Ocala, Part I

Wow! Just writing about the speedy manner in which these last few weeks have passed makes me tired. Where shall I begin? The trip down to sunny Florida went smooth as silk and all of the boys walked onto the sandy footing both healthy and hydrated. As soon as we unpacked the trailer, the work began. Because I only had a week to prepare Frodo for the upcoming Winter Training List Sessions I guess you could say our regimen of fitness was “fast-forwarded” a few weeks. With an exciting cross country school, a few jumps lessons, and some schooling on the flat, the boys were now in full work in preparation for the upcoming show season. After a week of being in Ocala, another addition to the string of horses arrived to Buck Davidson Stables in the form of a chestnut mare named Corona owned by my dear friend and coach, Marcia Carabell. She will be a great addition to the string of Crow’s Ear Farm horses.
Frodo was the first to experience any kind of pressure from the rigors of traveling. The training sessions were held at the Florida Horse Park, in Ocala from January 21-23. The first two days would be show jumping with the amazing Laura Kraut, show jumper extraordinaire, and the always critical Captain Mark Phillips would help on the flat work for the final day. To my surprise, Frodo stepped his game up. He jumped so well that Laura commented on how “careful” he was over fences, which, if anyone knows Frodo’s and my jumping rounds in the past, was an extraordinary compliment. The first day of show jumping with Laura consisted of grid work and bending lines, to improve the arch of the horse’s jump and to hone in on the rider’s positions. Frodo jumped with ease and incredibly, no tension whatsoever, which made my job a lot easier. The second day would prove to be more difficult but all the more informative. Laura had set up an intermediate level course for all of us to perform in order to work on our horse’s canters in between the obstacles. She also set up tricky lines and distances to ensure that we rider’s were making the correct decisions about speed at the approach and departure in combinations. Because Frodo has always been a bit difficult as the number of fences increases, I was little nervous about losing that relaxation that I had been able to establish the day before. To make matters worse, Captain Mark Phillips surprised all of us by being present and watching all of the horse and rider combinations in their jump schools with Laura. I knew that I would have my hands full when Mark stopped me in the middle of my warm up to inform me that my position was all wrong. For show jumping, I needed to be more forward in the saddle, and extend my arms even more to allow Frodo his neck and freedom in his back. A year ago, had someone drastically changed my position at a prestigious clinic in front of the most important horse people I have met, I would have probably made a complete fool out of myself. However, during the lesson, as Mark came up to me to comment on my position, I became a sponge, soaking up any information he and Laura had to offer. When my turn finally came around to jump my course, Frodo and I do so flawlessly, much to both Laura’s and Mark’s surprise! In fact, because it was so good in their eyes, I only had to do it once! Needless to say, I was very proud of my Frody and myself for not buckling under pressure. The final day was a dressage lesson with Mark. Having had the opportunity to work with him in England with Alex before Hong Kong, I was greatly looking forward to the chance to work on some difficulties that I had with Frodo. Right away, Mark sent me into the canter where we would stay for most of the lesson. We worked on flying changes, doing four loop serpentines with flying changes on the center line. I can’t tell you how much I felt like a dressage queen leaving that lesson! My smile must have been visible from here to the other end of the ring. Overall, Frodo and I did a great job for our first time being apart of the USEF Winter Training List. I cannot tell you how much of an honor it was to be along side people like Amy Tryon, Karen O’Connor, Stephen Bradley, and Darren Chiacchia to name a few. I even got the chance to see the infamous Theodore O’Connor and Poggio jump together around a few courses. The whole experience was simply amazing.
With all the training sessions over and finished, the show season will begin with the first outing at Rocking Horse in Altoona, FL. I will be riding both Seajack in the training and Corona in the beginning novice. Still have had a hard time finding help which always takes a toll on not only my physical strength but even more that of the mental. Please keep your fingers crossed on finding an adequate groom to suit my horses and my needs. I will be in touch in a few weeks. Make sure to check out the Rolex website (www.rk3de.org) and read up on Frodo’s and my progress towards the coveted four star title. From down south in Ocala, Frodo, Alex, Eric, Baby Seajack and Coronita all send their regards!!! Stay tuned!

