Many things have changed since last year. For starters I turned a year older, the big 16. Since getting my license I have taken full advantage of being able to drive myself to lessons when my mom is busy. As for school, I will be a senior and I have waited all of my life to get to say that! I am now competing a new horse, the man of my dreams, In Any Event a.k.a. “Mitch” (I will elaborate on him later as he is the one taking me to Young Riders this year). Even Area V has changed since last year!
I am proud to write that Area V has five riders qualified and preparing for the CCI* at NAJYRC. Here are the Area V CCI* girls: Alyssa Phillips aboard Sundance Bay, Avery Klunick aboard In it to Win it , Taylor Wood aboard On Eagles Wings, Victoria New aboard Bally Whatnot, and myself aboard In Any Event. Area V will also have a team of three for the CCI2* at NAJYRC. Here is the Area V CCI2* team: Emma Kate Fisher aboard Carlingford’s Forever, Jacob Fletcher aboard Falcon Splash, and Rowdie Adams aboard No Money Down. I am sure that all of the Area V riders agree that we can’t wait to get to Kentucky!
Now back to Mitch. I was fortunate enough to find Mitch at the end of May 2010. His previous owner was a Young Rider from a town just an hour away, and she was heading off to college that coming fall. The first time I went to try Mitch I fell in love with him. I was not sure if I would ever figure out his dressage, but I was absolutely in love with his personality. After a few more rides on Mitch, my trainers, Mary D’Arcy and Mike Huber, approved of our already growing partnership. I brought Mitch home that June.
After getting Mitch, I started building a relationship with him, but had to focus primarily on my 2010 NAJYRC horse until we competed at the end of July. I began competing Mitch October 2010 at the Preliminary level and did a total of two events in the fall. We started back up in the spring with a few “AA” Jumper shows while Mike was in Florida, and I have to say my confidence in the show jumping grew tremendously from just those two weekends. Our first event of the spring season was a Preliminary run at Texas Rose where we finished second in the Open Preliminary. We then went to another “AA” Jumper show to keep tuned up in the time before Poplar Place, our first qualifying CIC*. At Poplar, Mitch was a superstar! After coming back home we competed in the JYOP at Holly Hill finishing on our dressage score. Our next and final qualifying run was at Greenwood Farm’s Spring HT in May where we finished in third. Our most recent run was at Texas Rose Horse Park the second weekend of June. Mitch ran wonderfully around the brand new cross-country course and jumped clean in stadium, something I felt to be a great confidence builder for NAJYRC.
Since Texas Rose, Mitch and I have been relaxing, but keeping everything in harmony. We have started back into our conditioning schedule which consists of tons of walking, two canter sets a week, one jump school, one day off, and several flat schools. We plan to head up to Kentucky on July 16, stopping overnight in Tennessee, and arriving on Sunday. That Monday I will begin the United States Pony Club National Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park with a Five-year-old Novice horse I have been competing, Brownie. While participating in Champs I will also be riding Mitch at night, as he will be staying at Cathy Wieschhcoff’s farm, just 10 or 15 minutes away from the KHP. I will meet the rest of the Area V riders and grooms at the KHP on Monday, July 25 to help set up, as Mike and the crew are leaving to caravan up to Kentucky that Sunday night.
As for the team, several team members are already coming in and out of Mike Huber’s barn, Gold Chip Stables, just five minutes from my house. Jacob Fletcher came into town from Arkansas a few weeks ago, and having him around the house after he has finished riding his three horses has been very entertaining. Riders and grooms are keeping in touch on Facebook, and many of us are already having fun meeting up to roam The Shops at Highland Village, watching movies, and playing laser tag at Main Event.
I will try to keep everyone up to date on our riding and training in the mornings, and adventures during the heat of the day (it’s currently 99 degrees out at 3 PM – Yay, Texas heat!)
So long for now!
- Alexa & Mitch
