Rider Profiles: May 2010 Archives

 It's finally Friday!  And time for another Lower-Level Event Rider Profile.  We've met Nation members from all over the US and the world, and today we're back to Kentucky to meet Lori.  If you wish to be featured in an upcoming profile, fill out the Questionnaire and email it to VisionaireEN@gmail.com.   Have a happy weekend!!

 

FEATURED RIDER:

 

 

Name: Lori Long

Age: 30

Location: Leitchfield, KY (basically the middle of nowhere)

Primary horse's name: River of Dreams (aka Rio) (His racing name was Clover Patch Kid...really who could do that to a 17.1h horse), Owned by Carolyn Ladd

Age, breed, pertinent info:

11, Off the Track TB.  Raced for 3 years and won $300...again who were these owners, should have realized earlier he only likes to run when there are jumps involved!  Needless to say he loves XC .  Still trying to figure out why stadium is in such a small area and why those poles fall down.  He is truly the trouble maker in his field and in his stall.  Loves to stick his head out of the stall and pull off every item of cloths he has so they are tossed all over the aisle. He also wouldn't feel accomplished at a show if he didn't rub out at least 1 braid if not a whole section.

Level currently competing: Training

 

Short term goals this spring/summer: We hope to have a couple clean stadium rounds at training and move up to Prelim

 

Year-end goals: Running Prelim Successfully, it's been a long time since I have had a horse up to this level.

 

Overall goals?

I can see this horse going at least Interm if not Advanced once he figures out his hind end (at 17.1h he is just a big lanky guy who doesn't know how to use his butt,  so sad) If I am the lucky one that gets to go with him I will be thrilled, if someone else does I will be his biggest fan in on the sidelines cheering him on every step of the way!

What's the best thing you've learned recently? 

Once you stop treating dressage like it is a necessary evil to get to XC it is fun, rewarding and the basis for everything.  I try to instill this in my students as I had a very hard time learning this lesson, and still sometimes have to remind myself ;-).

 

Favorite eventing moment/story? 

At Rio's 2nd training, had a dumb blonde moment and decided that the line I had walked to this skinny steeplechase wasn't right, so I took probably the worst line you could, in the process I thought, then said out loud: Rio I am so sorry but I think you are going to have to save us on this one.  We barely were pointing at the jump, I basically made sure I was in balance with him and I gave him the reins just to stay out of his way. He acted like what I was asking was normal and did it with ease. At that point I realized this horse was truly special. The only other horse I have thought this way about is now retired living the good life, so it was a great moment for me.

 

Link to blog or website, if applicable: www.bellavistaequestriancenter.com

 Rio  at Mid South Team Challenge Training Three Day 2009

I was in Chattahoochee this past weekend when the latest edition of LLRP was published.  As usual, I received several more Rider Profile emails in response.  I usually store them, and try to post them in the general order they are received.  But I made an exception for this one, and bumped it straight to the top.  I think you will enjoy it, and appreciate the perspective.  Kate, thanks for reminding us that there are things more important than eventing competition.  We at Eventing Nation would like to thank all the men and women who devote themselves to serving our country.  Kick on!!

FEATURED RIDER:

  

Name: Kate Rhine

Age: 24

Location: Franklin, VA (although serving in Iraq right now)

Primary horse's name: Pepperbox.  And an unnamed foal by Cicera's Icewater

Age, breed, pertinent info:

Pepperbox- an 11 year old 17.1 hand thoroughbred gelding who I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to own, he has evented through Prelim without ever having a stop. He was injured two years ago and also had some behavioral problems that often involved his rider meeting the ground so his owner was looking for a new home for him, somebody who would give him a second chance. I did, and now he has remembered his manners, is fully recovered from his injury and is ready to start eventing again! I also have a foal who is due to be born any day! He is out of a lovely oldenburg mare and by the stallion Cicera's Icewater.

Level currently competing:

Currently taking a year off, I'm serving in Iraq with the 229th Military Police Company, we are due to head home in July. I have competed sucessfully though Prelim.

 

Short term goals this spring/summer:

To get Pepperbox eventing fit again and hopefully finish the year w/ a few events at a level he is comfortable with.

Year-end goals:

I'm hoping to finish the year at training level if he is ok with it and take the winter to prepare him for the 2011 seaason.

