She’s back in the saddle!!
It’s been just about four years since Taylor’s last horse show … but she’s back in the saddle full speed ahead! She’s got a new buddy {Cozmo, as in Universe} and a new trainer. Actually two trainers, a dressage and an eventing trainer. Her eventing trainer boards at the same barn as Taylor and noticed her riding, so approached us to see if we’d be interested in training with her. She sees potential in the two {Taylor + Cozmo} and is excited to see them get stronger together.
Taylor’s discipline in riding is eventing. Eventing is comprised of three disciplines which take place in one “event” during a weekend. The three disciplines are dressage {flat work, or walk; trot; canter}, stadium jumping {in an enclosed arena}, and cross-country {which takes place in an open field with a series of “natural” jumps}.
Anyhoo … just a little background knowledge if you’re not into the horse world. ;)
So … Taylor’s eventing trainer is pushing her to start showing. Pushing in a good way … Taylor’s all over it! This past weekend was a “schooling” show, which is a show, but it’s not a recognized event, so people go to feel things out, train their horse at a show and basically get their feet wet. They still get scores and it’s still a regular show … but unlike with a recognized event, their scores don’t get recognized with the riding association they belong to. Following? cuz I’m not sure I am.
Okay, back to the schooling show this weekend … it was a combined test, which means it wasn’t all three disciplines, just two. She had dressage and stadium. And then we were going to “school” cross-country the next day … which basically means you pay to use their cross-country course for practice. It’s not even part of the event.
Whew.
Still with me?
A little more background … Taylor’s strong point is usually cross-country. Dressage isn’t at.all. But it also depends what your horse’s best events are too. And Taylor’s previous horse pretty much sucked at dressage, which is why we called him Jumping Jasper.
Anyway … the lower your dressage score, the better you’ve done. Taylor would usually end up with 70’s on her dressage score … and this past weekend? A 32.4!! And she took first place.
Well … technically you say it like this, “Taylor was in first place after her dressage test.”
Because then you go on to your next discipline to see what you score there and where you place. But …
Tay had some technical difficulties going into stadium. First of all the heat! She.has.not. acclimated to the heat here. Plus the show was in South Carolina, which seemed to be about 10 degrees warmer! And second, her horse was being a KaRrazie man! He would take a jump and start bucking all over the place! Taylor has a bottom made of glue … she always has … seems she can stick just about anything, but man was I nervous watching this!
So she made the very wise, tough, but mature decision to withdraw and not jump stadium, which basically means she scratched. It was a hard day for her, not without a few tears … but at the end of the day, she really made some great decisions and was ready to get back on him the next day to work through some of it.
Aren’t they pretty? Or is it just me? ;)
I forgot how much work is involved in the horse show world! Starting with hitching and pulling the trailer. And not that I’m pulling the “MS card” … but it’s a whole lot different doing it when your body isn’t whole. I won’t go into the list of issues I had {with MS} this weekend, I’m just noting that it seems doubly difficult.
And a horse show can be hard work for the littles too! It was something like 95+ degrees. Boring. A long day. A long car ride. A lot of setting up and sitting around. But these littles were AMAZING this weekend! Absolutely amazing. Could’ve had something to do with big-bro in town … but seriously, I was so proud of them!
It was about a 3 hour drive this weekend for us. We’ve got two more coming up that are six-plus hours … and then we’ll be back to this one again in August. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that these girls are this good for the rest of the show season! Helps to have a box full of snacks, games, activities and drinks!
I love these girls with everything inside of me! I’m so proud of Taylor for finding her passion again … this time with maturity on a whole different level. And I’m so proud of her sisters for supporting her and understanding this is something important to Tay …
Huntie and I shared a room this weekend … I was in the bed next to her watching her slowly give way to sleep. At one point, before she was fully out, she opened her eyes, looked at me, smiled a sleepy smile and finally gave in. Such a precious, precious moment … there is nothing like watching your baby sleep peacefully.
All-in-all, I ended the weekend one happy mama!
Beautiful photos! :)
I would say that it looks like fun, but I am TERRIFIED of horses like some people are terrified of spiders and drowning! The photos of him bucking definitely look very scary to me too! :O
I’m right there with you, just in a colder climate:) Which for horse shows are a good thing! It will all come together, we have dubbed this show season “The year of laughter” Just have fun, and see what we can learn hence the name schooling show:) I understood all that you said and more. Hang in there, we will make it through this show season!
