When is the Right Time to Move Up?

My answer, there is no right time, per-say. 

I'm sure everyone has had the same concerns as I regarding when to move a young horse up. But the truth is, every horse is different. Every horse matures differently than the next both mentally and physically. In the past, I have taken my time as well as pushed a little. It all depends on the horse that you have.

The horse that I currently compete, B'Ambitious (Boots), has taken a while to grow up and mature. When I got her, I had a feeling that she would be that way. She was a very baby-looking three year old off the track. Most of the first year that I had her, she was turned out and lightly ridden. The second year, after growing up, we focused on clinics and schooling shows. Finally, I felt as though she was ready for her first show. We ran Beginner Novice at a show here in Arizona and she was amazing; confident, poised, and even a little mature.

Boots at her first show, 2012

Moving up to Novice the following year came with some struggles. A little drifting of the shoulder here, and a little spook there caused a couple of 20's added to our scores. Therefore, my trainer and I decided to finish the year at Novice to solidify our confidence and training. We ended up finishing the year with a Novice-Three-Day and the Novice Championship, which we won in 2013!! The following year Training level was a piece of cake. I felt as though taking our time was paying off. We competed almost a whole year at Training, finishing with a Training-Three-Day. The last few shows, we finished on our dressage scores. The big move up to Prelim was a bit frightening yet exhilarating at the same time.

Boots and I at our first Prelim, 2014

Our first few Prelims went really well, only adding a few time and maybe a rail to our scores. The next year, the difficulty of Prelim became more apparent. We went to some bigger shows with questions like one stride banks and corners out of water. It was clear that our technical aspects needed to be refined. The last few years due to the demand of school, I have been trying to better my horse and I at the Prelim level without thinking much about trying to move up. I know that with this horse, pushing it is not a good idea.

Now, I have also experienced the other end of the spectrum. I rode a horse named My Mercedes (Sadie) who was 10 years old at the time I bought her. Because she was a little older and more mature, I only competed in one Beginner Novice and one Novice before moving up to Training. Because she was older and more mature, she handled everything in stride. I was able to get my first few Trainings under my belt with Sadie in 2012!

Sadie and I JR Training, 2012

I have recently realized that its not just moving young horses up the levels that you have to keep an eye on. I recently started working with a pure dressage trainer, Tracey Krajenke from Equus Dressage, in order to further my skills in the sandbox. Working with Tracey, I have realized that dressage uses many different muscles, many different ways, both within the horse and within myself. Boots is now 9 years old, and maturing before my eyes. I believe that there is a right time to start working those different muscles and working on those harder movements. Boots and I would not have been ready a couple years ago when she was still finding her feet and we were getting to know each other. I think that it is important to plan when move up, whether in level or difficulty, depending on the horse that you have. I always like to take a step back, assess where Boots and I are as a team, realize where we need improvements and work on those first before moving to the next big thing.

Boots and I Tucson in August, 2017 scoring a 25.9 in Prelim

Why We Do This Sport

Why Do We Event?

Is it the countless hours spent out at the barn? Is it the rushed preparation for horse shows? Is it the long nights hanging out with your horse because you fear they might be colicing (Hypothetically speaking of course!). I’m assuming the answer is no, not necessarily. However we do these things on a regular basis because we LOVE this sport. We love the horses, the people, the adrenaline rush, and the memories that we make along the way.

Eventing is unique in the sense that it is a very hands-on discipline. We take round-the-clock care of our horses at shows, groom the horses ourselves, and warm them up to show. It makes the reward that much greater when the effort is put in yourself rather than just showing up and riding. I might be speaking for myself when I say that it makes me the happiest person to spend time with my horse after I come off cross country. Helping them cool down and giving them treats while they sit in their ice boots literally gives me joy after that horse just crossed the finish line for me. The work that we invest is put into perspective when we realize how much harder our horses work for us. Getting that ribbon, whether blue, red, yellow, etc. is just the icing on the cake. The love for this sport stems from the appreciation of all of the dynamic aspects.

Another reason I love this sport is because of the people and friends that I have met along the way. It doesn't really matter whether I've just met someone or have known them for years, "eventers" are great people and even better friends. The last horse show I attended, a theory of mine proved to be correct. Whether I've just met someone that weekend, or have been great friends with them for years, everyone seems to be a small family around the horse shows. At Copper Meadows in early June, I not only got to spend time with a best friend that I have known for what seems like forever, but I also became friends with some new people as well. These are the people that will be cheering you on while you gallop by on cross country, and hang out with you at the barn by the horses late at night. The lasting friendships are unlike any other you try to find in other sports.

Eventing in unlike any other sport that I am familiar with. It seems like it doesn’t matter whether you are a professional, an adult amateur, or a young rider that just started showing, everyone does this sport because they LOVE every aspect of eventing. I don't know what personally made me love this sport, whether it was the people, the horses, or the competition, but I do know that this is a sport worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears that we all put into it.

