Lauren Sprieser

A huge victory on the farm this weekend: My wonderful assistant trainer, Allison, passed both her Pony Club Dressage B and A exams, all in one go, proving that she is both a) crazy and b) super awesome. I knew both of these things already, but now the Pony Club - and everyone else - does too. I'm SO proud of her, and have been shouting her achievement from the rooftops.

What I learned at the London Olympics:

1. Go for broke. Go like Hell. Go like the wind. Just go. The most forward rides won today. Riders who rode forward today and not in the Special were rewarded (Edward Gal, not that it was awful in the Special or anything, it wasn't; it was just so much more forward-moving today, even with the horse's tension). Riders who had pooped horses today didn't do as well. Go, go, go, go even if it's not perfect, just go.

What a day, what a day, what a day! Historic, monumental, WICKED inspiring! Where does one begin to account such a day? At the beginning, I guess.

Mom and I headed out to the park more than an hour early after much deliberation about how early to go, and we were spot on - security took a while, and then it was a 15-minute walk to the arena itself. We sat down (in the wrong seats, whoops) with minutes to spare before the first rider came down centerline.

We're here! And boy, are we exciting people: We got in, napped, walked around, are going to dinner, and then going to bed. Fast times, people. Fast times.

I've spent the last few days trying to cram in three weeks' workload, which has meant some LONG days, but the end is finally nigh: In 24 hours I'll be leaving on a jet plane, bound for London.

WAAAAAHOOOOOO!!!

While that other team equestrian sporting event has started across the pond, I was at Morven Park for my favorite competition of the year: the Region 1 Youth Team Championships. Every year I coach the team(s) from my local GMO, the Commonwealth Dressage & Combined Training Association (CDCTA), and not to brag or anything, but we come in First or Second every year. Just sayin'.

It's not news that we've had a very hot summer in the Mid-Atlantic. The heat is a known quantity here, though this summer seems to have dragged on for quite a while, with no end yet in sight. So my crew and I have surviving the heat down to a science. The most important piece to our summer success has been my incredible staff, without whom I'm a red hot (yuk yuk yuk) mess, and because I can't thank them enough, here's one try anyway: Molly and Allison, you rule. Thanks!

There are a few other things I'm grateful for this summer:

Tuesday, 7/24-Friday, 7/27: The usual 16-or-so hour days.

Back in February, I was on my way to the airport to fly home from Florida to teach, when Krystal, who took care of my horses when I was in Virginia, called to tell me that Ella had gotten cast under a fence in turnout and really ripped a chunk of herself off the back of her inside hind fetlock. She and Eva, the owner of the farm, both thought it didn't need veterinary attention, so they cleaned it and wrapped it and off I went to Virginia.

The next day, it looked, to quote my vet who'd been called to the scene, like "hamburger." And the chaos began.

What a weekend, what a weekend. It's Friday, and I'm still not recovered (though that may be because, after four days of horse showing, I got in the truck Monday morning and took Midge and Fender up to Michael's, proving that, among other things, I'm a complete nut). But my team came, saw and conquered.