Emily and Ryan walk back to the stables after a successful cross country run.

Being in the Preliminary/Training group has one advantage – you are up and at it early. And today I was glad for the early start. It was downright HOT today. It felt like a July day in New England – not the first weekend in May!

UNH chose to hold it’s jumping phases back-to-back, so my daughter went straight from show jumping to the XC start box. As every show mom does, I greeted her at the show jumping exit to help change the horses boot and the position on the bit and then RAN to the water complex to watch the only part of the UNH cross country course that you can see more than 2 jumps.

She looked FABULOUS. Clean XC jumping with a few time faults because she didn’t push him (being his first show in 2010).

A successful finish with a 6th place ribbon to open the show season.

WAY TO HAVE A NICE RIDE, EMILY!

Horses, Shows / Events

She was ready and confident, but nerves got the best of her as she began P/T at UNH. As the Eventer Mom that I am,  I noticed one HUGE difference despite the score and the nerves … the way she handled it. In the past she would have come out of the dressage ring mad at herself. And as most mother muckers now, there is no talking with a teen that’s mad for at least 30 minutes.

But this time she came off, turned to her coach Anna Welch, and asked “what am I doing wrong” … and went off calmly discussing the test.

Maturity. That’s what I saw today. I was a proud mama for that.

Tomorrow – all jumping phases. My favorite part! But for now, I’ll let Emily’s boyfriend, Ryan, be the groom and mucker … I’m headed to my cousins for happy hour!

Horses