Well we are on the road again, leaving for the American Eventing Championships. I realized I have yet to talk about my weekend at Richland Park, which I was very pleased about.
Cambalda did his second advanced, and though his dressage test carried a bit of tension in the walk work, I was happy with it. He is still green at the level, obviously, but he is handling the challenges fairly well.
Walkabout, who is very, very green at the level, did his first two-star dressage test. He handled the pressure well, but there is still room for improvement.
The cross-country courses were beautiful and built very well. I thought there were some serious questions on both the two-star and advanced tracks. I have to say that I was a bit nervous for both of horses knowing their level of greeness.
The footing was incredible as well, and Walkabout jumped around clean and near time while Cambalda sailed around double clear. Ping felt incredible—like the real deal—while Walkabout is getting more and more rideable. Ian Stark even talked to me about how much he liked Will, which made me very happy considering how much time and energy and faith I’ve put into him.
Saturday night was Arden Wildasin’s 17th birthday party, and her dad graciously gave her a cake with an ear of corn on it resembling the fence she had a stop at in the two-star that day! Nice sense of humor…
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I was incredibly pleased with both horses in the show jumping. Each laid down double-clear rounds. Ping moved to fourth behind Allison Springer’s Arthur and Phillip’s Woodburn and The Foreman. What a good boy for a green horse! Will finished sixth out of 30-some in his first two-star. Considering where his training is right now, I was so thrilled with that as well.
Meanwhile, back at home Ryan Wood rode my young horse Indie for me at Loudon because I couldn’t get him into Richland, and he needed the run before the AECs this weekend. He won on a 16! How unreal is that? I was on Cloud Nine all week after such a great weekend. I’ve never been an owner before, and he did an unreal job!
Thank you as well to the Gardners and the owners of Walkabout—Dave Bogenrief and Joy Ouy.
I am thrilled to get to ride such brilliant horses!
