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…