2k14: A Review

It's about that time of year when we start to turn over a new leaf but only after looking back over things one more time.

It was a big year. I did a lot, and I came a long way, and I learned a heck of a lot of things. The medal was probably the big ticket item. Some part of me wishes that I hadn't done it because the finals were terrible, but you can't change the past, and I'm excited to do it again next year.


I'm also glad that I was able to have lessons with Miss El, and I'm super glad that I have the new boarder to help me further that knowledge.

Ah, yes, stretchy stretchy
Not to mention, joining IEA is undoubtedly one of the best decisions that I have ever made. There has been such a huge change in my riding. It's unbelievable.


Now for the real review, the goals/bucketlist checkoff:

✔Achieve acceptable flat and over fences equitation
Yes, this was actually achieved, but only after slumping through the summer.

✔Get champion in one division
That reserve champion in Low Hunter counts

✔Jump a little bit higher (like, 3", that's all I ask)
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.


Get Baby more responsive to seat and leg
She's got the seat thing. We're still working on the leg thing.

✔Ride Molly confidently
I'm not terrified to trot her anymore, and I can actually stay on when I canter her. That's a big step forward.

Break the fashion meter
Eh, I was fairly conservative this year. I'm an eq rider. It's hard to be fun.

No falls (oh, this will be a challenge)
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, no.

✔Be more effective as a rider
I actually have a core now, and I can hold my two-point for more than half a lap.

Try free jumping
I'm going to do this eventually.

✔Do a medal class
Oh yes we did.

Conquer my fear . . . er, aversion to oxers
I still give them strange looks.

✔Kick booty
I kicked my own ass into gear. That counts for something.

What does next year have in store? Well, I have an ambassador application that is currently being considered, the second giveaway is happening in a month or two, I'm managing a show, I'm moving up in equitation, and I'm on a steady track to IEA regionals. Also, there will be blog hops. They are already drafted. Thanks for dealing with me for the past year. Here's to taking 2015 head on!

Category Is

Comments

  1. emmaJanuary 2, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    congrats on checking so much off your list - sounds like 2014 was a banner year! glad you love IEA so much -- i wish i had known about it when i was in high school!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. T. A. Eyo ¥January 5, 2015 at 10:38 PM

      I seriously wish that we had a team near me earlier. Now we have two more barns in the area with teams!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unspoken Rules of the Hunter Ring

Image
Ever since I started riding, I've been a part of the hunter ring. It's not an easy sport, and it's kind of difficult to really fit into a hunter operation if you've never experienced it before. So, if you're about to switch disciplines or just dipping a toe into the sport, keep these bits of information in mind. From one hunter to the next, good luck! 1. Only black or white saddle pads are allowed. I cannot stress this enough. It's about being profeshunal, people. Just because the page on Dover said HUNTER green, doesn't mean it's allowed in a hunter barn. Common mistake. Don't make it. sin!!! sin, I say!!! 2. Your everyday riding attire will be as follows: solid colored polo shirt (tucked in), beige Tailored Sportsman breeches, a black belt, black tallboots (either Ariat, Tredstep, or Parlanti). The only time you can divert from this is at shows. Then, you are allowed to school in a quarter zip, but that's it. Also, I'd like to r
Read more

The Regionals Swing

Image
Yup, that time of year again. I still didn't qualify for regionals, but after seeing how last year went, I didn't even put it down as a goal. Eh, I might try senior year. I don't feel too pressured about it. Reaching (in vain) for my taco My parents and I made the 2.5 hour drive on Saturday morning. We actually arrived early, so I started helping bring horses in and unblanket them. Everything ran smoothly during set up. I was only schooling Leia, which went fine except her being super slow. Over the past year and a half, Leia has gone from being super strong and forward to fences to being a leg ride the whole time. We started with some trash distances but got it together for a good school. Unfortunately, so was just as slow and chippy with most of the people who rode her. Eh. Horses are kind annoying anyway. Looking for free tacos I spent a decent amount of time cuddling with Carlos in the morning before helping tack up Murry for the flat classes. I also finally
Read more

A fortunate snow day, believe it or not

Image
So, yeah, it snowed, and waaayyy more than expected. Forecast said we'd get 3"-6". Final totals were anywhere between 8" and 11" for the Eastern Shore. My Saturday lesson was cancelled, and the sub-freezing temperatures haven't let the snow melt at all. It's supposed to warm up tomorrow and Wednesday. We'll see. Still, it's fortunate because guess what's happening down in Wellington??? I'm still on Anne Kursinski's ride , but her horse and the information she's giving is a little bit more relevant to my current riding state than the whole session was last year. First, the horse she's on is quite similar to Silver. He's an apparently laid back gray gelding that, every once in a while, loses focus and gets dramatic. He's even weaker to the right and occasionally swaps off behind, just like Silver. Big difference is that Anne's horse is significantly less dramatic than Silver. He swaps off, thinks for a minute,
Read more