A Day of Firsts

One of my favorite things about horses is that the new adventures and experiences never stop coming. We are always presented with new "firsts," and that makes the sport forever exciting.

Last Sunday, June 17th, brought many new "firsts." It was my first trip to the Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials in Poolesville, Maryland. I have competed across much of the country, but this was my first trip to this lovely event practically in our back yard (just up around the Beltway of Washington, DC). The event was well-run and smooth, and I always enjoy going to the local events to see a new generation of eventing fans learning and competing. The ground was in remarkably good shape considering the lack of rain this summer in this part of the country.

Perhaps most importantly, Seneca was the first event for my new horse Rufus. He is turning in to a lovely young event horse, and I was so pleased with his performance. Rufus turned in an obedient dressage test to score 39.5, seventh out of fifteen horses. He was a little spooky and inexperienced in the show jumping, causing one rail to fall. Next was cross country. We trotted out of the start box to the first jump. Rufus pricked his ears when he saw it and continued to canter around the course confidently and easily (minus a rather dramatic leap half way across the water obstacle!). We finished in 8th place, and I couldn't be more happy with Rufus' debut.

I also had some special visitors at Seneca experiencing their first horse trials. The first was Dr. Tom Tweeten, PhD of EquiScentials Horse Care Products. Dr. Tweeten spent four days in Virginia learning about this particular discipline of equestrian activity. He delivered a lecture about his horse care products and grooming methods on Friday evening, and I think we got him "hooked" on the sport on Sunday. The Keffer Family, with whom I live, also came to cheer on Rufus at Seneca. An avid fox hunting family, Mr. Keffer and the kids, May, Abby and Griffin, watched the event in preparation for their own first event in two weeks. It's an exciting and busy time here, and I'm loving introducing new people (and horses!) to the sport.

This coming weekend is the Surefire Horse Trials just up the road in Purcellville, VA. It will be Rufus' first novice! I'll report back after that!

Old Stories and New Beginnings

Take a Good Look Around. It's the title of the legendary Jimmy Wofford's newest book, and many times recently, I have thought to myself, "Take a good look around."

Last Thursday, I attended Jimmy's book signing at the National Sporting Library in Middleburg, which houses a treasure chest of books, art, and all things equestrian. Listening to Mr. Wofford deliver a touching recitation of a poem about a cherished dog, I peered around the room thinking, how lucky I am to be here, listening to this. The book, which I have already finished reading, is a compilation of stories from his adventures hunting, fishing, riding, and coaching across the country and around the world. Any outdoorsman will appreciate Jimmy's humor and storytelling. On top of this, Jimmy is one of the most accomplished riders and teachers in US history, and he is so analytical and intellectual in his observations of the sport.

I left the event to go and check on my new horse turned out in the field, who just arrived in Virginia aboutbout two weeks ago. "Rufus" is a 16.1 h, 5 year old, bay Thoroughbred gelding. He has one white sock on his right front leg. My long-time friend Dorothy Crowell found him with a former student, Brooke Miller, in Kentucky. He is out of Brooke's intermediate mare "Mouse" by Denny Emerson's stallion "Reputed Testimony." Rufus has never competed, but I have taken him to his first two cross country schooling days since I got him. Rufus is curious, inquisitive, and brave, and I am enjoying having him in the barn. He will make his eventing debut at the Young Event Horse competition at Waredaca in Gaithersburg, Maryland on June 1st.

From old stories come new beginnings. With horses, you never know where the road will take you. They took Jimmy around the globe. Listening to his speech and then visiting Rufus, I sat on the fence, staring across the field staring at the thriving green grass thinking, "Take a good look around." What adventures will come from this new horse, and where will we go next? Stay tuned as Rufus prepares for his first competition.

Spring Time in the Kentucky Blue Grass

Spring Time is in the air. The sun is shining, and the afternoon breeze is warm. The grass is getting greener by the day, and trees and flowers are blooming everywhere. And, of course, horses are everywhere.

It's the week after the annual Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the most prestigous eventing competition in the United States and indeed in this hemisphere. It was nine years ago that I first attended Rolex; I was instantly addicted to the galloping hooves and flying horses that skimmed across the surface of the lush blue grass at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

In 1998, I stood along the galloping path watching Karen O'Connor soar through the air on the impressive, grand Biko. Like many others, I had fallen in love with his bright, wide blaze, and I was in awe of the seemingly immortal pair. Upon my return to Minnesota I immediately dug out the atlas to locate Middleburg and The Plains, Virginia on the map. Then a sophomore in high school competing at the beginner novice level, I resovled that I would some day live amongst the riding legends who grace the idyllic Virginia countryside, maybe even with a horse of my own to gallop through the fields.

Nine years later, I have just returned from what has become an almost annual pilgrimage to Rolex. Yet again, Karen rocked the eventing stage, this year with her bionic pony Theodore O'Connor, who is at least as big in heart if not in stature to his older cousin Biko. This year I returned to The Plains myself, rather than my native Minnesota. Who would have guessed that I would ever be so lucky to call Virginia "home?"

Something about Rolex is invigorating and refreshing. The atmosphere with nearly 96,000 in attendance over the weekend, is intoxicating, and every spring I leave Kentucky with renewed energy and devotion to the sport that stole my heart so may years ago. The horses are just in sight out my window happily munching on grass. Until next April, we'll continue practicing that sitting trot and dreaming of that Kentucky blue grass.