Isabel and I should wrap up early in the afternoon, with B and Wick finishing a little later. This event should be particularly fun bc a whole bunch of OF riders are going too - including trainer P - so with any luck we'll park our trailers close by and enjoy the company.
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| so ready! |
Last summer/fall I was just getting into eventing, going everywhere and doing everything on my own. It felt great to be so self sufficient. But sometimes it was lonely and overwhelming.
There was very much this feeling of 'if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it even make a sound?' - Meaning, I was fulfilling major lifelong dreams (and experiencing all the related emotions) but simultaneously everything felt very trivial bc nobody else was around. Does that make any sense?
So B and Wick joining the party has the amplifying effect that we are there for each others' ups and downs: calming nerves in warm up, cheering on from the sidelines, high fives at the finish line. Talking through mistakes or struggles, and celebrating even the most modest of victories. Not to mention that everything with horses is a easier with an extra pair of hands.
Regardless of today's outcome (it's another big-ish BN division - 15 entries), I plan to enjoy the whole experience to the fullest - esp being there with horse show buddies!
Do you usually show with the same people? Does your barn go as a group, or is it more of an individual effort? Or maybe you have your own horse show support team?
Competing by yourself is hard! I used to show with my trainer and our barn team, and my bf, mom or grandfather would come along for moral support. Same thing with endurance now: one of the draws for me is the social aspect. I get to see people I don't see everyday, and it's always wonderful to be able to at least start the ride with one of those people. I'm having a hard time considering riding alone with my friend Liz out for this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you're able to share all of this with B! It's so much more fun when you have a friend there with you, especially if that friend is also competing! :D
i agree - the social aspect really is a great part of the experience. tho i guess for eventing that aspect is more about the time spent at the trailer bc our actual rides are still very much about the individual horse and rider. i don't know if i'd be able to do an endurance ride on my own tho - that's an awfully long time (and a lot of hard riding!) to be totally within your own head haha!
DeleteBest of luck at the show today!!
ReplyDeletethansk!
DeleteWaredaca was the first event I ever attended, as a groom/spectator. It was SO COOL!!! Haha! Have 3 great rides today, can't wait to read your write up :D
ReplyDeletethank you! i actually thought the venue was pretty neat - and very different from what i've seen before. will have to post about that!
DeleteAs a trainer I'm lucky to always have moral support if I want it - different than a friend and horse person disconnected from your philosophies, definitely. But it's always fun when a kid pipes in with advice that I've doled out about a thousand times
ReplyDeleteHave fun today!
i actually LOVE having the company of younger students and barn rats and drag them along to my shows whenever possible. their eagerness to learn and experience everything is infectious, plus they don't mind doing any of the chores haha
DeleteGood luck!! I typically show by myself or with clients. I definitely miss having a barn family and people to go to shows with. Currently I'm showing with a barn friend at schooling shows and it's been super fun! But that will end this summer when I get a job and I'll be on my own again :(
ReplyDeletehaving barn friends showing too maybe is the most fun haha - bummer that the new job will likely put an end to that :(
DeleteGood luck! I'm happy you have friends to cheer you on now.
ReplyDeletethanks - me too!
DeleteThat's so great you get to share horsey experiences with good friends! That's like icing on the cake!!
ReplyDeleteit really is! it can really improve the whole mood i think - like the last show when B maybe didn't finish as well as she hoped, but was buoyed by isabel's great showing. or this event where the reverse happened. one person's success can lift everyone's moods :)
DeleteLove his blog....adore the pics......wish I could be closer and let me groom for you......submissive, so love bossy
ReplyDeletehaha thanks!
DeleteI've found that I don't really enjoy showing by myself -- it's so much more fun in a group!
ReplyDeletei don't *hate* being solo at a show (and am very independent by nature) - but it's way more stressful in some ways. but yea, the fun factor with a group is HUGE
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