What a wonderful weekend. Taylor was meant to ride and show. I remember the first time I ever watched her on Clover. She was so little and took first place (a blue ribbon) but her favorite color was pink so she traded her blue ribbon to a girl for a pink one. Ribbons and winning meant nothing to her, it was being out there with her horse that meant the most to her. So very proud of you Taylor Sailor. And you too mommy for pushing through the weekend, just for her!!
All you need is snacks, water, and a bro to play Uno with! :-)
Love the pics of Taylor riding! She is incredible and I’m glad she’s riding again. She obviously loves it so much. I’m glad to see her living her passion again!
Great job Taylor! We just went through one of those ourselves – except it was right away in dressage. DC would NOT go near the judge’s booth. We were supposed to do 1 combined test and then training level 1 dressage test. Even with a whip on the second test she would not go near and we were excused for both of them. I then scratched from even trying the jump round. Anyway, we learn from it all, don’t we. Next time will be better for both of us, right??!! You two look beautiful together.
Great job Taylor! We just went through one of those ourselves just 2 weeks ago at the PC schooling show – except it was right away in dressage. DC would NOT go near the judge’s booth. We were supposed to do 1 combined test and then training level 1 dressage test. Even with a whip on the second test she would not go near and we were excused for both of them. I then scratched from even trying the jump round. Anyway, we learn from it all, don’t we? Next time will be better for both of us, right??!! You two look beautiful together.
Such a precious Mom with precious Girls! Glad you had a great weekend with them. They look so sweet! Praying healing for you in Jesus name!
ok. just so you know, i didn’t even try to follow all the info parts… i was just wanting to look at tay & cozmo and see the beautiful shots taken by her mama :) and i had to find out how she did!!! so that’s your brother?! looks like he was well entertained :) and i’m glad you had helping hands! and that last shot of the littlest little? priceless…
I am so happy that Taylor is riding again! I loved watching her compete here! She is so good at it. Congrats on dressage! But man do I love to watch her do the jumping part of the competition! Rock on Taylor!!
Congratulations to the whole team…..I think you did a superb job describing the whole horse world Tracie. Tell Taylor she made great decisions, with horses/horse shows you can prepare but on any given day the horse can have just a bit of an off day,and things dont go as planned, but that makes the excitement/passion of it all even greater. Sounds like a perfect weekend………
Great job Taylor and mommy :)
Way to go Taylor, What a good seat. Horseshows aren’t for faint of heart (or heat!); bravo everybody!
quite awesome photos! congrats to tay! scratching at anything is not an easy decision to make, especially when its something you love. but kudos to her and her wise choices! will pay off in the end, that’s for sure.
so what don’t i understand about the big-bro? fill me in.
as for the littles, you’re not kidding about those snacks and having great games on hand. have i told you about the card game called 7-ate-9 yet? if not, its a MUST GET! played with the niece and nephews tonight and they were all completely enthused. :) which is saying a lot as their ages range from 9 to 15. normally i run into the “i’m too cool” attitude with the older 3, but tonight they were perfect. we were even playing outside on the back patio, and they were hooting & hollering so loudly that even the grandparents had to come out to see what all the fuss was about. not bad that the excitement was over a game using good old addition & subtraction, eh? if you can find it, snag it. seriously. you’ll adore it like we do, promise! http://www.amazon.com/Out-Box-Publishing-Inc-ATE/dp/B0023NVQ0K
Your right it looks like a lotta work, but what a great support team you guys all are! Love the photos too!
:) so happy for all of you…I know it was alot of work…but seems the payoff was well worth it…way to go Tay!
WHOA. Taylor and her horse look awesome together! YAY for Taylor. I remember one time a long long time ago, Sarah and I came to her riding lesson. That’s great she’s doing it again. :D
A whole lotta WORK and a whole lotta MEMORIES. She is just stunning on that horse!!!
She looks awesome! I always loved watching Tay ride. What happened to sport?…
Excellent photos. Very impressed that Tay took first in Dressage. NICE JOB!! And as rough as it is, scratching if your horse isn’t ready is the best in the long haul…horses get stressed at bad performances too. Very mature decision. I miss my horses everyday…but it is wonderful to see someone else enjoy them as much as me….Congrats on the first in Dressage.
My daughter saw these pics with me a few days ago and said, “oh. i think i’d like to do that.”