Well, I’m sitting here in our tack room at Boekelo CCIO in the Netherlands after walking the course with our crew and waiting for Cambalda’s ring familiarization. This morning Phillip and Atlas had a workmanlike test this in the cold weather, and Clark delivered a lovely test on Glen this afternoon, so our team (while I am writing this) is sitting in fifth.
I had the opportunity to watch the current Olympic, European, World and German champion, Michael Jung, go in the ring and deliver an incredible test to score a 32. If you’ve ever wondered whether he’s getting extra brownie points or whatever, or if he’s just that good… I can tell you it’s the latter. It was beyond inspiring to watch him, and while he was cantering down the centerline I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be the first person in the history of our sport to be the champion of so many things at once!
When I asked our coach about that, he told me, “Why don’t you find out?” which I thought to be a pretty clever thing to say!
Ping is doing well and is very settled here. And I have to say, we have a fantastic team here, and I feel as though we’re all rooting for each other. I’m beyond excited for tomorrow and of course the days to follow.
I have had the pleasure of sharing John and Jen Holling’s apartment in Bad Boekelo, and while I didn’t know John all that well going into this (he was picked to deliver the news to me that I wasn’t on the Area IV NAYRC team when I was 14, and I cried… which I have been reminded of numerous times on this trip), I really am excited for him tomorrow and have appreciated his support.
Clark and Jess Montgomery are both class acts and are also great time to be around. My second mother, Evie Dutton, is also here along with my owner, Nina Gardner, and it’s great to go to Europe with so many wonderful people around you. With 18 countries represented and 112 horses cantering down the centerline, it is one big horse show.
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So I will try to blog tomorrow, but please know that everyone’s support means the world to all of us, and I feel very lucky to be here but at the same time will be trying to prove that I belong.
Fingers crossed and please keep cheering!
Til next time,
Jennie
