Friday, February 28, 2014

Choose Your Sport!

How did you come to choose your equestrian discipline?
I grew up around Arabians.  My first riding lessons were on a OTHA gelding.  That’s kind of like a OTTB, but instead of a Thoroughbred, it’s a Half-Arabian.  Don’t feel bad if you didn’t recognize the acronym, because I just now made it up on the spot!
I made my way into a program at an Arabian farm and had the opportunity to show Arabian horses at Arabian shows.  From the time I was 5, I told my mom, “I want to jump!”  While I was in the program at the Arabian farm, I also took jumping lessons.  I didn’t know what dressage was, but I asked the trainer about it.  I was told that going to a dressage show was like watching grass grow.  I have since come to a different conclusion, however.  I knew I wanted to jump!  I wanted to jump big jumps!  I wanted to ride in the Olympics as a Show Jumper!  No lie.  I even laid out my plan to get there (as a project in my Sports Psychology class in High School).  All I lacked was the funding, the horse, and the coaching…
I still didn’t realize that Arabians weren’t taken seriously in the hunter/jumper ring.  I had also caught glimpses of Eventing, and I really wanted to try that, too!  I mean, how can one resist more jumping?
I bought my first horse when I was 20.  I had him until the day he died.  I taught him to jump, and he became a pretty honest jumper.  One day, he took me over a natural down bank into water (it was totally his idea!!) and I knew that, at some point, I would try Eventing.
such a kind eye...
While we played at H/J shows and Arabian shows, we really started making our mark in Hunter Hack.  I started researching dressage philosophy and implementation.  I applied it to my training as best I could.  I grabbed lessons as I could afford them.  I took myself to my first dressage show (nope – no coach, no barn, no team – just me!) and couldn’t argue with any of the judges’ remarks.  I went home and diligently did my homework.
Six months later, I competed in my first Eventing competition.  I was immediately addicted!
Ultimately, I feel like my sport chose me.
*sigh*


I’m still riding an Arabian.  As a breed, they really are game for almost anything.  I will always love the breed, even if I don’t spend any much time in the Main Ring.  As I hone my Eventing and Dressage skills, I don’t yet need the upper level horse.  I will ride the Grand Prix (Dressage).  I’m not sure when, but it is going to happen.  It might even be on an Arabian!  Perhaps even on the Fancy Pony?


I am not limiting my capability in Eventing, either.  I think I might ride Advanced at some point…  A girl can still dream, right?
And, just so you know, I’m still not ruling out the Olympics…

14 comments:

  1. I'm still toodling around, trying different disciplines with horses I lease. We'll see which one sticks!

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    1. Oh, yeah! That's the way to do it!
      You've probably noticed that I still dabble in everything, even if my competitive focus has been narrowed down. :)

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  2. I love that you are grownup and still dream, way to go girl!!!!!

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    1. I might be an adult, but I sure haven't grown up, yet! :-P
      Even my husband tells me I am a dreamer. I don't think I could stop dreaming, even if I wanted to! But, man, its kind of scary telling the world how big your dreams really are!!

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  3. If your dreams don't scare you a little bit, they aren't big enough!

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  4. Glad you are having fun and making plans.

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  5. Never rule out the olympics. I too started on an A-rab! Doing Dressage actually, got super bored, started jumping A-rabs! Then moved to a barn where we had the scant arab or half arab (usually pony) I still like them though my first love is TBs :P though through arabs ala King of the Wind.

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    1. Yes! The Godolphin Arabian! What an inspiration!
      Honestly, I think I would have an affinity for the TB. I've only ridden a few, and none of them regularly, but they really feel more like Arabians than any other breed I've ridden. :)

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  6. I became smitten with hunter/jumpers when I joined my IHSA huntseat team in college.

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    1. I would have loved to ride on a team in college! In fact, I would have loved to ride on any team. Still would! How fun! =D

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  7. I want to go to Olympics in show jumping just you did when you were a kid.

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    1. Chase it with everything you have! You go for it, girl!! =D

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