Pine Top

Competition season is here!! FINALLY.
Pine Top was the past weekend and that was Chloes and my first outing since being back here. I will go into more detail about that in a second but first I want to fill you in on everything that has happened in the past few weeks. I am currently located in Aiken, South Carolina. I am with Allison Springer at a lovely farm called Buckleigh Farm. It is literally walking distance from both Full Gallop and Paradise Farm. Okay so let me start off by saying one of my first lessons I had when I got here was a cross country school with Phillip Dutton. We went to this amazing schooling facility called Gibbs. It was Chloes first time out in a while and mine as well. So needless to say she was...yes you guessed it...excited! I was in a lesson with Mara Dean, Kelli Temple, Ryan Wood and Jennie Brannigan. Now you see Phillip is a man of few words but when he does talk he is worth listening too. He watched Chloe jump and told me he like the way she jumped. I was trying not to pee my pants with excitement. It gets better though!! We continued schooling and she was acting pretty green and I was having to ride pretty tough. Well apparently when Phillip tells me to be "more in my leg" He means it. I came to a ditch she stopped and I fell off. Pop goes my air vest. Told you it got better. He looked down at me and says "Thats why you need to be in your leg." Why do I have to learn the hard way???? My first cross country school on the east coast and I fall. I suppose better there then Pine Top! All in all the cross country school with Phillip was super. I left there feeling extremely prepared and my horse felt confident! Cant complain about that.
The next few days before Pine Top I took a few flat lessons with Allison. I cant tell you how much I enjoy these lessons. She stresses how important your seat is, without that you cannot properly use your aids. It makes sense...if only it was that easy though! She is awesome to work with. Her lessons are upbeat and positive yet you work hard and leave there with a better horse. I have also gotten the privilege to sit on some of her horses. Like Arthur, if someone told me a year ago I would be doing that I would have laughed...Its pretty cool. Now onto Pine Top. On the east coast many of the barns trailer in to the shows, they don't stay on the ground. That is definitely a concept I have to get used to. I was feeling a bit disorganized throughout the whole show, but it all worked out in the end. The morning of dressage I pre rode Chloe and she was fantastic. I always find if I have time to ride her twice it works out in our favor. A few hours later was our test. She warmed up great but when it was her time to go she was the last horse out there and the rings on either side of her ring were being taken down. This led to some tense canter work, but I was extremely pleased with her trot work. It doesn't help having to follow Boyd Martins winning test on Remington either. I'm not sure if I will ever be used to sharing a warm up with Boyd, Phillip, Will...all of them, its overwhelming! Next we had show jumping. Allison and I had walked the course prior and found it to be a bit odd with weird distances and odd lines. I personally thought it seemed large and was thrown off a bit by the terrain in the arena. Also, having to put studs in for show jumping, so much of this is new to me! Chloe warmed up great...but I was still nervous! Allison was the ride right before me so I got to watch her go around and see what striding she put in. The course rode a lot better then it walked and Chloe jumped hard for me. We had a double clean go and once again I found myself forgiving her for her canter work in her dressage test :) Next we walked the coarse for cross country and I found myself feeling really excited! It asked all the right questions to prepare us for advanced while still making sure you will walk off feeling good and confident. Allison warmed me up and once again I really enjoyed how up beat and positive she was. It helps with the nerves. Chloe sailed around the course and was jumping super. All until we jumped into the second water. I rode poorly and she caught me on it. She was not focusing and by the time I got her attention it was too late. Allison had said you have to ride every cross country ride like its a catch ride. You take nothing for granted and you give it your all. I like that motto. As for all the hard stuff she didn't look twice. I was so pleased with her! I took all the direct lines and walked off the course feeling confident and ready for advanced! I almost forgot to tell you all, when I was walking to warm up Phillip was trotting by and he said "Good luck Kelly" BAHH he knows my name! Yes, I am totally star struck...but I am enjoying every minute of it.
Chloe has been in dressage boot camp. Allison rode her today and got her absolutely AMAZING. I wanted to cry...actually it is possible I did a little bit. I am so excited to get her dressage to where it needs to be and it is nice Allison is so confident it will get there.
I have made some good friends since I have been here and even have had a bit of a social life! Crazy right?? Last night we went to Doug Paynes for a bonfire It was nice meeting new people and getting dressed and putting something besides breeches on was refreshing!
I have a quiet week this week then the craziness starts back up again. I have three days of training sessions with CMP. and then its Pine Top. The advanced is a one day so I am trying to mentally prepare myself for that and seeing if I could somehow have Allison pass as me on dressage day and just ride Chloe. Only kidding.....kinda. In the mean time I am going to enjoy this 75 degree weather. I miss the west coast and am rooting for all of you at the shows! Good luck with the start of the season and to all of you young riders keep kicking butt!


This is the link to Chloes pictures from Pine Top. If you copy and paste it to your browser you can see them!!


http://www.hoofclix.com/Pine-Top-Farm/2011-02-13-USEA-Horse-Trial/KellyPughCopycat-Chloe68/15818411_v2gAW#1187561470_R45EG


xoxo
Kelly and Chloe