Lainey

Recent Important News

Hello all! I have some recent updates I thought you should know about:
First and foremost, it has been announced that Frodo and I made the short list for next year's olmypic games in Hong Kong. Being on the winter training list, as I have heard, entails a lot of hard work and determination which is right up Frodo's and my alley! The clinics for the training list will start at the end of January prompting my boys and I to head down south a little earlier than expected.
Secondly, I am so thrilled to say that my deceased equine star, the apple of my mother's eye, Eight Saint James Place is going to be honored at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** every year by naming the trophy to the three star winner the Eight Saint James Place Trophy. In addition to that honor, a tree and gravestone have also been planted at the Horse Park of New Jersey that oversees the water fence thanks to the great people at the horse park of NJ, Ann and Troy Glaus, Wendy Bebie, Kristen Bond and Buck Davidson, Darren Chiacchia, Jess and Matt Kiener, and Carl and Cassandra Siegal. Also, Brendan Furlong and Associates gave a grant of money in Jamie's name in research to study anurisms in horses and the reasons for their happenings. I cannot tell you amazing it feels to have your horse loved not only by myself and my mother, but by the whole eventing community as a whole. Jamie's legend will live on forever because of what these eight groups of people have done. For that, I am so greatly appreciative.
Finally, the end of the year rider rankings from the USEA were published and because of Frodo's excellent standing at Fairhill and Alex's phenomenal showing at Ocala and because of my horse's consistency throughout the whole year, they helped me to finish 12th in the overall rankings and 7th in the woman standings in the whole nation, which also includes foreign riders riding in our country! What a feat!!! Stay tuned for more!

Remembering Eleanor

As I sit here typing on my phone and reminisce about the past month my mind is sent into a vast whirlwind. Fairhill ended up with the results I have always longed for: a position in the eyes of the us selectors.

Not slowing down, I took alex to rubicon to hop over a prelim course before the two star in Ocala, where he performed effortlessly and won with flying colors. Driving down to Ocala was a long and tedious pilgrimage but nevertheless proved to be a fruitful and gratifying experience when al came 6th and we finally got a a qualifying result at the two star level. On a sadder note, a fellow competitor and close equine comrade, eleanor brennan was killed in an accident going xc which also took her horses life, mister barnabus. Her death has effected not only my morale, but also the morale of the eventing sport as a whole. Although I do believe our course designers are doing fantastic jobs of fabricating safer courses, I believe as riders and endorsers of this grueling sport, perhaps we should take a step back to put things in perspective. Eleanors and barneys (her horse) deaths will not go in vain. We as competitors need to find a more innovative way of protecting our younger equine and human athletes. Eleanor is survived by her loving mother, cristine and her younger sister isabel, both of whom are horse lovers. With my highest respects, I send them my condolences during such a traumatic and gruesome time in their lives. Eleanors 4 star horse, bailey zwei, passed earlier this year so I know now she has been reunited with her long lost equine partner. I love eleanor and will deeply miss seeing her illuminating smile and contagious cheery attitude at all the events. Until next time, be safe, and give your ponies a few extra carrots for me!

Fall Competition is Underway

Well, fall has arrived and boy has she come too quick for my liking. With the arrival of autumn comes the beautiful leaf color changes, comfortable afternoons, and trick-or-treating but also it comes with frigid nights, a hectic show schdule, and increasingly shortened daylight!!! I love the fall dont get me wrong, but sometimes I feel as if there is not enough daylight or weekdays for my busy schedule.

Since we've been back from Hong Kong, all the horses are in full gear for their fall seasons, including Alex. A week after I returned home from China and England, poor Seajack and Frodo were rushed into their work schedules and shoved into the trailer to head for another show in northern VA, Loudoun HT. Thankfully, they werent totally out of shape as a good friend and student of mine, Lynn Cruiser, was kind enough to hack them out a few times while I was away. Even though I felt a little unprepared for the show, the boys were true gentlemen bringing home both a second and eighth placed ribbon. Not too shabby for only having been in work for little more than a week!!!

Following Loudoun, I had two weeks to prepare for the Area 2 Championships where all three of my horses were competing. Poor Alex thought he should deserve a nice break after being away for so long but I told him, that he will get a break when he behaves himself in all THREE disciplines. All three of them ceased to amazing me at Five Points HT. Although I thought all three were slighted on their dressage marks, they still were able to perform at their best bringing home a fifth in the advanced division, second in the intermediate, and ninth in the training level. What's more, none of my horses touched a single rail on show jumping day which really made me thrilled!!! Finally, some of the hard work is beginning to pay off...hopefully I havent spoken too soon!

With Fairhill in the horizon, I have been hard pressed to push Frodo to get the collection and extension work in the dressage that I know he can demonstrate. With help from Kim Severson, I believe we are getting somewhere...Also, with help from Derek Reed in the show jumping as well as the Deep Run schooling jumper shows, Frodo and I have both made vast improvements on the phase we have the most difficulty mastering...now, I sort of look forward to the show jumping phase with Frodo...sort of! Nevertheless, Fairhill is approaching and approaching in a rapid manner. My goal, in its antipaction, is not to overreact and to make sure Frodo peak's at Fairhill and not elsewhere as my mother so avidly reminds me. This sport can be so stressful on the riders but moreso for our equine comrades as they have no control over how much they are being pushed and too often hide their emotions until the big day comes along. It's our responsibility as riders and horselovers, to keep a watchful eye over our friends and if it means one less dressage school and one more trail ride then so be it. I have a newfound respect for horses like Jamie who were in the sport so long and never blinked an eye no matter how tough the going became.

