Hello readers! Boy its been awhile since I posted here, life has been busy with school and our little friend COVID-19 dominating the world...but I'm back! So, let me give you an update on all that has happened in the past couple months. Mostly, I've been working on refining the movements that I've been learning in my lessons already, like 20 meter circles, but my trainer and I have been working on some fun things as well!
On February 8th, 2020 I got to perform my own dressage test for my trainer! I made this up the night before my lesson, memorized it, and Shane and I managed to pull a 78.75%! I had never been so calm and collected during a ride and it was amazing to be able to be inside my own head with no distractions. I'll never forget the feeling of crossing the final centerline for our halt and salute. I was so proud of Shane and I, our hard work was paying off and it was a moment where my dream of riding for the US Para-Dressage team came to life.
On February 15th 2020, I decided I wanted to challenge myself even further after the success of the previous week. So, I found an FEI Para-Dressage test from 2018 online, downloaded it, printed out the score sheet, and took it upon myself to learn the whole test so that I could perform it and be judged by Ashley. The lesson was full of trial and error as Shane and I had to learn new movements like a 10 meter circle, and another movement which the only words I can use to describe so it will make sense, is a V shape. We were all so engrossed in figuring out the technicalities of the test that we went over my lesson time, and I had to wait until next week to perform it.
February 22nd, 2020 was my FEI debut (okay, not really, but I can dream), and to my dismay, Shane turned up lame, This was the first time I had the chance to perform an FEI test, and now I couldn't even do it on the horse I practiced with. My already present nerves crescendoed and my mind had to quickly reroute, there was no way I was going to let my feelings impact the performance. So, I got help mounting Ganelon, the 17 hh flea bitten grey Selle Francais, and headed toward centreline. Ganelon has a history of not listening to me when I ride him, even if I ask correctly, and that ride was no different. I still love him all the same though, and it helps me grow <3 Despite our many mishaps along the way, we pulled through and finished the test with an 81.76%. I was shocked. Shocked. There were so many mishaps that if we were actually competing we probably wouldn't have placed, but I was so proud of both of us for sticking with it and pulling through! After it all I wanted to ride him again! I got my first 10 on a dressage movement too! It was on one of the V shapes. Check out the video below!
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on the entire equestrian community. Professionals and high performance athletes are either out of work or not able to do things to their full potential. The majority of major equestrian events for the year have been canceled including the Olympics. Amateurs like me have lost our exercise, our therapy, even our ability to see or pat our four legged friends. Everything has shifted. I have been struggling with the adjustment, and must admit that I am jealous of my friends that either own their own horses or keep them at home, because their equestrian life maintains some normalcy. I went from being at the barn every week to not being able to go at all, and it hurts. Horses are the most important thing to me, and not being able to be with them leaves a huge gap in my heart. I guess the silver lining in all of this is that it shows how passionate I am about horses and equestrian sport, and when this time is over, I will be ready to run back, we all will. The equestrian community will come back stronger than ever.
Stay safe and well. I love you all.
Until next time,
Bry
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