This is perfect advice for me as I train towards Olympic goals and in validating my urge to launch into England’s unknown. On the daily front it also reminds me to welcome those not so familiar/comfortable aspects of daily training (and blogging)
I have no way of knowing what England has in store for us (Rupert, Ready & I) but I believe this is the right time to find out.

I cannot say enough good things about my time at The Fork, it has been an amazing 5 plus years. I have been fortunate to call this beautiful place my home and in many- many- ways am crazy to leave. This farm provided support and opportunity, and I plan to apply all that I have learned here – as I move forward. The grand vision and attention to detail that drives everyday operations of this place is both impressive and inspiring. I will miss everyone: my fellow fork staff, the support of many amazing students & clients, and of course the family I call Jim and Bernadette.  These two  provided a place of growth for me, that expanded my abilities in so many ways that I am thankful for.

I will keep you posted as new challenges from the Big Bubble replace my old comforts from the little bubble…. Maybe I will also devise a diagram –
Also best of luck to everyone heading to Rolex… It is such an exciting week… and year…!

Well another Fork Horse Trials = done!  And I think it all went quite well!

I could not be happier with Rupert, he was great all weekend. Our dressage focus paid out this week with our best score in a FEI test.  We Canucks have been working with Canadian Team Dressage Rider Jacquie Brookes and been delighted with her approach.  This spring in Florida Jacquie was up from Wellington every couple of weeks for some tag team coaching with DOC.  In February I went and spent a few additional days in Wellington’s Dressage Land.  The Fork HT was the first opportunity for Jacquie to coach us at competition.  I had two great lessons Wednesday and Thursday followed by a Jacquie pre-competition warm up.   It is always an experiment having someone else on the side lines during a final warm up.  I usually have a plan of what I need/want to do, and David doesn’t tend to say too much unless it is seriously going sideways.  Actually David shifts adopts more of a sign language, or “miming” the message he wants to get across… which works quite well for Rup and I…from the corner of our eyes.  Although Jacquie is likely not familiar with “DOC code” or sign language – she has an extremely effective way about her.  She did not try and dictate the ride, but certainly added some very constructive guidance.   I think what is so good about her help is that she recognizes and respects what we already know as riders and she understands what other jobs our horses have do on Saturday and Sunday.  So her way of teaching keeps the horse’s happy, moving well and building on the existing technical knowledge of the rider.

Cross country was just pure fun and he really did not put a foot wrong.  Rupert feels much stronger in his body this year, giving me a softer feel jumping.  Sunday he came out fresh and feeling good show jumping – to finish on his dressage score.

I am regularly asked what it is like competing at my home stable… difficult or home advantage? I think the answer is different for each horse but I am yet to find the home advantage, as our normally quiet home is completely different than the other 51 weeks of the year.   Rupert has competed at the Fork Trials every year for the last 4 years and he feels basically the same in the arena and on course as he does competing elsewhere.    The biggest difficulty was moving up to the competition stabling from his regular bedroom. That hack to and from the arenas???… was nothing short of “creative” (aka: terrorizing) until he understood the new routine.

As a rider however, it takes conscious effort to switch from organizer to competitor.  It is a shift from making sure the arenas are set, the xc course is flagged and numbered correctly … to actually riding in those arenas and looking at those jumps in terms of how to ride them as opposed to placing flags on them!

I have to say we felt better prepared this year with our Horse Trial Duties, purely due to the great crew we had on deck this year.  Dana  Cooke simply does not stop;  the working students Jessica Meckes & Katie Shiplet – plus  side kick Kaylin Medlin (the busiest 14 year old I know!) don’t stop until Dana stops (see earlier statement).  We had Sinead’s crew as work party, Dana’s mom – Marcia – on the grandmother’s sewing machine making SJ flags, and My Parents in their usual ultra productive mode… Thank you thank you!

And now you would barley know there were 400 horses, 5000 people and 10,000 dogs here only 3 days ago.  The cleanup crew is as efficient as the put up party. The only thing that seems to be missing is a pink wooden pig…it’s particularly valuable …has a health condition (needs it’s medications) and does not travel well. ……so if anyone knows of its whereabouts….  Pennsylvania or otherwise?

