Long Live the Underdog!

The road to the top is an adventurous one, albeit bumpy at times. Since relocating my whole life temporarily down to Aiken in early January, the path to world domination has been just about as smooth as the wavy sand roads on which I do my trot sets. I have been blessed to have met people like Randy, Vicky and Helen Knight, who own the farm where my horses and myself currently reside and who are gracious sponsors that have helped to smooth out the rough edges of my sometimes perilous journey. It is with their help and support, and of course their spacious farm that I am able to spread my wings and strive towards the goals that once seemed so far fetched.

Since I arrived in Aiken, I am happy to report that my schedule has been jam packed. I am literally in the saddle by eight o’clock in the morning and don’t finish riding until the late afternoon hours. Top that with cleaning stalls, feeding horses, turning out, bringing in, sweeping the endless barn aisle and cleaning tack, well folks, let’s just say I could probably make some serious dough creating a work out video based on barn chores alone! Who needs Tough Mudders when you’ve got Tough Muckers? You get the gist...and I digress.

Speaking of working out, I must admit that my strict running and kickboxing and pole dancing regimen has taken a nose dive due to lack of time. My goal for March and the remainder of the time leading up to Rolex will be to a lot more time and focus on my own health and fitness. Sure, riding nine horses a day may seem like a lot but when you spend nearly forty two plus hours per week in a saddle, it just ain’t cutting it.

Speaking of cutting, I had the pleasure of participating in the Ocala Make-A-Wish Charity ride for the third year in a row. My long-time partner and co-2011 Champion, Joe Harper once again pulled out all the stops (no pun intended) and brought me two VERY capable horses to try out and decide which one suited me best. After going through the dry work and chasing a couple cows down the fence, Joe made the executive decision that my best work would be done on Mongo, a horse who he won over $10,000 on in 2011 and is owned by Chris Brown (NOT the R&B artist/Rihanna’s notorious of and on ex). Following my lessons with Joe, it was my turn to divvy out the criticism. We made our way to Aaron Vale’s (who graciously offered his horses to use for the jumping phase of the event) and I yelled at, ahem, coached Joe through some rigorously twisty courses so he would be prepared for that evening’s festivities.

When it was all said and done, Joe and I sadly finished second, just one point behind Aaron Vale. Although Mongo and I squashed the competition in our dry work, our cow was not as enthusiastic about running down the fence and opted to go THROUGH us a few times in the wet work. Finishing so close behind the leader just made us thirst for the win even more so you better believe that Joe and I will be back next year to reclaim the title that we should have won for the third time in a row!

The show season down here in Aiken has been both hectic and exciting! First and foremost I have to thank my wonder groom Charisse Gamble who is not only new to Aiken, but also to the event world in itself. How her brain didn’t explode after Bronwyn and I listed off all her chores and duties on her first day of work I will never know! But she has stepped up to the plate and made my life practically a cake walk with her unyielding work ethic and uncanny ability to catch on so quickly!

Probably my most exciting piece of recent news is that my long time partner and Olympic hopeful Alex is back in action. Being that he had such a long vacation last year, Buck and I opted to start him back at prelim and ease him back into top level work so as to avoid any major injury from coming on too strong. I used the prelim at Full Gallop as a cross country school since Al hadn't seen a solid jump literally since Kentucky and aside from the random spook as some brightly dressed jump judges, we crossed the finish lines beaming from ear to ear!

Al’s most recent outing was at Pine Top where I entered him in the Intermediate class. Now I have to remind myself that last year after having him panic at the beginning of the cross country course at Pine Top due to the smell of cattle, I promised him that I wouldn’t subject him to that fear any further. But try as I might, Pine Top just fit in his fitness schedule so superbly so I figured, what the heck, why not just have a easy breezy school, at Pine Top...in a cow field. Silly me! Al would have been hard to beat in the dressage had it not been for the COW turned out in the pasture right next to his ring! It was all I could do to navigate him through the movements and stay INSIDE the ring but as soon as that last halt and salute was performed, I SWORE to myself that I would never put Al in a position to lose ever again. Having said that, I couldn't have been happier with his performances over the weekend. We had an unfortunate rail due to piloting error where I overshot a turn in the show jumping and Al jumped so high that his left foot actually touched the top of the standard therefore bringing down a rail! He was solid on the cross country despite a few too many tugs on my part into the first water but aside knocking off the rust, my little brown wonder pony is back and in full swing! Next stop for him will be in Southern Pines over the Advanced track! I had better pack my ear plugs for the “air” I anticipate getting on that track!

On a sadder note, not all of us were able to come away from Pine Top with smiles and grins all around. My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to Megan Moore and her family for losing her mount Grasshopper on the advanced level cross country. Having lost one too many near and dear to my heart, I can attest to the emotional toil that Megan must be enduring and this is just one more reason to stop everything you’re doing at this very moment, and go hug your pony. Probably some of the best advice was administered to me from my mother in the late spring of 2008 when she told me to seek solace in my other horses who were very much alive and yearned for my attention around the barn. They are, and will always be what continue to drive and motivate me from here on out.

I am very fortunate this year to have many horses under my tutelage who are all challenging and rewarding in their own way. One of my most exciting mounts, however, is a brand new ride for me and who I think will soon set the event world ablaze. I began teaching Road Star with his previous owner Amanda Blazkowski over a year ago in northern California. The very day I set eyes on the lanky bay gelding I could not help but ogle at his uncanny resemblance to my legendary mount Eight Saint James Place. Being that “Roadie” is not the easiest of horses to train, due to his limitless scope, buoyant trot, hot-under-the-collar personality and ability to go on daily hunger strikes, Amanda and I decided that it was in the horse’s best interest to come out east and compete under my string of eventers. Thus, the Road Star Syndicate has been formed! Lucky me! Make sure to keep an eye out for this one on the international event scene in a couple years folks, don’t let his somewhat gaunt appearance fool you! Many thanks to Amanda and her mother Val for believing in my training methods, my goals, and my ability as a horseman. And thank you to my dear mother for traversing the northern California country side helping to create yet another Crow’s Ear Champion.

