Today is my birthday as most everyone knows. Thanks so much for acknowledging this. It means a lot to realize how many friends and family love me.
Anyway, how are things going down here? Well, good and busy. Things have heated up and I barely have 2 seconds to sit down and think or read. I am working on sponsors and trying to find someone to help with some fundraising.
I plan on starting to hit some of the businesses here in person, as I am a firm believer that meeting with someone over the phone is almost ALWAYS the better answer. I am still looking for a sponsor for dressage equipment and everyday supplies and someone to help me with the hay and sawdust. That would help a lot, plus last but not least, financial help for the shows.
It sometimes can be so frustrating and discouraging but I am trying to start up a side business of video editing to help bring in some funds and I have started drawing. I will be adding another link soon and starting a place where I can sell t-shirts, calendars, etc. of equipment with edited pictures that I take of the boys, drawings, etc. I plan on using some of my graphic design, web designing skills, and artistic skills to see if I can't bring in some extra money!!
Anyway, to get off of that! The boys are doing wonderful!! Nikki has really moved up in the world and is starting to feel and look like a true "dressage" horse, meaning he is staying connected better, working from his hind end, and starting to really soften up in the reins. He is starting to learn some of the more advanced moves. So we have started shoulder-in's with him as he can do a leg-yield and a travers for the most part. He can do a little of a half-pass, but we need to get the laterals better and then start working on the half-pass so that I can start working towards 3rd level with him. I plan on taking him to a show in training level and working towards 1st level for the next show. He does have all the 1st level moves, but just trying to get the canter more balanced, although the medium canter is easy for him but teaching him how to sit and then come back is the hardest thing for him, but he is doing great with really only a couple of weeks on him on this part. He is just really showing his potential to be a phenomenal dressage horse. once We get this canter and the last of his laterals, I feel that the tempi's, passage, piaffe, and the collected work will be easy for him as he does them sometimes when he is trying to figure out what I want very easily.
How do I tell everyone in a couple paragraphs what it is like being here in Florida. Wonderful, challenging, exciting, scary, are all words that I can think of. I am down in Wellington, FL where some of the best riders in the world show and train. Just watching them makes me gawk because I so badly want to be one of them one day. I have met so many friends and friends that are almost family to me, people that have taught me so much about life, goals, etc. Things I thought I already knew, but have realized that I only had 1 piece of the puzzle. The training I have received down here is phenomenal because I am able to see so many riders, train daily (even in winter, hehe to all those people in Ohio that are freezing), and learn in a way that I never have before. I do have my up's and down's, sometimes wondering if I really am GOOD enough for this sport and good enough to go somewhere, but then I look back on where I was when I 1st came here and realized how much I and my horses have improved with one-on-one training. My trainer, Kendra, has a heart of gold and is a beautiful rider. My long term goal is to be able to ride like her one day. She has taught me more than just riding which no matter where I am in life, she has been 1 of the more influential people in my life because I want her to see me as this person that she is proud to call a "student" and a "friend." I have learned there is so much more than just riding to call yourself an "international rider." There is character, self-confidence (Which is my down fall and something I have to work on daily), teamwork (By the way, we have the best team in the world at this barn between my trainer, Ashley Walker (1 of her young riders), Robbie (Kendra's husband), and Austin (another young rider).
I am honored that Kendra wanted to keep working with me and has done everything possible to make it possible for me to stay here and trust me, it hasn't been easy for either of us and sometimes many tears on my part. There have been many challenges and tribulations but by the will of God, something always comes up which is phenomenal for me. I have just picked up 2 new sponsors and they were very unexpected and the funny thing is, I needed them now more than ever. So, that is how it works, isn't it!!! LOL.
Anyway, I guess I better save some of this for another post. To end on, Ashley, one of Kendra's young riders, 16 years old, showed her highest score 1st level test on her own mare that she has trained and did an absolute WONDERFUL Job and had a beautiful ride! I was so PROUD of her and was so happy for her. She is a beautiful rider, but sometimes it helps seeing and hearing from the judge, "well done." She is moving up in this world and trust me, that won't be the 1st time any of you hear her name. She is a very talented rider and I am hoping to get pictures soon of our team at the barn and upload on here or link to their websites.
Anyway, please keep everyone in your prayers and wish Caballo Ranch a good show season this year in the para world, the young rider world, and the USEF/USDF dressage winter circuit this year, and of course, as always, a special prayer for Kendra and her horses this year as she hits the shows to work on moving up the level toward FEI this year.
Anyway, how are things going down here? Well, good and busy. Things have heated up and I barely have 2 seconds to sit down and think or read. I am working on sponsors and trying to find someone to help with some fundraising.
I plan on starting to hit some of the businesses here in person, as I am a firm believer that meeting with someone over the phone is almost ALWAYS the better answer. I am still looking for a sponsor for dressage equipment and everyday supplies and someone to help me with the hay and sawdust. That would help a lot, plus last but not least, financial help for the shows.
It sometimes can be so frustrating and discouraging but I am trying to start up a side business of video editing to help bring in some funds and I have started drawing. I will be adding another link soon and starting a place where I can sell t-shirts, calendars, etc. of equipment with edited pictures that I take of the boys, drawings, etc. I plan on using some of my graphic design, web designing skills, and artistic skills to see if I can't bring in some extra money!!
Anyway, to get off of that! The boys are doing wonderful!! Nikki has really moved up in the world and is starting to feel and look like a true "dressage" horse, meaning he is staying connected better, working from his hind end, and starting to really soften up in the reins. He is starting to learn some of the more advanced moves. So we have started shoulder-in's with him as he can do a leg-yield and a travers for the most part. He can do a little of a half-pass, but we need to get the laterals better and then start working on the half-pass so that I can start working towards 3rd level with him. I plan on taking him to a show in training level and working towards 1st level for the next show. He does have all the 1st level moves, but just trying to get the canter more balanced, although the medium canter is easy for him but teaching him how to sit and then come back is the hardest thing for him, but he is doing great with really only a couple of weeks on him on this part. He is just really showing his potential to be a phenomenal dressage horse. once We get this canter and the last of his laterals, I feel that the tempi's, passage, piaffe, and the collected work will be easy for him as he does them sometimes when he is trying to figure out what I want very easily.
How do I tell everyone in a couple paragraphs what it is like being here in Florida. Wonderful, challenging, exciting, scary, are all words that I can think of. I am down in Wellington, FL where some of the best riders in the world show and train. Just watching them makes me gawk because I so badly want to be one of them one day. I have met so many friends and friends that are almost family to me, people that have taught me so much about life, goals, etc. Things I thought I already knew, but have realized that I only had 1 piece of the puzzle. The training I have received down here is phenomenal because I am able to see so many riders, train daily (even in winter, hehe to all those people in Ohio that are freezing), and learn in a way that I never have before. I do have my up's and down's, sometimes wondering if I really am GOOD enough for this sport and good enough to go somewhere, but then I look back on where I was when I 1st came here and realized how much I and my horses have improved with one-on-one training. My trainer, Kendra, has a heart of gold and is a beautiful rider. My long term goal is to be able to ride like her one day. She has taught me more than just riding which no matter where I am in life, she has been 1 of the more influential people in my life because I want her to see me as this person that she is proud to call a "student" and a "friend." I have learned there is so much more than just riding to call yourself an "international rider." There is character, self-confidence (Which is my down fall and something I have to work on daily), teamwork (By the way, we have the best team in the world at this barn between my trainer, Ashley Walker (1 of her young riders), Robbie (Kendra's husband), and Austin (another young rider).
I am honored that Kendra wanted to keep working with me and has done everything possible to make it possible for me to stay here and trust me, it hasn't been easy for either of us and sometimes many tears on my part. There have been many challenges and tribulations but by the will of God, something always comes up which is phenomenal for me. I have just picked up 2 new sponsors and they were very unexpected and the funny thing is, I needed them now more than ever. So, that is how it works, isn't it!!! LOL.
Anyway, I guess I better save some of this for another post. To end on, Ashley, one of Kendra's young riders, 16 years old, showed her highest score 1st level test on her own mare that she has trained and did an absolute WONDERFUL Job and had a beautiful ride! I was so PROUD of her and was so happy for her. She is a beautiful rider, but sometimes it helps seeing and hearing from the judge, "well done." She is moving up in this world and trust me, that won't be the 1st time any of you hear her name. She is a very talented rider and I am hoping to get pictures soon of our team at the barn and upload on here or link to their websites.
Anyway, please keep everyone in your prayers and wish Caballo Ranch a good show season this year in the para world, the young rider world, and the USEF/USDF dressage winter circuit this year, and of course, as always, a special prayer for Kendra and her horses this year as she hits the shows to work on moving up the level toward FEI this year.
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