This year started out amazing.  I have two really nice horses to show.  Both just keep getting better.  My plan was to qualify Saltira for the USDF Regional Championship at first and possibly second level.  This would be my first season competing Belle and I would start at first level with the thought of qualifying her also.  My husband got a new job in Lexington, KY which is super exciting for many reasons:  We plan to purchase a farm which has been a goal of mine forever, one of my closest friends lives near Lexington and moving puts us much closer to my sister.  So over all 2017 was looking pretty good.

Of course with all good things there must come some negatives.  I’ll be leaving some amazing people here in Virginia.  There is also my current job which is very comfortable and provides me the luxury of a fairly regular schedule.  Not being required to work weekends, nights and holidays is unheard of as an Emergency Medicine physician.  This is something I’ve been trying not to dwell on….  

The spring proceeded to creep forward.  Saltira and I competed at our first show of the season in the beginning of May.  She was her amazing self and we received our first qualifying score, yeah!   The plan was to show again in mid June at Culpeper.  Here my hope was to achieve our second qualifying score.  I also planned on move Saltira up to second level.  Belle would also compete at first level. 

As fate would have it all of my well thought out plans were just not meant to be.  After a couple of trips with my husband, Drew, to Kentucky we found a fabulous farm we would love to purchase.  The only problem is our house hasn’t sold.  Most likely this is due to the number of new subdivisions being built in our area.  I get it, why buy used when you can build new.   We are still moving but the farm will have to wait a little longer.  For the next year we will live in a house we are renting.  The up side of this is we get to know the area better before purchasing a property.  It also means I will be boarding my horses.  This will allow me the opportunity to meet fellow dressage riders in the area. 

So while I’m trying to not be super depressed about not buying our new property I’m still very excited about how my horses are.  Everyday is a joy to work with these two.  Again fate has other plans.  Drew left for Kentucky to find out rental house while I stayed back in Virginia to do the mom thing, work and ride my horses.  Wednesday evening as I’m laying on the couch trying to relax and talking on the phone with a friend AJ, my 4 year old is bouncing up and down trying to get my attention.  Well he bounces up and lands right on the top of my leg that is slightly bent up.  Lands perfectly, or maybe not so perfectly, on top of my patella (knee cap)  and dislocates it.  In that moment my plans for showing this summer are over.  Yes I’m being dramatic but it was pretty upsetting.

Let my just say I don’t think I’m a wimp.  After having 4 kids I’m pretty familiar with pain.  Well this was not even comparable!   I tired to reduce it on my own.  I’m an ER doc! I’ve done this plenty of times!!!   Yeah not going to happen.  So off to the ER I go via EMS.  The up side to this is I got excellent care by my coworkers!  I called my boss , first to let him know I likely wouldn’t be working the next morning and second that I was on the way in.   Upon arrival I was put right in a room, they had been waiting for me. 

An MRI later I don’t need surgery, hallelujah.  Just a lovely straight leg brace for 4 weeks.  Then I graduate to another brace and can start to bend my leg.  So to keep me from being tempted to rush things and start riding again too soon Saltira and Belle were sent to my wonderful friend Allison Spivey.  Not only are they getting fabulous care they are also progressing in their training. I love getting Allison’s updates, typically accompanied by a cute picture.  It really is the little things that can make your day!

Without the two horses to ride I’ve had a little extra time to teach some lessons.  I’m relatively new to teaching lessons.  It wasn’t until my good friend, Samantha, twisted my arm encouraging me that I reluctantly gave up my amateur status.   I’ve found teaching to be incredibly fun, challenging and rewarding.    Finding the right words to help the rider at that exact moment is not easy.   Yet when it all comes together and you can see improvement in horse and rider not just in that moment but from day to day or week to week is very exciting! I love watching people succeed and have fun with their horses. 

This weekend was quite busy.  Starting Saturday morning early with my daughters horse show.  I watched her ride in her first division then had to run to teach a lesson.  Drew came to relieve me and watched Amanda’s second division.  I then returned to hang out for the rest of the day to watch and cheer on the other rider from the barn.  While we were waiting Amanda entertained herself by riding her pony Paris bareback in the field.  Honestly I think she goes to shows just for this opportunity.  I have to admit it was quite adorable!

The lesson was with my friend Lindsey who is just learning dressage and wow has she come a long way in a short time.  She will admittedly state she is very timid.  Approximately one year ago she sat on my horse Bo just to walk around and when I suggested she trot him, Lindsey said no thank you he’s too big and powerful!  Yesterday Lindsey rode Bo in her lesson because the horse she half leases was at a show.  Bo is a wonderful horse but he isn’t going to give you anything.  Once Lindsey stopped being a passenger and started having a conversation with Bo the transformation was amazing.  She could influence his body, make his steps shorter, then longer.  She was amazed at how easy it was to spiral in and out particularly at the canter.  When I told her to ride across the diagonal at the canter and half way across just ask for the other lead I thought her eyes were going to pop out.  ‘What you want me to do a flying change?’!  Yes! Just do it!  Wouldn’t you know the horse that when he was much younger used to spook, spin and leap through the air did a beautiful big clean change without any fuss.  Having the opportunity to watch someone really feel something new on a horse was almost more fun that doing it myself.

On Sunday my daughters and I drove up to the show at Culpeper.   I almost didn’t go.  Feeling a bit sorry for myself that I wasn’t there with my horses competing.  At the end of the day I’m so glad I went.  We had a wonderful morning watching my friends compete their horses.  Standing on the side watching how well they did and knowing how hard all of them have worked was so much fun!  Of course I had to do a little shopping.  Jane and I seem to go shopping at every show and I just couldn’t break that tradition.

I’m hoping this will not be the last horse show I get to this summer.  If all goes well, fingers crossed,  I’ll have Allison compete at least one of my horses next month.  Just because I can’t be the one in the the saddle doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy watching my horses.  Absolutely I would prefer to be the one in the saddle but well that’s life and I’ll make the best of it!