Before I bid you adieu for the evening I will leave you all with one piece of breaking news. Now, anyone who knows me also knows that I much prefer birds and horses over dogs and cats. In the past, my tolerance level for disobedient canines is about as abundant as Roadie’s appetite. However, I can attest that today I am a changed woman, all thanks to my new pup, Isis.

On February 27, while driving back from Aiken to the barn, I noticed an emaciated tan colored dog timidly scampering down the side of highway 19. I drove past it, listening to my music and enjoying the breeze when all of a sudden my conscience chimed in. I immediately did an illegal U turn (shhhhh), and yet another illegal U turn and parked my car on the side of the highway in hopes of somehow luring this poor wretched creature into my two seater convertible with no food or harness. I was surprised at the fact that when I called to her (now noticing the bountiful of milk she was carrying in her breasts) that she didn’t immediately shy away and make a bee line for the neighboring field. Instead, she studied me rather intently, walked up to me, saw that I didn't have any food, and laid down wholeheartedly exhausted and expired of energy. I immediately phoned Charisse who very kindly found some dog food and brought it to me to feed the starving dog. After a few minutes of sniffing and becoming acquainted, the dog began to feverishly eat the kibble and Charisse was able to get a makeshift leash around her neck. Simultaneously, the animal patrolman pulled over after getting a few calls about some weird lady “dog whispering” to a distressed animal on the side of highway 19. In fact, he commended both Charisse and I for being able to catch the dog that they have been trying to pin down for over two weeks!

Seeing that the dog was clearly nursing puppies, the three of us tried to encourage her to lead us to them but to no avail, she was simply just too scared. He promised to look for the pups later that evening and I promised from that day forward to look after their mother. On the way back to the barn I began thinking about the irony in the whole situation. I was in a quandary as to what to do regarding the puppies as it was beginning to get dark and I wanted to allow the dog to settle and trust me. I couldn't shake the feeling that this dog had somehow come into my life at the perfect time and place, and how the circumstance was somewhat magical. Being that she clearly was well endowed with milk despite her hideous condition and that she trusted me enough to not run away in addition to the fact that I have always been a fan of Greek mythology, I decided to name the dog Isis, after the goddess of fertility, motherhood, and magic. How fitting.

I tossed and turned all night. I couldn't help but think about the puppies and where they might be and how they are dealing without their mom. Before sunrise I sprang to my feet, rallied the help of Randy and Vicki and gathered Isis into the car and returned to the place I found her. I attached the leash to her collar when we arrived and not two seconds later did that girl have her nose to the ground perusing the new environment. I followed her for over a mile, through woods, backyards, across the highway and down a sand road. We shuffled through prickly vines, made our way through trash and broken glass until we happened upon an abandoned car. I knew we had made it when Isis’ tail began to wag and she let out a whimper. In the blink of an eye eight puppies appeared from underneath the abandoned vehicle, all trembling with excitement to see their long- lost mother. I couldn't help but see the sense of relief in Isis’ solemn eyes as she peered up at me with eight yelping puppies affixed to her teats and said, “Thank you.”

It is today that I have become a changed woman. I placed all my faith in this dog to lead me to her pups and just as I was beginning to doubt their whereabouts, Isis never lost the faith in herself, or her puppies. This dog has become so much more than just a companion to me. From this very moment on, Isis and I will be inseparable. It is our symbiotic relationship that will stand the tests of time, for I need her just as much as she needed me. I am beyond thrilled to have this new addition to Laine Ashker Eventing and I hope by the time late April comes around, I will have her looking in mint condition for all of you to see.

So, until next time folks, heels down, shoulders back and NEVER EVER underestimate the underdog! Cheers!

2012: A Year of New Adventures and Fond Reunions

Wow it’s finally here: 2012! The year of the XXX Olympiad in addition to the foreshadowed Apocalypse. Needless to say, we all have A LOT to look forward to in the next twelve months.

This year I am planning to spend the winter primarily in Aiken, sprinkled with a few quick trips down to Ocala for some challenging and highly educational jump lessons from the one and only BDJ. I am very fortunate to have a wide array of competition and training horses in my barn this year which always makes me step up my game and improve my skills. Like I always tell my students, “the more horses you get on the better.” After all, experience yields wins.

Which brings me to my next topic of conversation: my students. As my time in Virginia begins to slowly wind down my students’ apprehension and anxiety about my three-month absence exponentially skyrockets! I must admit that I am extremely spoiled and lucky to have such supportive and attentive students and plan on changing my AT&T wireless plan to “unlimited” talk and data while I am down south in case of emergency (ie: when a shoulder in becomes a leg yield or a two stride becomes one). However, I am sure they will have no problem hearing my annoyingly cheery voice yell in their head to “pick his belly up with your lower legs” or “shorten your reins” or “ride the hind end forward” or my personal favorite (also stolen from the great Kimberly Severson), “c’mon...KICK him!”

It is vital that my students and I sit down and outline a plan for their winter/spring show season so that when I return to Virginia in mid-April, we can keep the ball rolling. I continue to encourage my students to clinic with other trainers that are both local or visiting the area. Who knows? Perhaps another clinician may have a different way of explaining a turn-on-the-haunches that is easier to envision and understand and at the end of the day, my ONLY goal when it comes to my students and their horses is for PROGRESS!

