Wow - what a feeling. Photo thanks to Tom Holder
One of the most prestigious competitions on the US eventing calendar is the American Eventing Championships, otherwise known as the AEC's, which this year were being held in Atlanta, GA (Georgia). I had qualified quite a lot of horses, more than anyone else in MD (Maryland). Of course not all of the horses are still with me, as some have been sold since qualifying. However I decided to take four horses from my advanced horse, two preliminary (Australian 1*) horses and a novice. This is not an undertaking to be taken on board without serious consideration because it means a 15 hour drive, 6 days away from home and a stay in some quite dodgy hotels!
My newest working student is an Australian, Rhiannon Bosma, so I decided we would drive through the day, rather than the night, so she would be able to see much of the countryside as possible. In America each state can feel like a different country, with different laws and a different breed of people. So to say it was an education for Rhiannon is an understatement! Whilst we did avoid any Waffle House shootings, she did encounter everything in between! From the prim and preppy DC folk, through the curt and country North Carolinas to the down and dirty Georgians, it was a true East Coast experience.
The team
After arriving at 10pm a day and a half before competition we were in the mood to settle in local style. So of course we headed straight to the 'Outback'! For the uninitiated the Outback is an Australian themed restaurant that is VERY popular throughout America. With items on the menu such as 'Shrimp on the Barbie' and 'Wallaby Darned's', it is clearly a true representation of Australian culture! - although Rhiannon DID point out the disproportionate flag and lack hot ‘tradies’, I think she was being a little too harsh! I'm also fairly certain we were the first Australians ever to walk thru their doors.
Making my way round the cross countrty
Back to the show itself, the horses settled in very well and were well and truly ready to compete. I wasn't short of help with three people plus myself, looking after the four horses. So the first morning we set out on a light hack to stretch the athlete’s legs and to give us all our first real familiarisation of the facility. In the time I've been here I have to admit I've become quite accustomed to and spoilt with the stunning venues and high standard of presentation. So it was a true joy to me to relive my initial impressions of the competitions through Rhiannon. She was clearly in awe of the palatial barns, the sheer number of horses, the infrastructure, the footing, the presentation of the jumps, the magnitude of the 8000 acre property and the extensive and professional commentary throughout all three phases. I think I even heard her compare it to Badminton! The only person in Australia to hold a candle to the commentary skills is of course, Fiona Hughes! And to be perfectly honest, I'd pay at least $100 bucks to hear her on the loudspeaker here in the US!
Just look at the size of that fence
At a show of this magnitude the classes are quite huge, with upwards of 50 competitors in each. The top 10 generally finish on their dressage score, so it's essential to do a good test. I had a mixed bag with my guys, with two doing the tests of their lives and two doing average tests. The two average ones are typically expected to win so I was in an unusual position of playing catch up with them. The cross country was a test of accuracy and speed, so I was happy to get three of my guys home inside the time, heading into showjumping on their dressage score. I had an unfortunate tack issue on my fourth, which prevented me from achieving my goal of finishing all of them on their dressage scores, but I wisely brought him back to the barn without injury – so all was well.
The victory lap
Onto the showjumping, which is obviously built up to a high tension situation. My horses are all quite careful and we showcased our showjumping homework with three clear rounds and a victory lap. Then it was a high-speed repacking and drive home so we could get back in time to start work as normal on Monday!
The Olympic flame statue
On a side note … I'm not sure about everyone else, but my inspiration in our sport comes from the athletes who represent our country at the Olympic level. In particular the Atlanta Olympics stand out to me, from Phillips perfect ride on True Blue Girdwood to Gill's heroic actions with Peppermint Grove. As we drove into Atlanta itself, horses it tow, I realised I'm not alone. As we neared the tribute to the Olympic Flame the truck fell silent. Even the radio stopped playing ‘gangstar’ rap and went into quiet mode for the first time in 14 hours! I have been lucky enough to compete in three different Olympic arenas (which have all left me in awe), but the Olympic Flame really drove home the journey that so many of us embark upon. Whether or not we all achieve our ultimate goal, this dream leads us all to a way of life, toughness and mindset that stays with us forever … It's funny the things you can think about as you drive past a statue!!
Kate
