And girls can be girls.
And mother muckers can just be moms – or at least taxi driving within the “city limits” so-to-speak.

It is that “reflective” season for me – when the show season has ended. The horses are set out to just run free in the pastures, and we settle into our new schedule of school, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and otherwise “normal” activities.

But something about this eventing season seemed much too fast … despite the LONG journies we took to Maryland, Virginia, Western New York, Vermont, Western Massachusetts – just to name a few.

Perhaps it was my NEW TOY that distracted me … the video camera, with which I taped alot of or shows this year – including this one:

Maybe it was the show in Virginia last may – where we traveled 13 hours to reach the most gorgeous place to be at an event. And despite an interruption by error of the judge during dressage which put her in last place, she pushed through it to go DOUBLE CLEAR (no jump or time faults) on cross country and DOUBLE CLEAR in stadium jumping to end 8th (and get a ribbon).

Or was it the show in Massachusetts where she went up to a ½ level and again, was near last in dressage, but jumped to 10th after cross country and 4th after stadium jumping (and the 3 above her were adult professional riders).

Perhaps it was the fact that I finally bought my own horse trailer and felt a freedom to go where no mother mucker has gone before! (ok, that was a little over dramatic, but it really was great!)

But I think why it really seemed to fly by was because my daughter worked all summer to attend one special event at the end of August known as the Training 3-Day Event, held at the Green Mountain Horse Association in Vermont. And I mean she worked …

• She rode everyday (one day off a week) to make sure she and the horse were fit for the long endurance phase at this special show.
• She took extra dressage lessons because that is her weak point.
• She was willing to go to shows even if her coach wasn’t there to get the miles in before the big event.

It was an event to remember – and could be the subject of it’s own blog. But the best part of all – the very best for this mother mucker – was at the end of the 1 hour endurance phase, after being released from the vet box, my daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and said:

“We did it.”

“Yes, honey – you did it!” I said all choked up “You completed your first long-format endurance phase.” (by the way – this phase was comprised of a 6 minute trot, followed by 3 minute full gallop steeplechase, followed by another 20 minute trot/canter, before going into the 5 minute cross country phase.)

But wait …. At the end of the entire show, when they gave out awards, the vet awarded my little girl and a very special award. It was the award for the BEST CONDITIONED HORSE.

Her efforts throughout the season were paid off in that one moment. That one special moment.

And so now, as this fabulous show season comes to a close and I rest my road-weary body, our dreams are already jumping ahead to our first outing – planning the training in January, so we can make a trip to Aiken, SC where our friends have invited us to come event for a week with “the big guys” – the Olympians and professionals. You see, my daughter received the nod from her coach. Next year she’ll be stepping up a level – Preliminary.

(deep breath)

I hope I’m ready.

Horses

Quite some time ago, a friend sent me this video of a Natural Horsewoman named Stacey Westfall from 2006. I have never forgotten it and today went in search of finding it to share here. Whether you know horses or not, I think you’ll be amazed at the partnership between this pair. Please enjoy!

Horses

The end of the horse show season. It is always bittersweet for me. For the competitors of eventing, it has been season of traveling, working, meeting with friends, and enjoying the shared passion for horses. As the “show mom”& Mother Mucker for everyone at the barn, I find myself caught in between being happy that the many hours of travel, grooming, mucking, and expense are over and the feeling sad that it’s over.

During “show season”, we travel all over the East Coast. There is camaraderie, new friends, sharing, tears, excitement, all the things that come along with a passion for a sport like these athletes have. Moms of other young riders share their own stories of success and disappointments. It is a family of horse folks. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet people from all over the country in this sport – and I’m not even the rider!

When the season is over, I feel as if I’m leaving parts of me behind. Those friends I’ve become close to will seem so “far away” during the off months of fall/winter. Some will send their horses South to Florida for the colder months to work with high-level riders. Some, like us, give their horses time off to just be horses. As we face this time of year, I find myself wondering who will return to the circuit next year? Will they have the same horse? Will I see that adorable pony with the blue eye again?

I know, when January comes around and my daughter starts riding at an indoor arena to get back into shape for the season, those cold afternoons at the barn will seem to come all too quickly. But for now, I will enjoy the the fun we had during the season. And the friends I look forward to seeing again next season.

Until we meet again, horse friends:

HAVE A GREAT RIDE!

Horses, Shows / Events

Today I got my first taste of what it would be like to NOT drive tot he barn every day. My teen daughter – the eventer – received a lift from a friend to ride her horse(s) today while I was at my son’s soccer game. My teen daughter isn’t quite at the age to get her license yet – but she is getting there quickly.