In addition to training in the saddle, I would like to express the importance of improvement outside of the barn. Being that the winter can be brutal up north, I want my student’s to focus on personal fitness before his/her equine’s. Come mid-March the footing will begin to dry which allots plenty of time to work on the horse’s fitness regimen so why not use this time to really focus on yourself? Go ahead, log onto Groupon and Living Social and buy a package of classes at your local CrossFit Gym. Kickboxing is pretty awesome and a insanely intensive workout. I mean, who WOULDN’T want to take out their day’s aggressions on an unsuspecting punching bag...or innocent kickboxing partner (ahem...Beth)? For my more sultry diva-like students I would highly recommend Pole Dancing classes. Since I started attending these rigorous upper-body workouts, I have a developed a newfound respect for strippers after just one hour of twirling, whirling AND trying to point my toes simultaneously (which always ends in EPIC failure for me).

Regardless whether it takes place in a gym or in the barn, I feel more comfortable when I have a plan outlined and goals drawn out and knowing that I will be absent for a large amount of time, I feel as if providing my students with a consistent program from which they can base their training always lightens the pressure that the winter so easily bestows.

On a more personal note, I am beyond thrilled to once again be united with my dear friend and former Rolex mount, Mazetto. As many of you know, I obtained the ride on “Ewics” in January of 2008 after the horrific and untimely death of my dear friend Eleanor Brennan the year prior. Although no goals for the spring of 2008 were initially set, Ewics and my relationship bloomed overnight and he carried me into the winner’s circle at the advanced level shortly thereafter. Being that it was always Eleanor’s dream to ride at Kentucky (keep in mind she did compete in four star events in the UK on her other mount Bailey Zwei as the youngest competitor), Christine Brennan, Buck and I made the decision to enter Mazetto and I at Rolex. Still to this day, I cannot even begin to tell you the emotion that encapsulated me as I sped through the gallop lanes adorned in green and gold in honor of my late friend. Ever since I met Eric I was immediately drawn to him, which I truly believe is in due part to my feeling closer to Eleanor by having this regal animal in my barn. Even after my accident I made many trips to Charlottesville to visit the big bay gelding, because he brought to me a sense of peace, which I so longingly yearned for after the loss of my Frodo. Eric was then sold to another friend of mine, Ashley Kehoe who enjoyed tons of success with him placing in the top at a CCI*** and prepping for her first four star. Being that Eric had already competed in five four stars and carried multiple wide-eyed riders through the toughest advanced level tracks world wide, Ashley decided that he had nothing else to prove and called me up to ask if I would be interested in “taking over the reins” and providing this cherubic animal with a home where he would remain for the rest of his life. I cannot even begin to thank Ashley and her family enough for I am reminded on a daily basis why it is we do this sport when I am greeted with a nicker and a paw from that roman-nosed beast. It is to have a taste of immortality, to fly with the eagles. It is to feel limitless and all-powerful, yet light as a feather and vulnerable. Eric made me feel all of these things, and if I am able to return an ounce of the happiness in which he gave me, well my friends, I will have done my job. This horse owes me absolutely nothing (although I plan on stealing tons of hugs and kisses). So Eric is moving onto his next chapter in life: from galloping across the world’s top tracks to teaching others the feeling of a big, beautiful gallop. His life has certainly come full circle.

So it is with great anticipation and excitement that I make my pilgrimage south to Aiken with my gypsy van full of eager and talented horses and endless hope. My show season begins on Feburary 1st, with Full Gallop starting off the new year. Until then you can find me either in a truck, on a horse, or on highway 95 headed south toward the warmth! Keep cluckin’ my friends!

Going Back to My Roots, Cali Style

My parents always taught me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, then I shouldn't say it at all...hence the reasoning behind the sporadic silent stages within my competition blog. Learning from my past experiences I have found that the “silver lining” is always easier to discern when given time to reflect on past events.

Truth be told this year has not gone as I had originally planned...but then again, what does when it comes to our equine friends or life in general for that matter? After all, there are reasons why we have black flag options and alternative routes on cross country, because “Plan A” sometimes (and more often than not) just doesn’t pan out.

Certainly not a stranger to adversity, once again I have chosen to push forward towards my dream of Olympic rings and medals, despite the capricious nature of the timeline. Al is currently coming back in full work and within the next few weeks I am going to have to decide my plans for the fall and what’s the best path that leads to the podium in London in less than a year. Lyle has very much picked up the slack by moving up to preliminary, and very successfully I might add. Additionally, mom has sent me two more very high quality horses, Model American and Affirminator, both of whom are for sale (much to my dismay).

Regardless where my fall season takes me, I plan on spending ample amount of time with Buck to hone in on the jumping phases, as I do believe that it was my main loop hole in my winter training when it came to my less-than-desirable results at Kentucky. Buck has always had a knack for challenging me enough to push through my nerves, but rewarding my strengths to boost Al’s and my confidence levels. Perhaps that is why I have trained with the man for over nine years...nevermind the fact that the guy could probably ride a broomstick double clear across the country!

Additionally, Kim Severson lessons are definitely on the agenda and in fact, are underway as poor Lyle is currently learning how to carry that very large body of his!

