This was the most intimidating show so far. So many of the Rolex and US Equestrian team riders were there. The trainer who was there for coaching was supposed to braid my pony, but she lost her cell phone and spent forever trying to find it. Braiding was late, we had less than 15 minutes to get up to the dressage area. I had my bit check, we tried to warm up too fast, it was a disaster. Mac was stressed, I was stressed. My arena had been on break so I didn’t have any riders ahead of me to judge the time. The steward never called me and when I finally went over, the judge blew her whistle and as I went by her she rolled down her window and literally screamed at me that if I was ever late to a recognized event again she would have me disqualified. That put me over the edge. Our test was HORRIBLE, Mac who can give an amazing test was all out of sorts and I didn’t help him at all. I was out of sorts and I should have tried harder to overcome and not be in a horrible mood. It was almost 100 degrees and my stadium jumping was not until 5:00 in the afternoon. (Dressage test was at 1). After dressage I was in 18th place. We got ready for stadium and at 3 p.m. they announced they were going to have us compete cross country first, stadium afterwards. I was ready and warmed up at 5 and was the lead off rider. WE ROCKED!! Mac was the best, I left the dressage disaster behind me. I didn’t care what happed with ribbons, I just wanted to have a great cross country ride. And we did. The course was so much fun, the water complex was beautiful…they had colored the water a bright bright blue….my pony was a little worried about it. We galloped our last fence, came down to a canter on the down hill approaching the water, then to a trot and then Mac walked, lol, in lifting his front legs as high as he could, realized it was not a scary solid blue skating rink, then trotted/cantered out to our last fence. We were clear and across at 4 minutes 10 seconds. (we actually got penalized 0.8 faults for too fast). But I didn’t care. We rode up to stadium and they weren’t ready but the TD let me go before the end of the adult division since the course was the same. Our course was fast, clean and fun. It was so late that we just hosed down Mac, loaded the horses and left. The next morning I found out that I had placed 6th. I had rocketed from 18th to 6th with our cross country and stadium. Only 4 out of the 27 riders in my division went double clear. The best thing is I know, now, for sure that if the dressage had been what we normally do, we would have won Surefire. I know that my pony is in the top and we are going all the way. Terry is the best coach ever and I couldn’t do it without her. I learned a lesson at Surefire….don’t get frustrated, get a pissy attitude and lose faith in my pony. This is Terry in the water, I only have video, just wanted you to see how cool it looked. Leah

Mac and I placed 1st at the Millington combined training. We moved up a level to novice. It was soooooooooooo…..hot. Mac was awesome even in the heat. We scored a 31.7 in dressage putting us in first place and he was amazing in our jumping round. Clean, clear and fast:-). This was a combined test but they had us finish up with a pace cross country. This means that we gallop the cross country course, following the flags but there are no jumps. The optimum time was 2:57 and we came across at 2:10. My pony is truly amazing…. he is a champion. 2 weeks before my next recognized USEA event at Surefire. We are working hard. Leah

Difficult Run was my first recognized show this season. We were 3rd after dressage and stadium jumping, but Mac refused the very first fence cross country which gave us 20 penalty points. We were ready to go in the start box and he was ready, but they held us up to send runners to the field/jump judges to retrieve scores and we had to wait for 20 minutes. I guess I just didn’t give him enough push to the first fence and I think he thought he was done for the day. Sooooo frustrating but he galloped and jumped the rest of the course beautifully. Our dressage was quiet and calm, a few rider errors but we did great. Stadium was amazing….he flew over everything well below the time. Our young rider team took 2nd place!!!! My site has been updated and there are these really old pictures that randomly appear. lol…

I am getting ready to compete with my pony for the first time this season at a recognized USEA show. I am really excited and I think we are ready. We have to leave for Washington DC tomorrow and we compete on Saturday. I have worked really hard at the barn to make this happen. My mom is coming up and I think my dad. Bailey, my trainer and I are leaving tomorrow. Have to be braided and all that jazz for this. I know my pony can do this and actually more than this but we are going to start here. Please think good thoughts. We are also going to compete in the junior rider team championships. I think there are 6 teams. Talk to you this weekend. Leah

combined training, Brookhill, VA. 2nd after dressage, 1st after stadium jumping. Riding Chabang, an awesome mare that I love to pieces. 1st place on my birthday.

I took two horses to school at Deep Run Hunt Club. Mac was wonderful…registered show name is now Better 2 B Blonde. Please tell me what you think of it, I would really appreciate it. I also took Bee, a young wonderful horse in training and she was amazing. Here is a quick youtube video of 3 fences. She is so sweet and willing with lots to learn but she would make an amazing horse doing hunter or eventing. Very calm and honest. I am going to compete her at the Deep Run Horse Trials at the intro level so anyone looking for a wonderful horse come and see her go. Leah

I finally was able to take my own horse to Calais!! Yeah!! He did great, 2nd after dressage, 2nd after stadium and a refusal cross country put us in 3rd overall. I am trying now to qualify for the American Eventing Championships in Georgia. Wish me LUCK!! Warming up for dressage and the start gate cross country. Leah!

Colleen Kelly is a incredible dressage/balance coach from Australia. 2 years ago I went to the Raleigh Horse Expo with Liz Booth. I rode Seamus and Fiona her two big Irish Sport Horses in Colleen’s clinic demonstration. At first, when she saw me she couldn’t believe it but I did it and Colleen was funny through the hour demo. I saw Colleen on facebook and wrote and asked her if she remembered me and this is what she wrote (you can see a picture of me on Seamus if you go to the calender on my website under July 2008 post.

Colleen sent you a message.

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Re: a young rider

REMEMBER YOU!!! HUH!!! I’ve been dining out on the story of how the little tiny girl did half pass on a big elephant!!!!

I’ll NEVER forget you!!! You brought the house down! If only I had got it on video when you were still tiny!!!

Now…a correction…..your goal should never be to make an Olympic Team (believe me I work with Olympians and that’s NOT what they think). It’s TO GET A MEDAL. To get a medal is far more important than making a team. Any of my riders could make a team, a MEDAL is what you’re after.

So, every morning I KNOW THIS – Andrew Hoy gets out of bed, and gets his pretend medal gets up and puts it around his neck.

When he goes to bed at night, he takes it off and puts it by his bedstand. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. He told me that back in the 1980′s and is now the most celebrated rider in the world. He has more medals than anyone else ever has!

Hey I’m coming to Virginia soon! We’re up there in April, but I’m also driving through a couple of times as well. Where are you located?

GREAT GREAT GREAT to hear from you and hi Mum too!!!

Big hugs from your biggest fan!
Colleen Kelly

Mac has the craziest curly Q going in every direction winter coat. When it warms up even a little bit he gets drenched in sweat (my little west virginia guy) and then cold on the trailer ride back so we decided to do a trace clip to help him stay cooler while working. Doesn’t he look wild? Here are the before and after. Of course it snowed and dropped to 9 degrees the day after we clipped him. More work for me with double blanketing to keep him toasty warm. I adore him, he is the best. Big dressage lesson with Catherine Sutton and jumping with Ray from Ireland. Mac is doing awesome and I can’t wait for the competitive season to start. Stay with me. lol.. Leah

It has snowed so much in Virginia. I have never ever seen so much snow and so much cold. At first it was fun, lots of snow days but 9 degrees? 13 degrees? My toes have never been so cold no matter what socks or boots I wear. I am totally ready for spring and warmth and a new competitive season. With my pony MAC. Yeah, finally. Remember we couldn’t finish the season because his foot was sore. He is doing awesome now. Talk to you later. Leah