So, onward and upward...with Morven Park coming up this weekend, I plan to run Frodo in just the combined test to be able to school in the dressage and show jumping rings once more before the big day. With a little hope and faith, and a lot of hard work...you might just be seeing a little black horse gallop his way into the eyes of the Olympic selectors. Keep your fingers crossed that luck will always be on our side....stay tuned!

Lainey

Day Twenty-Two, Last Day in Hong Kong

It took a while to get up this morning....my head ached and i could feel the pains from being in a different country starting to wear on my body. if i was feeling this crummy, i wondered how poor al and reggie felt?

we headed out to the barn to jog the horses for christiana, they were both sound and happy. with that, buck and i hopped up and took them for a long hack to stretch their tired limbs in preparation for this evening's upcoming festivities in the grand show ring. buck and i then headed back to the hotel for some lunch and then showered and primped to get ready for the steadily approaching trot up. I came back to see Al all braided up adorned with hind quarter markers thanks to ms. fiona and jackie. everyone pitched in to show off how brilliant our american horses looked! buck and i both had successful jogs, thanks to the help of team USA. Following the jogs, we watched a few show jumping rounds of the local riders, then headed back to the barn to get dressed in our show jumping attire in time to meet mark outside the gate to walk the first of the show jumping courses. the course was as bright as times square, with lights as blinding as the sun that proved to be a little problematic for some, including my own. after a quick warm up, i was the first to show jump and left a little to be desired. my rythmn was all off, my horse felt either sluggish or quick, and after a few bobbles in the ring, i was relieved to be done with that course! after a few minutes of deliberation, mark told me that i needed to keep kicking and let go of al's mouth! so easier said than done, but nevertheless, quite correct! buck was a few after me in the ring to jump. reggie sailed over all of the fences making them seem like a beginning novice course and bringing home a double clear for team usa. buck rode him with suck fluidy and poise, one couldnt tell the seperation between the horse and his rider. Since Mark had to jet back to england, George Morris was the new coach for the second round of show jumping. George had watched my horse warm up and watched our performance in the ring and had very few words to say: "Let him go..." That was it, and boy did it make a difference! Alex and i once again entered the ring, this time with more confidence. We sailed around the course with almost a faultless round except for one stubborn second to last fence that al barely touched mostly because my shoulders came too forward. George was very happy with our performance as was my true coach buck, who's words before i entered the ring were, "gallop him like you're doing xc!" proved incredibly helpful for me, as always. After a high five and a hug, Buck hopped on Reggie, quickly warmed up, and had another splendid double clear round, accompanied with voicetrous "ooos" and "awwwws" of the crowd. Buck had jumped into seventh place from tenth from his two professionally ridden rounds. It was surely a job well done.

After the closing ceremonies, I looked into the olynpic grandstand and thought of a past time when i was a little girl, acting like a horse in my hometown of shingle springs california. little did i know that the one dream that remained true for my whole life, to be an equestrian olympian, would finally come true. although it isnt the exact olympics, to be given this opportunity to represent my country, to work with the honorable individuals that i did, to ride in the venue that will host the actual olympics in less than a year, and to do it all on the horse that i trained myself, made me swell with pride. certainly i wanted to perform better and bring home a gold medal. however, what i learned in the time of two weeks here in hong kong made up for two years of information i would have attained at home, which is worth more than any first place prize. there is truly no price for experience, something that people my age and position in this sport must pay dearly for. This has been the most momentous experience for me; an "experience of a lifetime" if you will, and I have grown not only as a rider, but as a person as has Alex. I want to thank my mother, Valerie, for her steadfast support of a sport that knows no limits. I want to thank my father, Michael, who's presence even from California feels as close as if he were in the stands watching me, as I know he wanted to. My grandparents, for following me and my horses creating a global trail full of hoofprints. To Jackie Jenkins, for striving for excellence, on a daily basis. To my coach Buck, who I look up to not only as a rider but as a big brother. To Mark Ivie, for keeping Crow's Ear Farm in full swing even when we are gone. To the USEF, for allowing me and my family, both human and equine, to be apart of the american olympic dream. I have learned that the bittersweet path to success in all things pursued takes both failure and fortune. Those who truly strive to be the best, never cease nor fade away. Like true champions, they keep pushing forward, no matter the setbacks. Like George Morris told me, "trust yourself," I will forever strive to be the best, to follow the path of my olympic dream, and NEVER look back. Hope you all enjoyed my blogs! Have a safe and fun fall season!