Diego (my dressage horse owned by my dear friend and patron Ann Wilson) and I are undergoing a complete “re-vamping” in our fundamentals, under Kim’s guidance. Before I had the opportunity to ride Diego, a 15.2 hand Andalusian gelding, I had mostly ridden Thoroughbreds with a few Warmbloods (and one, very awesomely cool Cleveland Bay) scattered in the mix. I was always used to using light aids and if I had to make a correction with my leg, a stern “kick” would usually do the trick. However, with Diego this is not so. Being that he is just “thick” (and spooky) enough, a kick with the leg doesn’t go far and the whip only makes him tense which disables me from getting his frame to drop and his nose pushed out. Although his show record has been impeccable, I know that this little creature has so much more to give, and more importantly, I know there are better means of riding him. So off to Kim we go! In one lesson, Kim taught me how to ride like “a German man” (in her own words) by using my leg as a wall and squeezing and holding it against his side for an aid instead of a swift “kick.” Needless to say, when I am not on horseback you can find me in the “legs” section at the gym doing countless squats, thigh strengthening and calf raises, and of course increasing my Wheaties intake.
She also taught me that with horses like Diego, who have an innate tendency to be dull, repetition in the dressage ring is ideal to teach them the aids correctly. It’s amazing how such small nuances that Kim pointed out have made such drastic changes in my riding! Every lesson with Kim is a reminder just how much more improvement needs to be made to my riding to be the very best, and believe me people, I am up for the challenge!

Outside of my own circle of horses, my clinic schedule and student’s horse shows have kept me very busy! I was lucky enough to have Heidi Seigmund come at the beginning of the summer to be a working student, along with her very talented bay Oldenburg/TB mare, High Sierra. Heidi started her summer show season off with a bang, bringing home the blue ribbon in the Novice Division at Surefire HT along with a coveted pair of Royal Rider Flexible Stirrups. Whenever I have to be out and about coaching or flying across the country to teach a clinic, I am very comfortable leaving my most prized possessions in Heidi’s very capable hands. I will sure miss her as she leaves to finish up her final year at William and Mary.

Aside from Heidi, I was very proud to coach some of my other very loyal and talented students who also achieved their personal best results. Alexus Taddonio, who also happens to own my first homebred Seajack, rocked around the preliminary course at Surefire HT to post a double clear XC (at her very first preliminary)...one of the few who added zero penalties in her young rider division. Bethany Astorino competed at her very first USEA recognized event at Loch Moy and aside from a few minor mistakes in the flat, performed the two jumping phases flawlessly to finish just outside the ribbons! Both of these girls have worked tremendously hard to achieve these results, and my grin couldn't be bigger!

Keeping on the coach’s hat, I recently flew out west to teach a handful of my Cali students (aka: my secret weapons) including my most favorite student of all (sorry guys), my mother! As soon as my plane touched CA soil I was in a teaching whirlwind, traveling from my mom’s farm in Georgetown to prepare my students for the upcoming Woodside HT and shooting over to Loomis to teach a jump/dressage clinic at the beautiful and spacious Dragonfire Farm. I cannot begin to tell you how nervous I was to help both Earl and Jen McFall, as both were idols of mine (and remain so till this day) as I grew up watching them take on various west coasts advanced tracks on tiny Thoroughbreds and Morgans back when my dreams of Rolex involved riding a stick horse across a make-shift track in our house that consisted of my mother’s hamper and my father’s computer desk. Man how time flies...and the memories just keep rolling on.

I arrived early at Woodside to help school my kids in the flat when yet another familiar face met my gaze: the great Yves Sauvignon. You cannot call yourself a true California event rider if you haven’t ridden with Yves, schooled near Yves, competed against Yves, or worn the infamous Oakridge XC colors of burgundy and white in which all of Yves’ students proudly display. Yves has brought many young riders along and helped them achieve their dreams of eventing grandeur such as Deanna Hines, Paul Ebersole, Earl McFall, Rainy Sealy....and the list continues to run rampant. While watching him confidently navigate a hesitant young Novice horse around the spooky show jump course at Woodside, I chuckled under my breath as it reminded me of where I learned how to properly use a “stick.” In my book, that man is one of the best coaches alive...his positive reinforcement, skills to challenge, and his uncanny ability to instill confidence in his students and their horses are what makes Yves one of the best coaches still to this day (and someone I strive to emulate). His distinguishable french accent certainly doesn’t hurt either...but I digress.

My Cali kids certainly came back from the Woodside eventing marathon with sweat over their brow but with smiles that could light up an endless New Mexico sky. They all possess many of the characteristics that I often see in myself, and their thirst to succeed is almost contagious. Rest assured East Coasters, when my Cali kids finally make the great pilgrimage out East they will be forces to reckon with. Mark my words.

Being back in CA again always makes me reminisce about the old days and seeing those familiar faces such as Valerie Owens, Valerie Mackey, Brian Sabo, and Derek and Bea DeGrazia makes me miss my native land that much more. Add to the fact that my whole family now resides on the west coast, well, let’s just say I am in a constant state of tug-of-war between my head and my heart. Part of me wants to move back to be closer to the people I care about the most, but the other part of me wants to remain on the east, and to continue to chase my dream. However, due to the firm grip my addiction to horses and eventing has over me, I think we all can predict the victorious side to that war...at least for now. Which leads me to my next train of thought...chasing the “actual” dream.

We all know that this sport of eventing is a tough one, both mentally and physically, but mostly, financially. Being that I have always owned my top horses along with my mother, there is constant financial pressure and lack of funds to show and get seen. In a perfect world, I would be competing in England with a string of four star mounts that couldn’t be counted on one hand. But back to reality, and while we are not as geographically advantaged as the Europeans, we certainly have the horse and rider talent right here in America, most of whom (myself included) just need that extra “push.” That being said, I would love to increase my horse arsenal to prepare for London, Normandy and Rio, and I am vigorously searching for owners who are as avid a horse enthusiast as I. I just need a chance...and I hope that someone out there, anywhere in the world, may read this blog and grant me the opportunity to do so.

So what shall you expect from Laine Ashker Eventing and Crow’s Ear Farm as the fall season quickly approaches? Putting BACK on my coach’s hat, I am traveling back to the west coast at least twice more to coach at Woodside and Galway in between the months of September and October. Next month I am traveling to the blue grass state of Kentucky to teach a clinic put on my Bill Kraatz. My clinic-ing season closes with a trip to Minnesota to teach the Croixside Pony Club in November. I feel like I will be riding a plane more than a horse in spanning the nation to teach these clinics, all for which I am equally amped.

