Just a Drop in the Bucket

Traveling to Florida certainly did not go as expected, and what could go wrong did go wrong. But I look back and I do not regret the experience. Because when I look back, I was able to watch some great riding and training, and get a good feel for how Wellington works. And, the most valuable part of the trip came from watching top riders work and feeling confident about what I know to be correct about training and working with horses.

Going to Wellington, I wanted and expected to do many things. I wanted to compete in the CDI’s and I wanted to have a chance to be one of the young riders chosen to go to Europe. I wanted to take lessons with some of the best, most respected trainers. But it turned out that instead of being a part of the horse shows and taking lessons, I was one watching from the sidelines. And sure, I wanted so badly to be a part of it all, but there is something so valuable about watching the top riders in our sport warm horses up then go compete. There is also so much to value in listening to top trainers from all around the world warm up top riders and listening to the trainers while their riders enter the show ring. And maybe if I were competing I would have been wrapped up in that and would have missed the opportunity to watch great riding and instruction.

The experience reminded me that horses teach us that things do not always go as planned. And that is okay. I certainly did not plan for my horse to throw his back out keeping me from competition and lessons. I did not plan to use money I saved and received to pay for the vet, acupuncture, magna wave, or massages. I did not plan to spend a great deal of time stretching him and icing his back. But at the end of the day, my horse is more than a horse, he is my friend and a part of my family, and he deserves the same love and respect that any person does. He tries his heart out everyday and brings a smile to my face and the faces of everyone he encounters. If he knew that was what he was there for, he would have been disappointed that he missed a chance to show off everything he has worked for.

At the end of the day, the fact that he could not compete is just a drop in the bucket. We both have much to look forward to in the future, and I truly was fortunate to have gone to Florida and to have been supported by friends, family, and many from the sport. Thanks to everyone who made the trip possible and allowed me to learn a great deal about the unexpected!