Grain Before Groceries: Gratitude

Monday, 6 June 2016

Gratitude

We did it! I moved up to Training at the Beaumont Horse Trials and finished on a number! Facebook reminded me that it was 5 years to the day of my first completed event.

The weekend was not without it's hiccups but my overwhelming emotion is gratitude.

Photo By Suzi Prokopchuk Stromberg

Gratitude to the fabulous coaches who have helped me get to this point. The ones who I'm no longer riding with, the ones who have stepped in to pinch hit, and especially to Sandra for believing in me and the Bestest Wonder Pony (her words) despite only coaching us sporadically.

Gratitude to my awesome friends, who talked me off the ledge when my nerves were getting the better of me. The barrage of texts from those who couldn't be there made me feel loved and supported.

Gratitude to the awesome team who help me keep my senior performance horse competing at this level. I've never been happier with my vet, farrier and osteopath,

Photo by Crystal Hobbs

Gratitude to the other 3 horses I've had the opportunity to event. Merlin gave me the confidence to gallop at solid obstacles, Riddick taught me to be tactful and humble, Red Mare who taught me how to persevere (and to know when it's time to move on).

Riddick

Gratitude to my mom. I couldn't do this without her, even though it stresses her out to watch me. There aren't enough words to describe how important she is.

Gratitude to my SO. For being understanding of all the time, money and dedication this crazy sport takes. For supporting me through it all, even though he don't really understand it. For being willing to learn and help out. For keeping me mobile when the Purple Lemon dies on me. For loving the horses almost as much as he loves me.

But overwhelming gratitude to my awesome horse. She was exceptionally forgiving as I made withdrawal after withdrawal from the trust bank. 99% of the time she was right there for me when I wasn't there for her. The one blip was a safe blip that was a necessary wake up call. I wouldn't have wanted to do this with any other partner.