Kelly Pugh Eventing: 07/29/10

Today was the two star dressage and boy was I nervous! Usually dressage tends to be our weaker phase and as I went out on our morning hack I started looking at the other two star horses and thinking to myself "there canter is better then mine" or "my canter departs are not nearly that good!" I had a moment of self doubt but then I realized that I can only control how I do, sometimes not even how my horse does, but definitely I can control how I ride. I did some intense visualizing and after hacking her I was feeling way better. She felt amazing and I was confident that with all our dressage lessons with Nicole Perry and all the work I had put in with my mom that I needed to have a little more faith in myself. When I woke up this morning I wanted to shoot for high 40's low 50's and I was hoping to be in the top five. Trotting around that ring today I felt more confident than I ever had on her and I went down that center line and knew what I had to do. Chloe was fabulous and put in her best test yet for a 51 and we are sitting in second place. I know this horse has it in her and today she proved it. It was an amazing feeling. Natalia also put in a great test on her horse and although its hard being one of the first out she handled it amazingly and I honestly could not ask for a better teammate!
After dressage Natalia and I walked the cross country course with my mom and things I was originally worried about are starting to look better. After the course walk I had to rush off to a press confrenece and that was really exciting!! I met some of the other young riders and they were all so nice! I was proud to be representing California :)
Then I went back took Chloe on some walks, tucked her in and gave her a million carrots. She deserved it :)
Apart from NAYRC there is a jumper show going on where some really big names are competing. My mom, dad and I went tonight to check it out. Kentucky has beautiful evenings and it was an awesome opportunity to watch some amazing riders.
Tomorrow Me and Natalia will have a jump school, walk our course another million times and most importantly cheer on Kelly Loria and Madison Reeb as they will be doing their one star test! I have a good feeling about it!! Go area VI!
Xoxo Kelly and Chloe