During my final week in Florida there was a very exciting class happening called the Nations Cup. It’s when a number of countries from all over the world bring their riders to team up and compete to qualify for the year-end Nations Cup. Argentina, Canada, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Venezuela, and the U.S.A. all competed against each other. More »

Hey everyone! I recently traveled to a horse show called Ledges and I did very well! Between Florida and Ledges I returned to school and caught up with my friends. I was very excited to see them all and my other horse Rou. I also had a two-week spring break which was nice, and I celebrated my birthday with my family. Then after spring break I returned to school for one day and then headed to Ledges Horse Show. It was the final horse show of the Ledges Winter Series and I did very well! More »

I excitedly finished my fifth week of showing in Florida! On Saturday I had two great rounds on my horse, Spankey, but I didn’t get any ribbons. I knew I rode great and deserved a ribbon, but all judges are different! On Sunday though, I got an eighth place in the Under Saddle and a sixth place in the Over Fences! It’s the best I have done since I have been down here. I’m very excited and very proud of my horse and myself! More »

This morning I was browsing a blog where people post their secrets. I found one that says “I love my body and think it’s perfect but I pretend not to because that’s what normal girls do.” This secret means the whole world to me because it’s the truth, I think, about more girls than anyone realizes and it’s crazy sad.

We all know that girls struggle with body image, but there are also a great deal — and dare I say a great deal more — of girls who are quite content in their own skin. One of the hardest things for me is to be around someone who is constantly picking apart their body. More »

I’m on my fourth week of showing and I love it! I was told by Melissa, my trainer, to go and watch the professional hunter riders show. I have been evaluating and observing how they ride to help me understand and figure out how to ride well in the show ring, which has helped me a lot!

I spent one evening watching the American Hunter Jumper Foundation Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach. The class consisted of the top hunter horses in the 3’6, 3’9, and 4-foot divisions. It was held at night in the International Arena where they usually have the Grand Prix. It was under huge bright lights and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! I saw many of my favorite horses show and some of the top hunters in the country. It was really exciting to watch! I watched how each rider rode their horse and I’m learning how they ride each jump so I can become a better rider! More »

The beginning of my third week in Florida was just a little wet. We had so much rain that our stalls at home and at the show flooded. When we cleaned out all of the wet shavings, we had to let it dry all day so we can put new shavings in. After the rain and the tornado, the rest of the week was really quiet. On one of the days I wasn’t really feeling like myself so I didn’t ride. Fortunate for my horse, he got the day off also and he enjoyed it by being in his paddock all day in the warm sun. More »

I safely survived my second week of Florida! I showed Spankey in the Non-Thoroughbred Hunters, which is a 3-foot hunter division that allows Professionals, Amateurs (non-professional adults), and Junior riders to all compete. I entered the Non-Thoroughbred Hunters to gain experience in the show ring before we rode in the Children’s Hunters Division. We ended up getting a 5th place in the Non-Thoroughbred Hunter under saddle and I was happy with that! We keep getting better and better each time we go into the show ring. More »

We watched from below the basket, mesmerized, as the orange ball bounced off the rim, falling down to our outstretched hands. The ball chose me, and I hastily shot it up again, excitedly observing as it swished through the net.

I threw my arms in the air, squealing gleefully only to notice the opposing team was doing the exact same thing. My own teammates were glumly looking down at the floor, evading the brightly glaring scoreboard, which did not lie.

I had just scored for the wrong team. More »

Hey everyone! I just completed my first week of showing in Florida! It went very well and there was a lot of competition in the Children’s Hunter ages 15-17. Unfortunately I had great rounds, but did not get any ribbons.

During one of my classes last Sunday though, Lanshark and I jumped our first jump gate, but when we were landing he tripped and I tumbled off. Oh well, it happens to all of us who ride horses! I got right up and took my horse’s reins and walked out of the ring with a smile on my face. I knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was just accident and we were both fine. More »

Hey everyone! Since my last blog my horse, Lanshark, has gone down to Florida. I miss him a lot but I get to focus on my youngest horse, Roulette. I have been working on her jumping. I started jumping her this past June and she’s great at it! More »