Finding Motivation

There is no doubt that life can get really busy. And factor in an equestrian sport and its enough to make anyone pull their hair out. Eventing is a unique sport because it incorporates three extremely hard disciplines. Each discipline requires precision, focus, and a whole lot of practice. Practice takes time and energy, and requires motivation to make it all work. I know from experience that with an extremely busy schedule it can be very difficult to find that motivation.

As I am writing this, I have about 60 deadlines running through my mind that include event entries, work, school, horses, among other things. Just thinking about everything that I have to do tonight to prepare for a dressage show tomorrow morning can be stressful and tiring. However, I know that I will jump out of bed tomorrow morning, stop at Starbucks on my way to the show grounds to be there by 5:45 in order to braid, lunge, groom, and tack up before my 8:17 ride time. For me it's all about my motivation. I have to think about what all of the effort leads to: trotting down center line, leaving the start box, or jumping that last fence in show jumping. We all have to find and hold onto that motivation in order to be productive and successful.

It can become extremely hard to keep pushing and working towards goals amidst setbacks. With so many moving parts in life before factoring in horses, it can take a tole on anyone's motivation. Just recently I wrote about how I was eliminated for the first time from an event late last year. This was a huge setback for my horse and I. I had to take a step back, break everything down, and start to rebuild. However, throughout this process I have learned that taking my time to produce instead of push has been so rewarding. Holding onto that motivation has been anything but easy, however seeing even minor improvements show that hard work can pay off. These minor improvements are enough to keep me motivated to work hard.

How My OTTB's Have Been So Influential

How My OTTB's Have Been So Influential

Boots, 9 year old OTTB

Before I get into how my thoroughbreds have changed, helped, influenced, and rocked my riding, here is a little history. I was about 10 or so, my sister was taking riding lessons that I would frequently tag along to. I never had any interest in horses until my mom asked if I wanted to take a lesson as well. I didn't really think much of it at the time other than it was just something other than chasing the barns peacocks. Fast forward about a year, I attended my first horse show, Western Pleasure, 10 and under. I was riding a lesson horse with my GPA helmet and a flannel shirt. After a couple of local wester shows, my family thought it would be a good idea to purchase a horse for myself. We ended up with Dakota, my first horse. A red dun, quarter horse that was in "training" for barrel racing (imagine ~10 year old me, trying to get this horse to do wester pleasure). After a couple months, we figured western was not our calling. One day, my trainer Wendy caught me paying more attention to the jumpers in the other ring instead of my millionth or so western lesson. Wendy made the executive decision to throw me in one of the jump lessons the following week. I have never looked back since and Dakota and I went on to win multiple horse trails and even the 2011 Coconino Challenge for Beginner Novice.

2011 Coconino Summer Three Day 2: Alex Pavone won Novice CC and I won Beg. Novice CC

In November of 2010, after months of looking for a horse, my trainer Tavia brought home an adorable thoroughbred mare that had a reverse-question-mark-looking stripe on her face. She had been off the track for a little while, but not too long. I immediately fell in love. I named her Sadie (don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you). After a couple months, Sadie and I grew into each other a bit. She taught me how to keep my cool when I was out in the 110 degree weather trying to make this hot head run through a dressage test. And I taught her a little bit about how to handle an 12 year old boy that was still learning how to ride. She was my partner for many shows and although we never achieved any top placings, her and I conquered many demons and won by our books. Sadie is now retired on a farm in Missouri with my moms “second mom” and the person who taught her an amazing love for horses (Margie). They love to explore trails together and I could not be happier given how much they love and take care of each other.

Sadie and I at Three Day Ranch Horse Trials 2012

Sadie and her forever Mom, Margie! <3

In November, 2011, I didn't know it at the time, but my parents purchased the horse that would teach me almost everything I know now. Her name was Too Fancy for My Boots and we pulled her off the track as a three year old. She is the half sister of my sister's amazing thoroughbred, Sampson. Because of Sam, we could not pass her up. Her show name is now B'Ambitious and she is 9 years old. She took me to my first preliminary, my first elimination, my first championship winning, and so much more. There is a lot to be said for the heart of these OTTB's and Boots is no exception. Although she has a huge personality and little bit (a lot!!) of attitude sometimes, she is all I could have ever asked for in a horse. She has taught me never to tighten her girth too much, never lean down at a jump, never change her tack before a show, and even to never just turn her out before dressage day. She has taught to always keep my calm in the dressage ring, always give her a treat when she thinks she deserves them, always bring hind wraps to shows since she refuses to keep them on in the trailer, and most importantly to always be humber and never take her for granted. We have learned so much about each other as well as the sport of eventing throughout the six years we have been together and I hope that we continue to grow and learn each and every day. 

Boots' first ride off the track in 2011

Boots at Copper Meadows in 2016

I feel like there are thousands of people around the world with stories similar to mine. My sister has had many thoroughbreds throughout the years, each one with their own personality but the same heart and drive to do what they love. Thoroughbreds are a special breed that take over the hearts of their owners. I know that I will always appreciate the drive and the heart that each of the thoroughbreds that my sister or I have had.