Switching to competition mode, Lyle will continue learning the ropes at the Preliminary level with Mod and Affirminator trying their hand (or hoof) at Novice. The Champ will be back in action soon, but I have not yet consulted with Buck in regards to the best plan of action that sets us on the right track to London 2012. Diego Fuego will continue at Second Level in hopes of achieving a qualifying score for the GAIG (dressage championships) in the Fall and perhaps trying to tackle a few third level movements through the interim. As I dust my britches off, slip on my boots and crack my knuckles I can’t help but feel anxiously excited for what prospects lay ahead for me in the Fall of 2011. Until next time folks, sit back, relax, take a deep breath and EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE...for it’s what shapes our bittersweet success in the future. Cheers!

-Lainey

The Weekend That "Almost" Was...

Anybody that knows me can automatically assume that my results at this past Rolex were certainly not up-to-par with the expectations I had going into the event. Those that know me could also assume that it would probably be better to text me rather than call being that I have a very different way of dealing with my failures.

Truth be told I AM very disappointed with my results this past weekend. From a few unfortunate bobbles in the dressage, to a silly mistake on XC, to one of the most surprising and unlucky rails at the last fence in the SJ, things simply did not go the way I had originally planned. I would like to call this past event the Weekend of “Almosts”.

Allow me to elaborate: From the very beginning of the event (ie: the actual drive out to Lexington), things began to go awry. As mom and I were hauling through Staunton, VA my truck began to shut down during the long climb up the Appalachian mountain range. Once the shifting mechanism began to fail is when I started to get worried. With the help of my friend and fellow competitor William Coleman, I began calling everyone and anyone who happened to be in route to Rolex by way of VA in hopes that they could give Al a ride to the horse park. When I thought all hope was lost and I may have to saddle up Al and ride him to Kentucky, a tiny miracle came in the form of a large lorry slowly gaining on my now feeble and sickly truck. It was Allison Springer who came to save the day! After flagging she and her groom down, we were able to move Alex from my trailer to Allison’s lorry where he happily hauled next to his newfound trailer-mate, Arthur. Thank goodness for the benevolence of Ms. Springer as if she hadn’t come to my rescue, Al and I would probably STILL be in route to the blue grass state!

Al seemed to settle in quite quickly at the Kentucky Horse Park with ample hacks and hand walks from the Crow’s Ear A Team (Bronwyn, mom and myself). In fact, on Wednesday following the first trot up and the surprising and exhilarating evacuation of the horses due to inclement weather, I had some of the best dressage work of my career that was met with a high five and a smile from Kim as we formulated a plan for the following day of competition. Everything seemed to have settled down and it was now up to fate and hard work to be the deciding factor come the final round on Sunday.

On dressage day, Al’s first warm up was spectacular as I worked on “long and low” simultaneously pushing him forward encouraging him to use his back and soften at the base of his neck. He even seemed relaxed as we meandered down to the final warm up before our test in the palatial Rolex grandstand. I was mostly happy with his final warm up except for the fact that I never really quite got through to him in moving off my leg and accepting the bridle. I believe that this was the main reason why our winning scores from the trot work in the test plummeted during the canter work. Just that slight bit of tension that I was able to use to my advantage in the trot work simply escaped me in the canter which enabled him to spook in the counter canter and pick up the incorrect lead from the rein back. At any rate, my test went from being historical to “ho-hum” within one swift mistake which made me feel pretty disappointed in the overall performance.
Derek DeGrazia’s course was as big as it was technical. Every line and combination was filled with questions of straightness, precision and balance. It was a true testament of a four star course. However, I felt very confident despite the footing conditions that I could deliver a clear and confident ride...which I did (for the most part.) As I set out on course, my first goal was to keep Al relaxed and in front of my leg at the same time. After he jumped brilliantly into the first water, both he and I took a deep breath and turned our attention to the next question that loom ahead: the coffin. After a tremendous jump over the parallel oxer, I had my pace set for the coffin but before I could get Al’s attention onto the first element, he spooked at something outside the ropes, causing me to begin to pull to find my distance instead of leg him forward as a correction. As we crawled over the first jump, I was sure I could get him to jump over the ditch then quickly take the option for the C element in the coffin. However, the damage had already been done and Alex was extremely offended at my less-than-desirable decision to pull on his mouth before a serious four star coffin question....UNDERSTANDABLY so. I couldn't help but think to myself in the approach to the coffin that I should let go and that I shouldn’t pull but for some reason my reaction time couldn't follow suit. Following the stupid stop, I hopped over the ditch to the alternative C option, gave Al an “I’m sorry” pat on the neck and kicked on. The trouble with having a silly stop so early in the course is that many a time we riders get the “loser’s limp” being that we know we are out of the game so to speak. However, my initial plan following the coffin mishap was that I OWED Al a good ride around the rest of the course and to demonstrate to the selectors that even in adversity (even though it was self-inflicted), I could still keep my focus and finish even stronger than I had started. Al simply FLEW across that course, taking every direct route and making it look like child’s play. Even as we floated across the finish line I was happy to have a horse underneath me who wasn’t mired with exhaustion and fatigue. Thanks to my Crow’s Ear Crew (Abbey, Ann, B, April and mom), Al cooled out in minutes and was able to go back to the comfort of his stall to get some much needed rest.

The rest of the night was a gloomy one for me. Because I take this sport and my dream so seriously, I have a hard time of making light of my mistakes and simply moving on. Instead, I fill my head with self-loathing and criticisms and replay the mistake over and over in my head. Not only is it hard on myself, everyone around me feels the need to walk on eggshells so as not to say anything that may make me delve deeper into my misery. It’s just not right. In fact, that is the one thing that I have yet to learn and probably is what’s keeping me from achieving the greatness I so desperately long for: learning how to deal with mistakes in the aftermath.

