This weekend was the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany. No, I wasn't there, but you can read all about my thoughts on the show on my HorseJunkiesUnited blog, "The Horses I Didn't Ride at the FEI World Championships for Young Horses in Verden." 

My trusty groom, Kathryn, did have her first World Championships experience, and it was so fun to feel her enthusiasm for the amazing horses, riders, shopping, and venue. It made me remember what it was like for me when I went there the first time; then it reminded me of my first Hagen, Lingen, Bundeschampionate, and Aachen. 

I've been so fortunate to be exposed to these amazing shows, and to watch the highest calibre of riders competing. Ingrid felt it was very important I get to see these events, and I feel that it's important now to allow and encourage others to do the same (although I'm by no means done attending!). 

One thing that saddens me a bit is that as we become more educated, the shine and dazzle of these events wears off. Kathryn overheard a lot of negative comments about everything how people ride and train, to what they wear, and it ruined her 'buzz' a little. 

I know much more now then I did the first time I went to a big show; I've learned that there's a lot more to this dressage business than a Big Name, an expensive trainer, and simply looking good. I can vocalize my thoughts as well as anyone else, and I believe it helps to develop your education when you look at "perfection" with a critical eye.  

However, like the saying goes, there are many roads to Rome.  There are so many different, and successful, ways of training dressage (or any other discipline) that no single coach/trainer/nation/idea has The Only Way.  And to cut down every way that isn't your own... well, that's pretty intolerant and negative, isn't it?

I've been guilty of it for sure, and likely I'll do it again; there's a lot of things I don't particularly like or want to do myself. But seeing the sparkle in Kathryn's eye as she described the excitement of being so close to the top riders, studying their positions and that of their horses, it was a little contagious.  And the way she rode today, after being so inspired (she found her seat! Really rode from it!)... I want that feeling more often.

Really, at then end of the day, I play with horses; likely you do too if you're reading this. I'm not curing disease, I'm not making the world that much better or safer. I am so lucky to do this, it brings me joy and pleasure every day. I'm going to make an effort to appreciate this more often, to be more thankful, especially when I'm around show situations. If someone asks for my thoughts, then I can offer my views as constructively as possible, as I would hope someone would do the same if they were critiquing my ride. 

Everyone can be a rail bird, or even a bitch; it's easy (trust me, I know). But I'm going to try to remember what it's like, that absolute overwhelming inspiration that makes it hard to sleep, and I'm going to look for it in the next World Champion and the clumsy rider with the dirty breeches on a junker horse that went off course at the show down the street, because they are both giving it everything they can. No one should be slammed for that. 

Today I had the best ride ever on Countess, my favorite orange mare EVER. I know I say "I had the best ride" rather often, but how awesome is it when it's true every time?!

She just gave everything in every movement; the tempi-changes were straight and on, we got our 3 x one-times in both directions, first try. Her pirouettes were outstanding, and the canter half-pass zig-zagging is getting easier. The kicker for me was after the best extended trot she's ever given me, we did a great shoulder in down the long side, then I asked for the half-pass left from the Grand Prix.

That is a very hard angle to do a good half-pass on. Going to the right we've been able to keep the tempo, bend, and swing, and still make the letter; but going to the left I've either had to sacrifice the big swing in her trot to get the to "B" in time, being satisfied with her pony-trot, or keep her bigger trot and end up about 3/4 down the longside. 

Today she just did it. It was easy. She bobbled once in the tempo, but otherwise took huge, swinging, bouncing steps in her monster trot and finished at "B". Wowsers. 

I maybe should have done the half-pass right just to balance the work for the day, but I was too busy hugging the orange beast and telling her how amazing and fantastic she was to think about any more work. I promised her a day of hacking & galloping (me getting dragged around the hay field) tomorrow because that's how much I love her.

In other exciting orange news, Denny Crane trotted yesterday. No really, he trotted. The good kind, where you stop and go, 'ooooh.' He dazzled me the first time I ever saw him trot, but since then he's sort of scrambled along uninspiringly. I've not worried because he is taking the fugly growth stages of a yearling very seriously and is never in any sort of balance for more than 38 seconds before something grows again. One can't look balanced when the back is long, the ass is high, the shoulders low, the neck is not sure where it wants to go... really, how can he be beautiful now?

But yesterday he and his fugly roomy were running around after we moved them to a new field, and when he slowed his trot down it bounced. I nearly peed myself it was so exciting to see. I'm going to hold on to that moment for the next 2-4 years, because I know he's going to take a long time to mature and put it all together. That moment will keep me dreaming... 

Yay for Oranges.