United States Eventing Association

Strides for Equality Equestrians is excited to announce that the application period is open for the Ever So Sweet Scholarship! Applications will be accepted online at www.Stridesforequality.org until April 15 and the recipient will be chosen by May 1 for the summer term which runs June-August at Sara Kozumplik’s Overlook Farm in Berryville, Virginia. It is made possible by Edy Rameika, Sara Kozumplik, and the USEA Foundation who have supported SEE from the very beginning. Without them this one of a kind program would not be possible!

Yup, you read that right... 2013... our Rolex journey has ended for 2012. After a great spring where Questie (Our Questionnaire) felt stronger and fitter than ever, we have to postpone our Rolex plans until next year. The Eventing rollercoaster ride continues. The good news is we should be out and about this fall.

Yikes, where has the time gone? It seems like we just arrived in Florida and now it is time to think about heading back to sunny NJ. But first we have some work to do! Poplar Place and The Fork fill up our next few weeks as we speed closer and closer to Rolex. I received our entry confirmation email, it's official... Lexington here we come!

I made a deal with my surgeon following my accident in December when he told me I couldn't ride for four months. (see my last blog post for useventing for that tale!) I promised him I would wear a protective face mask like they do in the NBA if I could ride much earlier. Explaining that I had a very important competition to do, Rolex, I had to get training asap.

Eventers have a sickness. It could be considered an illness or a disease, and it can be contracted at any stage in life. The early symptoms are an overwhelming need to be in a barn in close proximity to horses. But this is common among a broad spectrum of horse people. What makes ‘eventing sickness’ special is that above all things we are concerned with fitness, training, schooling.

The road goes ever onward...One of my mantras that I repeat to my students is "LISTEN to what your horse is telling you, that is your job". That is what I did on Saturday afternoon. Was it hard to have my Rolex end that way, certainly. Was it the correct thing to do, absolutely.

And so it begins...We are on our way to rainy and stormy Lexington, Kentucky with huge smiles on our faces. Rolex is here. It is hard to believe. I cannot wait to get down to business.

This adventure to Rolex has been a very interesting one with many unexpected events. I try to be prepared for everything and leave very little to chance if I can help it. Preparation and organization is the name of the game. If only it was that easy.

So close but yet so far. It is only 15 days before we ship down to Rolex. It is going to feel like forever and no time at all. Both at the same time. How can the same amount of time feel so different?

I used to think the road to Rolex was one big grand adventure. It certainly is, but it is an adventure that is made up of many, many varied day trips! I find myself thinking one day at a time about everything. We are off to Rolex when all is well after yesterday's gallop, or jump school, or lesson..;. I can go on.