Sunday morning I made myself promise that I would finish the event strong. I changed my attitude from self-pity to funnel vision as I walked around the twisty and massive show jumping course. After formulating a plan of striding in the combinations, it was time to turn that plan into action as I sprang aboard Alex and headed down to the Grandstand. I entered the arena confidently and organized as I turned toward the first fence. Al jumped superbly leaving all fences untouched...except one. As we landed from the last fence and crossed the finish line I looked up at the scoreboard to see if I had made the time and indeed had a double clear. I was rejoiced to see that I had added nothing to my cross country score and celebrated my round with a smile and hug to my amazing equine partner. My celebration was met with an unsurmountable cheer from the audience which raised my morale tenfold. It was only when I exited the ring that I learned of the ill-fated final jump where Al must’ve just touched it with his hind hoof. “You’re a work in progress” were the words that Captain Mark Phillips muttered as he set his attention onto another nervous rider ready to take on the tough show jumping course. Indeed, I AM a work in progress, but when will the work be over to achieve the results that I want, if ever? I knew on the XC course the mistake I made while I was doing it, but why did I even make the mistake in the first place? When will I stop having to learn things the hard way? The answer to that my friends, escapes me at the moment. Time and experience will only tell.

We ended our second four star sitting in 20th place and taking home the 10th place national title...a far cry from the top three goal I had originally set. The thing is, I know that Al and I have what it takes and have even demonstrated brilliance in all three phases, I just haven’t been able to connect the three at one time. Frustrating to say the least...

I am however, SO thankful to have above all, a happy and healthy horse while on my drive back to Virginia. My happy and healthy horse is currently being pulled by a recently fixed Dodge truck that just keeps tickin’ despite the 250,000 plus miles I have managed to accumulate on it. My amazing mother who rides with me through every course, combination, and movement and who can personally feel the disappointment in my heart when things don’t always go as planned. To my father who is slowly gaining back his faith in the event world after swearing against it over three years ago. To my steadfast grandparents who would travel to the ends of the globe to watch me achieve a dream that I so vehemently chase after. To Bronwyn for knowing when to give me my space and take Al for a graze. To my students and friends, for their devotion to my passion and my cause. To Dr. Douglas Berry, for donating his time and helpful anecdotes in order to push me along the path to success. To my friend and vet, Dr. Sarah Gold who made sure Al and I were “taken care of” despite our whereabouts and differing locations. To my farrier Ben Zook, for his open mindedness and yearn for perfection in the art of horse shoeing. To Tom and Jennifer Newton for putting my dreams before their needs. To my sponsors and supporters, for keeping both my horses and myself looking and feeling at our prime. But most of all, I want to thank my horse, Anthony Patch. It is only when I am aboard that tiny little creature that I feel limitless and unbeatable. Thank you Al for allowing me to feel like Bettina Hoy on a daily basis...one day, I WILL do you justice and your talent WILL be noticed. Until then folks, loosen your girth, undo the throat latch....and in the lyrical words of Pam Tillis, “Let that pony RUN!” Cheers!

Lainey Ashker

Wake-Up Call!

There are two types of people in this world: Those who do as they’re told, and those who just have to learn things the hard way. I, my friends, am CLEARLY a member of the latter group of hard-headed characters. As many of you have probably noticed by now, my results at the Fork did not quite go as planned, but isn’t that what eventing is about after all: Knowing all of your alternate routes in case the direct line doesn’t seem to pan out? I guess it’s not only an eventing lesson, but a life lesson no doubt!

Dressage day at the Fork was one of mixed reactions for me. I had a wonderful warmup on Al, an even better dressage test, followed by one of the most memorable moments of my life when CMP gave me the coveted “high five,” then I was brought down to earth when Brian O’Connor announced my score of 33.0. Ahhh such is life! When you think you’re up, you’re down and vice versa. Upon later review of my test, I was ecstatic that EVERY flying lead change was clean and my corners were used and movements well executed. Whether the judge saw it the same way as I felt it is obsolete at this point: My lessons are finally starting to register! To date I believe it is the best test Al and I have ridden...the key words here being, “TO DATE.” That’s right folks, we are saving our best efforts for two weeks down the road...

Cross country day brought a few clouds looming overhead scattering some rain here and there but the footing held up for the horses throughout the day. I had a phenomenal round in the morning aboard my sale horse Rising Spirit, who laughed her way around the intermediate course clocking in precisely on optimum time. Being that May is such a “forward thinking” horse, she really encourages me to “settle” in my riding early in the course, as her rhythm rarely changes. When I set out on Al, I pressed myself to parallel the same feeling I had earlier aboard May.

As Al cantered down to the first fence, I felt nothing but confidence and wind between my Heritage gloves and Al’s webbed reins. In fact, the whole course went so brilliantly that at the final double corner combination, I softened just a bit too much to the second, thus giving Al an open door for the run out. Being that our nearly PERFECT advanced cross country record was now marred due to my overconfidence, the walk back to the barn was a very, VERY long one (Valerie Ashker can certainly attest to this)!

For the rest of the evening and throughout the night I replayed the run out over and over, wondering what I could have done better and why I could have let this happen? When all of my responses came back insignificant and somewhat inane, I decided to listen to my mom tell me the answer I did not want to hear. “WAKE UP CALL!” Truth be told it has been a long time since I have had a refusal on a cross country course and perhaps the Fork was the ideal time for me to learn yet another, difficult lesson: Never get too comfortable. Being that my round felt so confident and easy aboard Al, I let my guard down and softened the reins ASSUMING he would hold the straight line that I placed him on for the double corners. Tisk tisk Lainey Evion! One should NEVER soften to a corner, let alone an advanced level one! What was I thinking?! And to this I would refer my students to the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do!”

