Winners: Each and Every One

Game Day!  The emotions take over on the first day of competition for the Junior Riders.  The girls attend to their horses...grooming and bathing, running through their tests.  They are friendly and talkative with each other, but a little more reserved than previous days.  The clock ticks slowly by while they wait for their class to begin.  It is almost painful because all the girls can do is wait.

Thankfully, the sun came out today and attempted to dry out the footing and the grounds.  It partially succeeded.  The USET headquarters is such a beautiful place...mud or no mud!

Part of the morning was spent watching the Young Riders. The rides were terrific to watch!  I think I find the Junior and Young Riders to be especially inspirational, as they come to a Show of this magnitude with such pride and awe for where they are and for the opportunity to literally "rub shoulders" with the riders of the Grand Prix and I1.  They are wide-eyed with hope and expectation...these young people are the future of the sport of dressage!

Nerves!  Moms, dads, grandparents, friends, riders, grooms, owners, and trainers...we all experience it at that moment of entry into the Arena.  It is excruciating...a painful and physical reaction to something completely out of our control!  We want everyone's ride to be their best...but we also want "our rider" to be "the best".  

My rider, Jessica, had a terrific day placing 4th with a 64.7%.  Of course, she wishes she hadn't made those little mistakes... and tomorrow she will work hard to make the corrections her trainer and the judges pointed out to her. 

I know this for sure:  I am so proud!  My child and every one else's child today had strength of character, will power, determination, and hope.  They got on their horses and rode into the ring with the hope that today would be "their" day.  I think every rider here is a winner just because they are competing at the Collecting Gaits Festival of Champions!