The day before...

Well, the trailer is packed, Dylan is bathed, I have a million lists with just about everything crossed off....that must mean we are just about ready to hit the road.

Dylan did manage to need last minute shoe-repair (he stepped on himself tripping over the lip of the stall door, and popped the end of the shoe...no nails pulled, but the shoe is bent...argh). The life of a fancy dressage horse, you have to laugh a little bit, right?

This morning John Meriwether, Schleese rep and saddle-fitter came and checked out my saddle for a last minute "tune-up". I was extremely grateful, we have been battling a bit with me ending up crooked, and the saddle slipping, and it at times felt like a chicken & the egg type thing...did the saddle slip, and then I ended up sitting crooked, or did the saddle slip because I was sitting crooked? We came up with a great solution, and I felt totally straight and secure in the saddle. It's amazing how small changes really free the horse up, and get the rider in the right spot.

We had a VERY fun night at Olson's last week, I was SO excited to see so many friends, and meet so many new people interested in para. I just keep feeling so humbled about the entire experience.

I imagine once I am in KY, with my teammates, at the opening ceremonies, I will get a little more swept up in the excitement, but for now I feel a little like I have a very important job to do, to ride strong and represent our nation well, and before that, take very good care of my amazing horse Dylan as we travel across the country!!

We head out at about 3am tonight towards Montana.

On that note...I should probably finish packing my suitcase, and get some sleep!!!

WEG, really!

A little birdie told me it had been far too long since I had updated this...so here is my brief attempt to get back in the habit!

It has been a whirlwind summer. Toronto was fabulous. Selection Trials, not my best show, but a lot learned. Now...I am headed to Kentucky in a week. I feel like I need to pinch myself!

Dylan is doing well, he has been in full training with Jenny and Roxanne since returning from Selection Trials. He has grown up a lot in a short time, very mellow and easy-going.

Fundraisder tonight at Olson's, I am excited, and more than a bit humbled to have the support of the Pac NW community. On that note, I am now also sponsored by Kerrits, I am so excited about this - I really like everything that they strive for as a company, not to mention their great products.

On another note, FarmVet has been fantastic in providing a ton of great products, and recommending products that might be useful for when I am in KY.

On another another note, my Antares helmet is fantastic, and I am so excited to meet the team at the trade fair at WEG.

Jenny and I hit the road next Thursday, will be a 4 day drive to Kentucky. We have an amazing hostess letting us stay in her home until the move over to the athletes hotel. Dylan will be at Kentucky Equine Research, who is sponsoring the Para Dressage Team.

I feel like there is so much time before I get to compete, but I also know I will have plenty to keep me busy!

Busy, busy, busy!!

Will do my best to keep everyone updated on the exciting events!

Watch out Toronto!

I leave tomorrow morning (well...to be fair, I think I am actually getting up in the middle of the night in order to make a 6am international flight!).

I will do my best to post updates on my Facebook page.

See you in a week!!

Pulling together the threads...

Hello Friends,

I often find myself wishing I had more time...but I guess today I had the realization that yes, indeed, time is a relative concept.  Things progress in exactly the way they are meant to.

I leave for Toronto in about a week and a half.  I am trying to get all the details tucked away, particularly with the knowledge that we'll get back and have a pretty quick 17 days before Dylan hits the road for Chicago and Selection Trials.

It is a bit strange to plan for a competition on a borrowed horse.  I am not all that nervous about the riding part, more about wanting to show Peter's horse well, represent the US and my sponsors well, and perhaps try to stay out of the fray.  I will have to be reclassified, which I am not super-excited about...more because I just don't really enjoy being shown the nature and extent of my disability - there's no dancing around it, it is a stressful and tiring process.

Meanwhile, Dylan is peaking at exactly the right time.  He has been working very hard since January, and is really solid in his 3rd level work, and is schooling 4th level work with Jenny.  I can't believe how far my stubborn 1st level horse has come!!  

I am working with a very patient PT who is going to help me get on a good strength maintenance program, and she is trying to talk me into maybe looking at some mobility aids.