 

Overall goals?

The same as it has been since I was about 12, to ride succesfully at Advanced. :) In the meantime to just continue learning and growing in my riding and passing on things I have learned to my students. I enjoy helping my students reach their goals, watching them improve and most importantly have a passion for their horses and loving this sport.

What's the best thing you've learned recently?

To appreciate everything you have, to enjoy your horse and the journey. Being in Iraq has taught me to enjoy the little things, when I was younger I was more focused on competing and getting to the next level. Now I'm just looking forward to learning, improving my riding and just enjoying my horses!

Favorite eventing moment/story?  (can be anything, something you did, felt, witnessed, realized...?)

The day I completed my first Prelim at Waredaca on a young (just turned 6) brilliant mare that I had brought along from a total greenie, she ROCKED on the cross country course and we just had a blast. I remember thinking "wow, this is what its all about, all the hard work, the money and the time, its just me and my horse eating up this course! What a rush!" she was amazing at that event and at the others we completed.

 

Website:  www.rhineequestrian.com

It's Reader Appreciation month, so we're here to bring you more LL Rider Profiles!  These have been a big hit, and I love meeting our EN audience.  I'm still sorting through many of them, but if you would like to be included please fill out the Questionnaire and email it to VisionaireEN@gmail.com.  
 

 

FEATURED RIDER: 

Name: Manny Diemer

Age: 53

Location: Raeford, North Carolina

Primary horse's name: The Big Easy, Keystone Silhouette

Age, breed, pertinent info:

The Big Easy (Duncan) is a 12 year old Canadian Commercial/Tb cross now destroying fence lines in Alabama with a formerly good friend of ours.  Keystone Silhouette  (Stella) is a 4 year old Australian Stock Horse mare currently learning the basics. 

Level currently competing: Beginner Novice

 

Short term goals this spring/summer:  Learn to post on the correct diagonal!

 

Year-end goals:

Help my new horse in her training so she can start her eventing career.  Start taking lessons with our good friend Holly Hudspeth and try not to drive her totally nuts. 

 

Overall goals? Some day a training three day with Stella. 

 

What's the best thing you've learned recently? 

I also play polocrosse, an obscure Aussie sport involving a racquet, ball, total insanity on the playing pitch and just about the most fun you can have on a horse.  It is helping me learn to use my aids independently. 

 

Favorite eventing moment/story? 

Watching my son complete his first long format CCI* with a thrid place finish, and remembering the days of the little yellow pony. 

Photo(s)

 

You may have seen John mention one of our regular commenters, "lec," who often takes time from her busy schedule to put up with us Yanks and give us the inside scoop from across the pond.  Lec was also one of the first to send in a LL Rider Profile, and it's high time we learned a little more about her!



Name: Lucy

Age: 29

Location: Somerset, UK

Primary horse's name: Gulval Mastermind (Rodney)

Age, breed, pertinent info:
11, TB x Hanoverian (by Silver Owl) Showed a lot of promise then had a season to forget in 2008 which was due to hock problems. Now jumping and going better than ever so hopeful of a good season and getting back to 1* level. Will hopefully move back up the levels quickly to what he was previously doing before the hock issues.


Level currently competing:
Starting first event at intro (novice?) then quickly moving to PN (training?) before ending up back at Novice (Prelim)

Short term goals this spring/summer:
To actually have fun and not get caught up in the crap of trying to do well and missing out on the fun in the process as putting yourself under so much pressure. Ideally I would like to qualify for Badminton Amateur Champs and get some points at novice.

Year-end goals:
I would love to finish on a 1* but will have to see how it all goes and look at finances.

Overall goals?
I would love to get to 2*. I would also like a youngster to bring on and hopefully not make as many mistakes as I made on this one.


What's the best thing you've learned recently? 
If you are quite tall like me (5'9) and struggle with your shoulders going too forwards and over balancing you at jumps then push your hips forwards more and this changes the alignment of your shoulders and keeps you in better balance over xc fences. Another was that if you have a horse that rushes ride off your corners more powerfully and then the whole process will be smoother and the horse will not change the canter so much in rushing.

Favorite eventing moment/story? 
My trainer coming 4th at Luhmuhlen 4*. It proved that one horse amateur riders could compete at the highest level and do well at it.


Photo(s) or videos: