Today is Monday. I don't know about you, but our Monday's are very low key. I don't schedule anything, if at all possible, as I know we will be re-charging and sleeping in. Especially if we are turning around and starting a new show on the next day (Tuesdays). It's a day of reflection and processing. We talk about what Amanda liked and disliked about her rounds. How she can work on the things that didn't quite work as well as we had planned, and what her trainers and I can do to help reach her goals. As a mother AND an owner of a farm with many years both in the ring and outside, it can be a blessing and a curse to give positive feedback. Sometimes Amanda needs me to just be her mom, sometimes she expects that comment that will push her through a door but doesn't want to hear it from me. I always defer to Clare, Corey and Krista now for the training aspect. I do try to support without bias, love without conditions and give tough love when it seems appropriate. Clare, Corey and Krista have the daunting task of having a day off, without having a day off. They must make sure saddle pads are washed, horses healthy, van gets re-packed, business is running smoothly, while at the same time juggling their families, personal packing for the next trip, and getting all phone calls returned that piled up the week we were at the show. It truly takes an army of employees, lots of hard work, long hours, and a passion for this sport to make sure we all get to the next show (both riders, horses and families) in a healthy frame of mind and body (especially the horses - the riders health is the primary job of their parents!). I await emailed results from the riders competing this past week for posting on the Archway website. In the meantime, here are a few notations I had the time to get on my notepad:
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Amanda N. won the WSHJA Good Seat & Hands Medal Class Natalie H. won the Taylor Harris Medal Class Ana S.was 2nd in the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal Amanda M.was 4th in the USEF Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal Sophie T. was Champion Short Stirrup Equitation rider Mali K. tied for the short stirrup Equitation Championship Marissa M. was 3rd in the Jr./Amateur Hunter Classic Payton Smith was Champion Small Hunter Pony Amanda M. was Champion in the Evergreen Classic 3 Phase Equitation Classic Mali K. won the Best Costume of dog and owner class Briteney M. won the dog/owner look alike class.
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Mali and Tobi
THE END of another show :)