If things go well in Chicago, I hope to organize a silent auction & dinner as a fundraiser - let me know if you interested in helping organize, or in attending!!

Take care everyone!  Ride strong! 

10 years/5 months

Hello Friends,

I've had a lot to keep me busy, and a lot to ruminate over the past few weeks.

I am very excited to report that 10 US Riders will be competing at the CPEDI in Toronto, and from what I understand from the show organizers, there will be 8 nations and close to 40 riders competing.  It should be a stellar competition.  

I have an incredible opportunity in Toronto - I will be competing on none other than Olympian Peter Gray's Grand Prix horse, Collo 5.  From all reports, Collo is a wonderful, kind, and stunning animal (who also happens to be 18 hands!!).  I feel SO blessed to have this opportunity.  I am so thankful to Peter for being so generous with his horse, to team coach Missy Ransehousen, and to my coach Jenny Nell for getting this organized.

Needless to say, I am pretty dang excited about this show for so many reasons!!

On the home front, Dylan has been firing on all cylinders as well.  We are ready to take him out for his first shows of the season, but not exactly sure when that will be, as the early shows were cancelled this year up here.  I'm not too worried about getting him into the show ring as getting a chance to run the new tests in a 40m ring.  We are going to re-work his freestyle as well, as his gaits have changed significantly since last year.

In slightly less horse-related news, I saw a new neurologist this week.  I realized before my appointment that it has now been 10 years since my disability onset.  What a strange anniversary.  In the earlier years, doctors told me that there was a chance of the symptoms just resolving as mysteriously as they showed up.  When I first started seeing the neurologists, they were very aggressive in looking for a diagnosis.  Now, I seem to be at a very different stage.  There isn't much talk of improvement or spontaneous recovery, but talk of rehab, and maintenance, ADLs, quality of life.  I had a good appointment with the new doctor, but after nearly two and half years of "doctor break", and not having gone through a rigorous physical exam, it was a bit disheartening to see how much function I had in fact lost.  I did commit to rehab & PT, for real this time.  If nothing else, it might help my riding!!

5 months until WEG...do you have your tickets?!?  Want to help plan a fundraiser?  Do you have ideas on how to get the word out about Para Equestrian? There is much to be done, and it takes a COMMUNITY!!

Drinks for a Cause!

Hey gang -

As usual, big things in the works, but can't divulge too much until the details are shored up.

Looks like it will be a GREAT show in Toronto!

In order to make it MAGNIFICENT...I will need to do a little extra fundraising (again...as usual).  I received a generous grant from Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center & the Margo Memorial Fund...but don't want to blow it all on this one competition when I also have a very important competition at Selection Trials in June & potentially the travel to Kentucky to consider.

I'm thinking of putting together a low-key dinner/drinks type fundraiser....$20 towards the cause, but otherwise just a chance for folks to get together & hang out.

Let me know if you'd be into that kind of thing!!  Or if you have other fundraising ideas...bake sale anyone?!

Hopefully I will be able to post soon with more details on the fundraiser & the CPEDI3* in Canada.

Drop a line anytime!  Email or Facebook, or leave a comment here.

Thanks friends!

 

Fastest Update Ever!

1. New Sponsor...ANTARES.  I will be sporting a beautiful Antares helmet in competition.  Please take a moment and check 'em out.  Helmets are all the rage, and Antares makes absolutely stunning helmets.  Better than a top hat.

2. Toronto.  Looks like it's a go.  Funding is not quite shored up, but my USEF paperwork is underway, and I have a horse tenatively lined up....so...things are moving in the right direction!  I'm excited - I am so ready to get out and SHOW!

3. Conrad.  I have been invited to ride with the man.  Conrad Schumacher.  EEP!  He does not invite a lot of amateur, let alone para riders to clinic with him.  I'm a bit concerned as Dylan is just now in a good steady place, and I hate to rock the boat with 3 days of clinic...plus again, I will need to find funding.  It's an amazing opportunity, and would be great exposure for Para Equestrian...so we'll see.  I may look into borrowing a horse for the clinic (how does Dylan keep getting out of things?!)

4. Thats all for now!