Jersey Fresh

Hard to believe May is almost over. It's been a bit of a blur! We've got 3 weeks before Bromont, and then it will really quiet down. I'm ready for some down time, that's for sure! So are my horses. Kiwi and JB will have a couple weeks off after Bromont, and I'm hoping the weather will cooperate a little bit so they can live out for a while. The grass is tremendously good here at Willow Bend Farm, so I'm hoping they can fatten up a bit, relax, roll, and be dirty, happy horses.
I'm in a really great place with my horses right now. I started both JB and Kiwi from scratch as young horses, and to look at them now is very rewarding.

JB just ran around the Jersey Fresh CIC3* a couple weeks ago. That event was the culmination of many years of work, and practice, and patience, etc, etc. It's what we eventers live for, right? But reflecting on his career, and realizing that your horse now possesses the skill level to answer all those questions at the advanced level is pretty humbling. I'm pretty much awestruck by my horse! I'm amazed by what he does know, look forward to helping him with the things he doesn't know (ie dressage!!), and can't believe I am the jockey lucky enough to have the ride on him. Every day that I get to ride him, is a great day. People often ask me if I knew then, what he would become now. I do distinctly remember the first day I rode him. First, I didn't have a girth small enough for him. He is incredibly slabsided. There wasn't much to him then, or even now, for that matter. After we wheeled about 40 times on the way to the ring, with his forelock in my face, I picked up the trot, and the rest, as they say, is history. I immediately called KatyLou, whom I got JB from, and I remember telling her that he was the nicest horse I had ever ridden. She laughed, said "I'm so glad you like him", but I don't think she realized then what I really meant. I thought the horse was incredibly special. Did I think he'd be a 3* horse?? Not in a million years. Why? Mostly because it would never happen to me that a slabsided-quirky-insanely spooky-can't whinny from the tieback surgery- grass, grain, hay, water pour out his nose pretty much all the time- huge cracks in his feet- riddled with ulcers- field ornament would show up on my doorstep and morph into some uber-fantastic 3star worldbeater. Nope. Never occurred to me. I fully admit that. He is my Manna from Heaven. That's the best explanation I've got!

Reflecting on Kiwi is just as rewarding. He was such a bucking bronco when he came. He spent that 1st winter in Aiken with NO feet on the ground. I did not leave home without a neckstrap ever. That in addition to the standard breastplate all my horses wear! He could totally bust a move. As the years have gone by, his "enthusiasm" has become less spectacular, and I would have to say that this year he is downright civilized! Not only that, but he has run around just about every prelim track there is this past year like the scrappy kid he is, in his most genuine, generous way. He tries really hard for me. It's a great quality for a horse to have, and one that makes them valuable to their rider, every time you swing your leg over. I was talking to Kiwi's owner, Patricia, the other day about what a good boy he is. He isn't in the limelight most of the time. It's hard when Mo and JB are his stablemates! But he has never missed an event. He always shows up for work, clocks in, clocks out, like the worker bee he is. Pretty amazing actually. He has been a valuable member of the string, without a doubt!

It's a little early to be reflecting on my horses. Our biggest event this year is still on the horizon.
But they're both ready. They both know their jobs. And I can't wait to tackle the course! Like I said, it's a really great place to be when you trust your horses, trust your training, and have absolute confidence in your partnership. When you're in that place, it's just you and your horse against the course. That's what it's all about. I hope every event rider out there gets to experience that at least once with a special horse. There is definitely no other feeling like it in the world!