The point being here is that we are all human beings. We all make mistakes. Although my mistake cost me a twenty penalty markup to my dressage score, I hope it will give me that added encouragement when the next set of double corners present themselves in Kentucky! Consider this a lesson learned!

The final day at the Fork was a tough one for some, including me. Although my intermediate horse jumped a flawless round to finish second in the class, I was unable to show jump Alex due to a twisted shoe on course the day prior (probably a result of my misgiving...or lack thereof). The farrier fixed the shoe just fine, but I just couldn't risk an injury being that Rolex is now so close, so I figured I would save the Phenom for another day...preferably two weeks from now.

I am happy to write that the horses have all been moved in and are settling in superbly to my new barn at Rockville Equestrian Center. Lynn Woychick and her lovely daughter Caitlynn have been overtly hospitable which has made the whole moving process an enjoyable one. As the clock keeps ticking my focus now turns to maintaining Alex’s fitness while snagging some last minute lessons from Kim to perfect those tiny 8 meter circles! Until then folks, tighten up those shoulder in angles and perfect that 5-loop canter serpentine! We’ve got a four star to win!

-Lainey

Mind Over Matter

This week’s Katie Prudant clinic was an extremely informative experience albeit a humbling one. To be quite honest, I can’t say I remember being so nervous to ride for an instructor since Buck freaked me out in Hong Kong 2007 upon the looming arrival of the infamous George Morris. After polishing my bits and bleaching my saddle pads (and my teeth), both Al and May (and their pilot) were poised to show their stuff! Thus, Day One of lessons with the Queen of the Poles began!

I have always been an advocate of visual learning. Lucky for me I got to watch my group partners Phillip Dutton, Will Faudree and Doug Payne tackle Katie’s tough yet educational SJ exercises. In both lessons we started with about thirty minutes of flat work, perfecting (or trying to in some cases) the flying changes from the SEAT, collection to extension work, and finding a distance over a series of poles placed on the ground. Surprisingly enough, when we began having to fit a certain number of strides in between two lonesome poles on the ground, that’s when the hard work began! Allow me to tell you from experience that it makes the exercise a whole lot harder when your horse (ahem...Al) tends to jump the inanimate pole on the ground as if it were a four foot oxer! However, after a few test runs Al finally realized that the pole really wasn't a trick question and that it was indeed just a pole lying flatly on the ground...doing absolutely nothing.

After we conquered the evil pole drill, we swiftly moved onto our course work. In one particular exercise, Katie set up a line of three fences across a crooked diagonal that rode in a variety of steps, which (here comes the hard part) we had to decide BEFORE riding the line. Knowing that I need to work on balancing from my seat without allowing my horses to fall behind my leg, I took on the line in a steady five strides to five strides, bending it out if I needed more room. Wallah! My plan of attack worked wonders and both my horses jumped like rockstars!

Day Two with KP met us with a deluge of rain! Fortunately, the wonderful Peter Barry was generous enough to donate his breathtaking farm and convenient covered arena to avoid any jumps and/or trainers floating away. My first lesson with May went spectacularly as we honed in on grid work and depth perception. My second lesson was equally as informative but was constantly being interrupted by random downpours and violent bouts of lightening and thunder. At one point in my lesson I remember adjusting my gaze outside of the indoor and seeing Matt Flynn, who also happens to board at Peter’s barn, doing a trot set aboard a talented and unsuspecting young horse literally in the midst of a downpour. Matt’s eyes squinted trying to dodge the angry rain that pelleted down on his helmet as his horse obediently kept the buoyant rhythm and frame despite the weather. I came to the realization from Matt’s act of determination and fortitude against Mother Nature of why I love this sport so much: We eventers are simply resilient...

Looking back on both days’ lessons, the common reminder that Katie would unhesitatingly shout was “THINK through your course.” There is never any excuse to miss a distance or approach a fence unbalanced and that although we have the tools to execute a clean show jumping round, eventers (or other normal human beings) lack the actual PERCEPTION to deliver. It’s what I keep reading over and over in Mind Gym people, MIND over MATTER. Perhaps Mrs. Prudant owns a copy of this irreplaceable competitor’s bible? Speculate as you wish for the world may never know...

And thus April is upon us. Which can only mean one thing...or two...or three rather. For one, April plays host to two of my favorite events, the Fork and Rolex. And finally, my time in Wagener is up. I will miss hearing the constant bickering of the hens in the morning over the premiere sun-bathing spot. Or watching Sarah feed the baby lamb his daily formula, which he is happy to remind you about once every five minutes. I will miss driving into the barn and watching all of my beautiful horses poke their heads out of their stalls one by one to greet me with nickers and neighs alike while awaiting for the start of the work day eagerly and happily. I will miss the sand roads, the random fox hunt of about ten riders who boisterously would traverse the property...I will miss my beloved Guppy toy... and so it’s safe to say guys, I will miss Shadow Lane Farm. I will miss Wagener.

So as I bid adieu to South Carolina, both mom and I are excited to enter the North for the Fork. The horses and I will arrive a few days prior to competition for some helpful “ringmanship” sessions with the Captain, who I am hoping will see a trend of progression in both Alex and myself. This weekend Al is set to run in the Advanced class and May in the Intermediate. Until then folks, elbows in and heels down! Here’s to some floaty trot extensions and immaculate show jumping rounds!

-Lainey Ashker

***Above photos courtesy of Pamela Eckelbarger of hoofpix.com. Thank you to Pamela for capturing some great moments at not only the KP clinic, but many of the other Aiken Training Sessions as well!

A SmartPak Cooler and A Blue Ribbon to Ring in the Month of March!

