Think bold thoughts for me today. I have signed up for the Horsemanship Challenge. Gulp. I will be asked to ride two unknown Saddlebreds, three if I make the finals. I did this for Walk-Trot in 2013 [Regular Programming]. I have vehemently avoided the WTC version over the past two years.
Why now? Well, I blame my coach. She talked me into it. Without saying a word.
In talking over my goals for this year, I said I wanted to get braver about getting on new horses. I’ll never be brave about it, but I could get bravER. Then, the show schedule comes out. Hmm, Horsemanship Challenge is coming up soon. That would be a good goal. For next year. For 2017. Something to work towards.
I knew, KNEW, that as soon as I mention HSC 2017, Coach Courtney would say, “Why not do it this year?” It was the driving talk all over again.
(My thoughts, during boot camp for Nationals 2014) Maybe I should try driving again. Maybe in the future even try a show or two. A small show. Alone in the ring. As a schooling exercise only. In the future. For now, we will concentrate on ridden equitation. After Nationals, we can revisit the driving question.
I had just launched into this speech when she-who-talks-me-into-all-manner-of-sh*t says, Why don’t you drive at Nationals?
Say whaaaaat (insert rising bleet)?
Annotated Camp Tweets: Day 6
Sandra Hall Photography
Used with permission
My coach now officially lives in my head.
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Virtual Brush Box 
Go you! I’m proud of you for letting her in your head to talk you into it 🙂
What Amy said.
That is so awesome!!!! 😀
You go girl! Ride it like you stole it! …and don’t look back. 😉
Thank you all.
We have mission success. Two horses ridden, things learned, & material for a blog post. What more do I need?
To complete the picture: Started with Annie. Walk up to stall. Sign says, ‘No Whips’. Doesn’t build confidence. Annie was great. Quirky about whips rather than a difficult ride. Elvis ended up being the challenge. Wouldn’t stand at the in-gate, had to be walking. Spent the ride bellowing for dead people. None of the dead people answered. K rode both horses very well. A ring with 14 horses and maybe two riders that understood the concept of mortality. Victory was just competing. And K did that well.
🙂