro-manage our barns' newly appointed (by myself) riding log ("The Book" if you've ever experienced one), make sure all the stall walls were heavily bedded, the front of the stalls (inside and outside) was excessively swept, and all tack immediately cleaned after use, among the other larger, important things. This was fine for the first few weeks, but it's a LOT harder to try to keep up with the way you think the barn needs to be kept when you're the only one doing it... which is probably why everyone has to work so well as a team in order for a crazy-busy barn to run smoothly!
We didn't make it to prelim at the end of our time; Oops had more lameness issues than he's ever had before, which put a halt to our training at times, and I was beyond running out of money. Which was ok in the end, because we had a fantastic run at Fair Hill that I still reminisce about to this day. Dressage FELT better than most of our other tests, stadium was a learning experience, but cross country was almost transcendental. It's hard for me to put into words, especially if you're not a rider yourself, as to just how absolutely incredible it is to have a perfect cross country round. Oops was a little machine and once we navigated the 2nd or 3rd fence, where I had to somewhat insist he wanted to jump what he believed to be a rather scary looking ramp, there was no looking back! He FLEW around the course, all of what I had been trying to internalize while walking it and striding in between the combinations and where to turn for which angle, all went right out the window when Oops got into xc mode, which I haven't felt in a while. He basically said 'don't worry, I've got it mom' and he really did. I didn't even know what optimum time was because let's face it, he's a 15 hand QH competing against the top horse/rider combinations in the world. Somehow though, after we floated back to the barn and where I think I almost fainted from pure elation, we found out he was one of the few horses who actually came in under optimum! Talk about a bonus. I was so proud of my little Oopsie- he got more treats than grain that day.
We left from Fair Hill and now Oops and I are back up north. I'm back in school (yay and nay) in Vermont, and Oops is a somewhat accessible three and a half hours drive away back in NH. I've been going back much more than expected this semester, especially since we built the indoor, and riding on the weekends to keep him going. Thankfully my wonderful dad has made it his job to keep Oops conditioned through the walk/trot while I cannot. I get home in exactly 13 days from today and I couldn't be more excited to get show season going officially! I have big plans for us this summer, as well as for the barn. I can't promise anything yet, but one of my best friends and the most incredible horse woman might be coming up this summer to teach a clinic out of the barn...
But back to what really matters: the people I got to work with and learn from every day while I was living down in WV. Sharon, of course, still inspires me (although I'm sure she has no idea) every day, as I keep close tabs on my people down south! She taught me so much more than just how to be a better rider; she's an incredible mentor, friend, and sometimes even the mother-figure I needed down there. She always believed in me and Oops, and I can't believe I got to be lucky enough to literally live and work in her presence for almost a year. My support system down at LFF- between all of us working students, trainers, assistant trainers, grooms, Felipe (the man, the myth and the legend), they're too special to put into simple words. It was such an unspoken partnership, scary almost how close we got, to the point where we really knew what the other was thinking/doing/needed us to do for the other before it was vocalized. I will never forget every way each of them inspired me and changed me, each making me a little bit better of a person and horseman than I was when I got there.
So, a year later, what can I say? I want to go back. I need to be working with horses and make that if not my entire life, a significant part of it. They do say once the riding bug bites, you never fully recover...
Until next time mi amigos.