OK, I officially receive an “F” for updating my blog as promised. Truth be told, this past month has gone by with epic speed therefore rendering me useless when it comes to spending time alongside my laptop (unless it involves logging onto FaceBook of course!)

So, let’s see...where to start? In order to avoid a drab and tedious account of the past month’s happenings, I’ll provide a quick update on each horse and then jump to the most recent of shows, Southern Pines II.

Lyle has been improving his flat work and jumping skills tremendously. However, I must keep reminding myself that he is only five years old, as his aptitude for learning towers over most OTTBs that both mom and I have had the opportunity to train. He is a serious horse for the future, without a doubt!

Two weekends prior from now, Diego finally had his long-awaited opportunity to strut his stuff in DQ land! At his first recognized show, he took home the blue for his superb test in Second Level Test One and fourth place in First Level Test Four. Always a perfectionist, I still would like to get him in the seventy percentile range as opposed to the upper sixties but strength training and conditioning are always done over a long period of time...so I am very confident that they too will come.

As many of you know I recently was given the ride aboard Rising Spirit and since I have had the opportunity to ride this amazing mare to sell for Sarah Heffron, my confidence has paralleled that of her “Breyer Horse-like” name. She has now competed successfully at her first two intermediates, placing third in the first and fifth in the second. On the off chance that she doesn't sell immediately, I really am hoping that I will somehow stumble upon a patron who is willing to purchase the mare for me to ride...that can catapult us to international stardom!

Now, onto the champ himself. What I love about that little horse is his ability to make things look so seemingly easy! From the countless shoulder ins down center line that Mark makes us perform to an Advanced cross country course in the pouring down rain, Al always seems to handle the pressure with ease, despite his pilot’s decisions, or lack thereof. I was very pleased this past weekend to have led from start to finish with Al. I believe that finally, our hard work and beloved grant money (which is rapidly disappearing from my bank account) is beginning to pay off!

One of the biggest changes in my dressage has been my attention to detail, which both Mark and Kim have really helped me to identify. At Southern Pines, my primary goal was to perform an accurate dressage test and try to leave no stone unturned, and no corner untouched. Although my changes still need some honing, I am quite pleased with the lateral and extension work aboard my wonder boy.

Cross country at SoPo was a whole other scene from the sunny day of geometry tests prior. I was lucky enough to stay relatively dry on May’s spectacular intermediate XC round which I was happy about considering I was wearing white britches! However, as I began to put in Al’s studs for XC, my original small grass tips were suddenly replaced with mediums as the rain began to pour down with conviction! Soon enough, Al and I sucked it up, tightened our belt (and girth), and headed out for the start box in the midst of a deluge. After about fifteen minutes of warming up (which was really quite an oxymoron at this point), our number was called and we began to circle the start box with anticipation and excitement of what was to come. Although I knew I was lying in first place before XC, I did not plan on going for the optimum time as it was both Al’s and my first advanced back of the year, and I was wanting to provide a confidence instilling round, rather than just a fast paced one!

As we set out on course, my original plan to start off slowly was somewhat amped up due to the inclement weather. Being that the rain was pelleting in both Al’s and my eyes in the approach to our fences, I found that Al was a bit stickier in the beginning of the course than usual. I therefore started riding him a bit firmer after the first couple fences, to ensure he wouldn't lose confidence despite the angry weather. After fence four, we were well on our way and I was able to scale back and allow Al to settle with plenty of pats in between the jumps throughout our gallop lanes. The advanced track at SoPo was a bit “twistier” than previous years, with many opportunities to interrupt the XC flow if the rider began to ride too backwards! Being that this is one of my weak points with Al (because quite frankly, he listens to me way too intently) I am very happy to report that I am greatly improving in this area as Kentucky begins to creep closer.

As we crossed the finish line, I was met with a boisterously cheerful greeting squad of my mother and Sophia Zeier, who flew all the way across the country to enjoy the downpour on the east coast, as if the California rain wasn't enough! Both Al and May spent the next two hours swapping positions in the Whirlpool boots and we ended the cold and wet day with an hour or two of hand walking and grazing, much to the horses’ delight!

However, Saturday wasn't a great day for all...quite the contrary actually. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to Arden, Michael and Nat with the loss of their spectacular mounts. Losing a horse is never easy; losing one that you share each day along side and on top is demoralizing. However, Mandar and Dekorum are in greener pastures now running and jumping with the likes of Frodo, Jamie, Peewee, and of course my beloved Guppy. What a sad, sad day for eventing.

The weather didn't help the already melancholy atmosphere at Southern Pines on Day Three. Although it was immensely colder, I think we were all relieved to finally be dry and kept our fingers crossed that Mother Nature would find it in her heart to fend off the Rain Gods for the time being. I was worried that the new SJ venue comprised of grass footing would be torn up after one prelim, two intermediate and two advanced divisions had a go of it before Al had his chance. However, when I set out over the first obstacle in Sally Ike’s tricky show jumping course, I was reminded that the Southern Pines sand is no stranger to rain and soaks it all up making the footing quite cushy without being slippery! Al jumped like his normal freak self with a classically clear round to hold onto our three day lead in the Advanced B class! My, that boy has wings!!!

This week will be one of the busiest as May and Al and I not only have multiple lessons with the show jumping legend herself, Katie Prudant, but we are also packing our life up to head north back to VA, by way of the infamous Fork! We will be arriving at the Fork early where we will have the opportunity to ride under the watchful eye of CMP before competition commences on Thursday. In the meantime, to avoid boredom and over grooming my horses, I will set out a plan to find Kellie Pickler and educate her on the dynamics of C-A-L-A-M-A-R-I! Until then folks, shoulders back, eyes forward, and keep your eyes on the prize!
-Lainey