Day Twenty One, Beas River XC Comp

Day 21:

From the start today proved to be less than desired. When we arrived to the Beas river xc venue, we were informed that alex was a little colicy throughout the evening and needed fluids. However, he was fine following the fluid intake. Then the rain came and boy it came with a vengeance. The competition was numerously postponed because the ice van kept getting stuck from all the mud.

Buck was the first out on reggie and, despite feeling under the weather, had a brilliant go around adding on thirty seconds worth of time penalties onto his dressage score. After his feedback and marks advice, I was ready to go. I headed out of the box with confidence in my horse and myself but soon thereafter, my confidence plummetted when he stopped at the first real tough angled brushes on the beginning of the course. My main objective was to get his confidence following the bobble and the rest of the loop was successful with alex galloping in relaxed, steady strides. however, the second lap around, at the same exact fence, I approached it more cautiously causing him to get in too deep and stop. I was so bummed out by this but still had a job to do.
I quickly got an over the course and neatly cantered around the remainder and came home with a healthy, sound horse. ALS temp cane down the fastest of all the horses so that was nice to know.

I was very disappointed with my round. I wanted so much to prove myself on this international turf but it proved to be not so. I got myself together and met with the press, who of course poked and prodded the mistakes that occurred earlier. All I could reply was that it just wasn't our day, as I know from experience on this horses back that he and I are more than capable for the task. Chalk it up to experience. I'll be the first to show jump tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to show how its done.

Day Twenty, Dressage Competition

I could hardly wake up when the alarm sounded at 4:30 this morning. My bones ached, my head hurt, and overall I felt quite crummy. Soon enough, I found out that I wasnt the only one feeling a little shaky. I could hear Buck arrive to the shuttle from his incessant coughing. I think being in a different country is finally starting to take its toll. Nevertheless, we arrived to the barn, hopped on the horses, hopped off the horses, and prepared them for the 7:30 am trot up. Despite some last minute changes and set backs, everyone was ready and surprisingly prepared enough to have successful jogs. Following the jogs, both Buck and I went to our allotted corners in the tack room to focus on our upcoming dressage rides. Buck listened to his Ipod while I read my mind gym while the hustle and bustle going on around us seemed to dissapear into thin air. Finally, Buck was ready to get on Reggie to start his dressage warm up. After about thirty five minutes, he was ready to head into the main ring to perform his test. A little aprehensive about going into the ring, Reggie turned out a splendid test that surprisingly didnt get the scores that it deserved. However, Buck was happy with Reggie's performance and being that he is so young, moved on with a bright grin on his face despite not feeling all that well. With a score of 58.0, he will surely be in the running on the final day. After Buck's test it was my que to hop on Al and begin my preparations for the dressage test. After a good half hour warm up with Mark, Al was ready to head into the ring. While I was heading around the massive olympic venue, Al seemed relaxed, which in turn made me follow suit. My nerves settled down as I entered the ring and zeroed in on my test. Despite being quite behind my leg, Al was a rock star, scoring a 53.4 which grasped second place which only three more riders to go. The next rider, a Brit riding a four star horse Don Giovanni, had a wonderful test which came less than a point below mine, squeezing me out of the second place position and into the third. I ended the day in fourth place, which is strategically a good place for me to be, being inexperienced at the international level. Despite this, I was happy to have been in second for at least six minutes with people like Nicolaus Tuissant (Olympic Gold medalist), Shane Phillips (Australian olympian), my coach Buck Davidson, and other highly accredited international riders in my class. After getting tons of carrots and pets, Al was left alone while Jackie and Kathleen packed the horses' things for their ride to Beas river, where the xc course is held. Buck and I headed earlier to the venue to walk the course and then head back to the hotel for an early dinner and an early bedtime. So, with this day finally done, the competition feels like it's really underway. I am very pleased with Al's professionalism and maturity in the ring, which is something I was apprehensive about in the beginning. Tomorrow is another day, and I will ride the horse I have on that day. Although I have a Plan A, as every rider knows, sometimes plan b, c, and d become the new plans of attack. I am eager to attack the course tomorrow with Al, but as Buck reminded me, I have to ride smartly. That is, I cant come out of the gate bursting with enthusiasm that would essentially scare Al. I plan to come out quite relaxed and let the course carry us around. At the end of the day, he will tell me the speed and endurance he has in store for me tomorrow. Stay tuned for an excited xc report! Keep your fingers crossed that the Americans kick some butt like we did in Rio. We sure have some big shoes to fill (or small if you're alluding to "The Pony"). See you tomorrow!