by: Ambassador Mallory Lobisser
2016 was supposed to be my year. I started the year with my dream job, a man I loved, and a healthy, fit, happy horse in Wellington. I couldn’t wait to jump head first into everything that was ahead of me. I was confident, I was happy. I had a plan and I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything get in my way. Benji and I had an extraordinarily successful WEF. We got good ribbons in the adult jumpers, which was truly a dream come true for me. My boy, who I have had since he was six months old, carried me to good ribbons at one of the biggest horse shows in the country. I was on cloud nine. On top of that, I was working for the Tryon International Equestrian Center, helping grow what has just been named the host venue of the next World Equestrian Games. I had managed to combine my career with my passion. I was literally living the dream. And then it all came crashing down.
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#AikenAndAfraid | Tales & Tips from an Adult Amateur Traveling South on a Shoestring Budget4/28/2016 By: Ambassador Hayley Lofgren
I think I can speak on behalf of all my adult amateur peers and say that if there is one thing we envy of our professional equestrian counterparts above all else is their ability to avoid winter. Every year when the weather begins to turn, professional equestrians flock to the sunny, warm havens of Aiken, Ocala, and Wellington. There, they are free to train and compete outdoors nearly year round, unhindered by the forces of nature that send the competitive season to a screeching halt for the rest of us. Meanwhile, we adult amateurs are stuck daydreaming of cantering through fields of palm trees while we make our post-work trek to the barn, in the pitch black, to pick ice balls out of our horses feet and ride monotonous laps around the indoor. For most of us adult amateurs, tight work schedules and even tighter budgets make the idea of a winter training trip closer to a pipe dream than a reality. By: Ambassador Alexis Martin
Everyone has their own ways of preparing for horse shows. For me it's not only about organizing for the show but also organizing my life so I can focus on the show. By getting as much done at work and school ahead of time I am able to just concentrate on going, doing well, and having fun.
Well, that's a wrap! I'm writing this from the plane headed back to Northern Virginia from from my first winter weekend in warm (wet) Wellington, Florida. This marks the start of what will be my second season competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and I still pinch myself each time I step foot on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. It was something I dreamed of most of my life and to finally be living that dream doesn't quite seem real.
As equestrians in college, our biggest struggle is balancing our riding life with our school and social life.It is often a joke among the equestrian community that as riders, we have no social life. Have no fear, I am here to tell you guys how I (sometimes) manage to balance my life out among these three categories!!
For most, New Years is fresh start. It is a time for reflection, self reformation,
and new goals with seemingly limitless possibilities. For much of the general population, this inspiration for a new beginning typically manifests in the usual resolutions: losing that extra holiday weight; getting back on a regular gym schedule that WILL last longer than last year's attempt; quitting smoking; finally getting that dream job; meeting that special someone; or simply spending less time on social media. While these are all admirable resolutions to undertake, it goes without saying that the resolutions of the equestrian community tend to sound a little different. For most of us, our goals revolve around riding (shocking I know). Some of these goals are small personal goals, such as being able to sit the trot better; being able to consistently find that perfect distance; having quieter hands and stronger legs; or even just being able to hack your horse confidently alone around the bean field. However, many find themselves setting the bar high at the beginning of each year with larger competitive goals such as making the move up to the next division; qualifying for AEC; competing at NAYRC; or even completing your first Rolex. |
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