Summer 2011: the beginning of the dream

Up until this point, my riding experience was limited to hunters and trail riding. I liked to fancy myself a pony hunter princess. Sadly, Dusty Pony and I never really did very well, mostly because of my lack of training since his purchase, and just not knowing what they were looking for. Looking back, I'm shocked I didn't make the switch to eventing sooner. No offense, but HUNTERS ARE SO BORING. Lol. I guess it was probably the lack of money and information about local events. It was just a dream. 'One day I'll ride in the Olympics. I'm only 27. I have plenty of time' was my mantra. Pretty ambitious for someone who never evented a day in her life, right?
Ok, back on track here. It was the summer of 2011 ( sounds like an intro to some campy RomCom, right?) and one of the boarders at the farm I work at, boots and saddle (from now on referred to as BS), had just purchased a 14 year old TB from another boarder who just didn't have time for him anymore. His name is Theo. Registered with the JC as Thepostman, evented as Par Avion, and fondly known as Big Red, Red Horse, or Red-headed stepchild (when he's bad!). Theo's new mom, Bev, mostly does dressage for pleasure. Knowing his experience as a hunter, she asked me if I would be willing to jump him once a week. Of course, my answer was a resounding HECK YES! I rode him once a week and even showed him in a Penn Jersey show that July. He was so much more horse than I was used to, at 16.2hh. Another boarder, Jayne, and I decided to take our guys (she has a paint gelding who is an ex- track pony) to a local farm with a cross country course, Burgundy Hollow, to see how they liked it. I was beyond stoked when that big red pokey hunter came brave and game to all the starter level fences. Officially hooked!

Apparently my enthusiasm was catching, and with Bev's encouragement and the help of my new trainer, Megan Allen, we were planning our eventing debut at Bucks County Horse Park on labor day Monday. Woo hoo!!!!!!!

Pictures: Theo's first xc school