Although I was happy not to have to go to the barn at 5 PM after sitting at the soccer fields since noonish, I’m not sure if I’m ready to totally give it up. We’ll see as the year progresses. My daughter is eligible to get her drivers license within the month.

She’ll still “need” me to drive the trailer, though. And, I’ve already experienced her (nearly) begging me to not volunteer to help her at the last two shows.

It will be interesting to see how this progresses, don’t you think?

Horses driving, Horses, teens

Today my daughter, the eventer, began riding two horses a day. It won’t be for long. Our season here in Area 1 of the USEA (which is all of New England and New York) ends in less than a month. Our last event will be Snowfields Horse Trials because it is literally just around the corner from our barn. It is the only chance during the show season for my daughter that her friends actually can come and watch her “do her thing”.

But this blog was about two horses. Our friend is starting a new job and is unable to attend any more events this season. And without thinking, I mentioned possibly my daughter could take her horse for a run at Snowfields, too. Just to keep him going a little longer. Much to our surprise, she said SURE!

What does that mean for the Eventer Mom? An extra hour at the barn, an additional entry fee, but one very excited daughter. Especially since her trainer said she is ready to move up to Preliminary next season.

Horses eventing, riding multiple horses

I should have started this blog last Spring, but too much web design business, family activities, and the hectic schedule of my teen-aged daughter – the eventer – there just never seemed to be the time for my own fun horse-related blog.

I am Debbie Hastings. And about a year ago, at King Oak Farm Horse Trials, there was a car in front of us with a bumper sticker that said simply:

MOTHER MUCKER

It was perfect. And ever since then, that has sort of been my motto. It says it all, doesn’t it? After all, as the mother of an eventer, I do it all:

• clean tack
• gather and carry gear
• worry during dressage
• worry more during cross country
• drive a horse trailer that I never thought I’d own
• and of course, muck stalls

If you can relate to any of this, then please, follow along as I try to tell about what it’s like to be a Rambling Mom of a 3-day eventer. It will be fun!

Horses eventer mom, eventing, horse mom, Horses, mother mucker

empowerment = pulling your own horse trailer

As many of you know, my daughter is an event rider. This means from February – October everything is about the horse. And from May – October my schedule is dictated by horse shows that are located everywhere from Vermont, Massachusetts, Western NY, Virginia, and Maryland. Typically, we ride to these events with the trainer – who hauls the horse because she is also riding at the event.

However, the next couple months – starting with August – is a little different. The trainer has a high level horse which means she is traveling south for most of her shows and not attending the same shows my daughter would be attending. In the past, we’ve mooched rides from other riders – which is not that easy since Eventers are a “breed all their own” so to speak.

So last week we took the plunge and bought a small 2 horse bumper pull trailer. And this past weekend, for the GMHA Training 3-day event in Vermont, I pulled a horse for the first time.

My new Land Cruiser was perfect for the job! And the feeling for me was nothing short of EMPOWERING! Suddenly, a whole new world of horse heaven opened up for my daughter and I. The potential to go to clinics without worrying about “how to get there” or paying 88 cents a mile (or more!) to get the horse there.

It was a great feeling to feel such empowerment. Have you ever felt this way about something new?

Horses

The big event of July for Great Bay Farm is the Stuart Horse Trials. We are looking forward to seeing all our friends from Area II, the great competitors party, wonderful hospitality, and a challenging yet beautiful cross country course. Although it’s an 8 hour drive from the barn to our destination in Victor, NY, we make the most of it … despite the AWFUL country music we had to succumb to once we got west of Schenectady.

Although Susan had hoped to ride hershey in the CIC** this weekend, with the cancellation of Seneca Valley in June, she felt he needed one more Intermediate under his belt. If all goes well this weekend at the Intermediate Horse Trials, the two star (**) at Plantation will be their goal.

Hershey will have his official FOR SALE flyers posted at this event. Although this is the horse of her dreams, Susan believes that New England is not the place for a horse with this much talent. By the end of the summer the Great Bay Eventers will have made at least 6 long journies to higher level events. It’s been a wonderful season so far, but as a single mom Susan doesn’t have the time to continue this kind of travel. So spread the word about this wonderful INTERMEDIATE EVENT HORSE for sale at Great Bay Farm.

Tomorrow just before noon we start off with dressage and we’ll try to report daily, as time permits. So until then … have a GREAT RIDE!

Horses