Last, but not least, I want to give a thanks to my sponsors Arenus, Ecogold, EquineLite Mats, FITS, Five Star Tack, Haygain, Hit Air, Omega Alpha, RevitaVet, and Stack House Saddles.

So far so good to 2012… the horses and students have had a good start.  We have now migrated north back to the Fork after 7 weeks in Florida.  With Riddle Master (Rupert) I feel like the season if just getting started… we are about to cross the threshold from training to competing. January and February are mostly about, getting fit, getting better and getting prepared for the season to come. This is the time to really lay out what the priorities and progression is to lead into the season.  Particularly with Rupert I love this time, his work has gotten more and more about the little details and that is a fun place to be.  The early months are exciting because there is the anticipation of the competitions to come, the luxury of imaging them going perfectly and successfully!

We are lucky to have two good 4*’s under our belt so we are not planning on Rolex this spring. Our year is about getting the two of us the best prepared possible for an event “they” are holding at this place called Greenwich Park! So far the plan is to be out at Southern Pines then The Fork, Jersey and Bromont in the cic’s and then see where the chips lay come selection day.

With the Olympics still 4 months away it is a sometimes confusing balance of “OMG The freakn Olympic Games are only 4 months away” combined with … “There are still 4 months to go until the Olympics” It’s a long season with everything left to do because of this, I have been really conscious of not doing too much too soon and just being smart with and enjoying the practice time.

Back at The Fork, the farm is in full horse trials mode, in preparation for the eventing evasion to Norwood, or the “Redneck Riviera” as Mr. Cogdell affectionately calls it.  After southern pines this weekend, we girls in the barn have the job of getting the xc course flagged, arenas set… as well as some scheduled evenings of arts and crafts-  We need new flags for the Show Jump course this year, so we have bought out the local supply of doweling and red and white felt. Dowling is a hot commodity this time of year, who knew?

All for now and I promise I will not wait until the next time I sit in the hairdresser chair to writeJ

Living on the opposite coast of my family makes these trips home so important and something that this time of year is designated for. This got me thinking about what these fall months are really about. Historically I find the November and December months hard as the intensity of the competition season ends it feels like such a shift in gears.  Although I enjoy the period of time to reflect on the past season and plan how to take over the world for the year to come, it can be hard to refrain from getting restless and keep the patience for plans to kick into high gear.  It is a shift in mindset these months but one that is healthy to welcome and to be used for what it is: a time for horses coming off three-

Sisters and Grandmother

days to rest, time to focus on young and new horses, teach clinics…plan Derbycross!  Most importantly I think (and what my Nana would say) it is a time to catch up on the stuff that doesn’t seem to be given adequate priority during the other 10 months of the year.

• Travel… without a horse
• Some good quality bantering and girl talk with the sisters face to face
• Snowy activity aka skiing
• Dentist appointment…agg
• Writing more blogs
• Connecting with old friends… And making some new ones
• Cashing in on the spa gift certificate I have had for a year…or maybe two…??!
• Downloading some new awesome tunes
• Reading a Maclean’s magazine (Canadian news)
  

  Boys in their Pinque Coats... enjoying a time of less travel!

• Running an extra loop… Cuz there is the time and it’s not so bloody hot.  This time of year running in the woods of NC is kinda risky, avoiding the deer hunters.  So maybe it is also part of my adrenalin replacement!
• Taking advantage of the other 1000 acres here at the Fork, shooting sporting clays with the boss
• Oyster roasts, frequenting the outside fire pit
• Increase yoga attendance
• Good night out dancing
• Studying the game of charades so I can attempt to keep up with the likes of Sinead and Lynn at our traditional new year’s match
• Learn Spanish…. Ok just kidding that’s not gonna happen:)

Now here at the fork we are enjoying some quieter times.  The Competition season is done for us… so some of the horses are on Holiday.  Mr. Roquefort being one of those on a well deserved holiday.  Rocky came home from Mexico in really good form.  He looks great and is now enjoying quality field time with his buddy Rupert. 

The Pan Am Games was a great trip… and I feel so fortunate to have been there and for the group of people that make it all happen.

THE HORSE: ROCKY

I cannot help coming away from a trip like that and feel so thankful to the horse that took me on the adventure.  I again learned a ton, and have “the big cheese” to thank!

I was very disappointed in our dressage.  It certainly was not what we were hoping for.  He had been going very well, definitely another level of work since the spring.   Warm up was good and felt that we were ready to go in and rock it in the ring.  But Nope… it wasn’t our day! He was really spooky in the ring and we blew too many movements. 

I could not have been happier with him on the xc.  It was a tough test, and it was hilly.  Rocky galloped well and jumped super.  It was a good feeling to get him home knowing I got the most out of him possible, and he looked really good Saturday night. I was proud of him.

I was really glad to have a second SJ round… he and I both were much better for it!

It was interesting psychology to get over my disappointment of the dressage test.  Especially on a team, it is such an important thing to do…. Move on and go back to work competing the next two days to get as good as a result as possible. 

THE OWNERS

Jim and Bernadette Cogdell:  Jim and Bernadette were both there in Guadalajara and I think are fans of Mexico!  Thank you so much to Jim for supporting rocky to get to the Pan Am’s and to Bernadette for being one of our biggest supporters and cheerleaders.

And those that helped with the initial purchase of rocky and continue to follow him.

THE PARENTS

Yup they are just great… and they were there before… during and after.

THE GROOM: Dana Cooke

Rocky, I and the Fork are so lucky to have this girl apart of the team.  She gets it. She cares and works her ass off.     There is so much heart and thought that goes into getting to a team competition and then performing while there. Dana was there every step of the way.  There certainly were many tears shed on Sunday afternoon when it was all said and done.  Mochas Gracias! Xo

THOSE AT HOME: Awesome Working Students Jessica Meckes and Katie Shiplett

These girls take their job as seriously as any… and it shows. The horses, barn and clients at home could not have been better cared for. 

THE TEAM: 

It is just such an exceptional group of people we have as team Canada and I am not exaggerating.  Us riders can really just do our job because of who is around us and how well they all work together.  Of course our leadership and horsemanship comes from David, Graeme Thom… is never allowed to leave! Deb, Fleur, Christiana and Randy… couldn’t do it without ya.

It was such a great thing to watch Jess Phoenix from start to finish.  She rode and preformed first class all week.  It was certainly a great thing to have the Canadian flag at the top of the pole on Sunday.  What a super competitor she is… pretty sure she was singing as she went in to the show jump ring for her second round!  And of course hats off to our American friends… was an impressive week for all of them… they just did not make a mistake all looked great each day.

We were unable to produce a clear round on Show Jumping day which is always disappointing, but the riders were able to hold on to their bronze medal spot and all finished with happy horses and a great team experience.   The scores were so close, so Joelle’s 2 rails dropped her to 6^th place.

The Canadian YR camp was a joint effort of coaches, Peter Gary was the coach of the one star team (who also brought home the team bronze medal, and the silver and bronze individual medals!!).  Jessie Phoenix was also there coaching because two of her students were riding on teams.  Out of the 9 Canadian event riders at the championships this year 7 of them were from Ontario.  But in true Canadian fashion the “non ontarians” Melissa and Joelle were included in the group and the chefs Linda Plank and Caroline took care of the entire group.  Jessie and I have ridden together, but it was really fun to coach with her, and apply some of the same team and coaching concepts that worked for us as riders.

It was a great group of people this year, but I hope that we can add some more west coast riders into the mix next year!

This is Joelle’s second NAYRC, she and Malibu were here last year and are hoping to improve on  last year’s 9^th place finish.  So far she is has a good start to that goal.  Joelle rode a great test, and came out of the ring with a personal best 52.4 which was good enough for 2^nd!  All of our Canadian riders did a super job today, and the team is in third spot just 8 points away from the leading Area III team.

The course for Saturday has plenty do.  The Coffin is substantial and there are a number of accuracy questions, including the corner combination and an angle one stride fairly late on the track. 

There is a jumper show going on here at the horse park also, so Student Stephanie Shepherd and her horse Archie came for the trip to get some good SJ practice.  Steph had a great round today, but her other important job this weekend is Joelle’s stylist! Steph came equipped with hair straighter and make-up took kit, Joelle was stylin for her jog, dressage and press conference #1!