It doesn't really matter how many years you've been riding....everyone has their good and bad days! It's also good to have another person (ie: judge) come into the barn to watch you girls ride. It's great to get someone else's opinion and views on your riding. You should take the judges suggestions and incorporate them into your riding.
Gaining experience...this is the only way to become a better rider. Going to off property shows, (whether they are Foxhunter schooling shows, Trillium shows or shows on the A circuit) it is a great way to expose yourself to the "Real World". There is alot out there in horse show land that none of you know about. These girls and boys that show off property have been doing it for years, and I don't just mean 2 or 3 shows a year. They go to EVERY show in their circuit EVERY year. Some of them even leave Canada in the winter and go to the States where it's warm to compete there. They have their own horses and ride 4-5 times a week, sometimes more. These horses are all in the range of $20,000. + and they are all programmed to do one job only....get the rider around that course. The parents of these kids spend thousands and thousands of dollars every year on lessons, trianing and showing costs. This is more like a business to them.
I have been in horse show land for quite a few years and every year I return, there are the same kids, some with the same horses, some with new ones, but they are entering the same classes year after year. Why do you think they do this?? Because they want to be the best in that division, every year. Example: there is one girl who has been showing all her life. Right now she shows on the Trillium Circuit. She rides a little white pony and enters the Small/Medium Pony division in every trillium show, every year. This year, I have seen her clean up in every trillium show she enters. Champion in the Small/Medium divison every time. I asked her when she thought she was going to try something new....her answer was "The only way I will compete in any other class is when I can not go any further in this one, when I'm the best Small Pony there is!" I believe this is her last year as a Small/Medium Pony competitor, as she has a new horse now that she is taking in the Trillium Jumper 2'9" classes. Oh, by the way, this kid is 9 years old!!
I guess where I'm going with this is....once you can truely say to yourself that you are completely satisfied with the level you are showing at, it is only then that you should move onto a more challenging level. EVERYONE starts at the schooling level and stays there until they can successfully move on. Just because you have been showing at the schooling level for many years, doesn't necessarily mean you are ready to move up to the Trillium level and just because you have been showing on the trillium circuit doesn't mean you are ready to move onto the A circuit. Some say that winning isn't everything, but it does give you the confidence and experience you need to keep competing until you can say that you are "the best".
I am very excited about this show year and for all the girls that are showing an interest in doing the off property shows. Let's just remember why we go to these shows and not forget how grateful you all should be to have these oppertunities given to you. So, on that note, let's have a safe, fun and happy show season this year and bring home lots of those pretty ribbons to hang on the stall doors!!
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So you're bored with your riding, this is what I am getting from your message. You have to realize that a Hunter course will never change, they are always going to be the same whether the jumps are 2' or 3'. So when you say you're bored of riding at a certain level, it doesn't make much sense to me. How can you be bored? You haven't hardly shown Strider at all this year. From what I've seen, he reacts the same way if he is jumping a 2' jump or a 2'6" jump.
I'm not going to keep going on and on about this, Sarah. You can take it for what you will.
One more thing, how dare you EVER think that you and Helen would be judged unfairly at one of our schooling shows. That was probably the worst thing I think I have ever heard a competitor of your age imply. Especially to people who have been there for you through thick and thin while riding with us at WES.
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lori im not here to pick a fight with you and if you dont mind please dont talk to me about the show ok? that is between my parents and sherri i dont care about the judging at the show i didnt even want to be in it despite what you seem to think about me im not in it to win i just happen to have retarded parents who pretty much hate our barn and i never stop hearing about it there are alot of things you dont know you werent even at the show and you are so sceptical of everything i say i never said that I was bored of MY riding i was trying to ask an honest question of whether or not that is acceptable or if what you were meaning was that you should pick one level and stay at it until you are the best. i havnt been showing a long time and i know that but that doesnt mean that you and allicia should gang up on me about something that you dont even have all the facts about ok im sory if you think im a snob or a b*tch or what ever but dont worry if things keep up this way you wont ever see me again my parents are trying to force me to quit riding beause they think that sinse i didnt win at the show that all my training has been a waste of time that is their oppinion NOT mine and i cant change their minds they dont understand about all the little things that we do to improve they dont understand that because of the way the division was set up we were SUPPOSED to be judged harder they are mad that i lost because it embarrased them. and i have talked to sherri about it and yea for some reason its my fault and im not wanted at the barn anymore that has been made very clear by several people i dont understand how this is my fault helen is the one who set my parents off and put the idea into their heads that the judging was biased i didnt even know about it until after my mom called sherri about it so bye bye sarah
Sarah, hopefully you have stuck around long enough to see one last post from me. This has all spiraled out of control. You're right, sometimes when people type on this message board, the messages aren't taken the right way or it sounds worse than it is. If all this was said in person, Im sure it wouldn't have been as bad as it sounds on this thing.
I am a very outspoken person (like yourself) and when two of that type of people get in a arguement, it usually isn't pretty. We both have very good points about this situation, however I would like to make a few more:
you are not a selfish, cheap brat (well maybe the brat part sometimes!)
you have been apart of the WES family for years and will always be welcome there
this wasn't about "picking sides". Sherri is one of my good friends, and when someone comes down on her like the way your mom did, I couldn't help but defend her (I realize that it went through you and not directly at your mother, however I don't have contact with her and you seemed to be doing a pretty good job defending your position). Im sure this goes for Alicia aswell. You would have probably done the same for one of your friends too.
no, I don't think I would have reacted the same way if we were at an off property show and you or Helen didn't place. I would not question a judges decision at any show (unless it seems like it's way off) I would just want to know her comments that were made (which you now know, and Im glad you got that straightened up)
I wouldn't want to pick a fight with me either !!
I apologise if it seemed like Alicia and I were ganging up on you. I revert back to my point #3, we were simply defending our friend who was in a bad situation, some things maybe shouldn't have been said, but they were, and for that I will apologise for anything I said that may have offended you.
I'm sorry about your parents, and Im sorry that it all had to come out the way it did. It really sucks that they don't like our barn and want you to quit riding. I don't know what your situation is like at home, but hopefully you and your parents can come to an agreement that will allow you to stay at our barn.
You are a really cool kid. You always handle yourself really well around the adults and around the other kids and because everyone at the barn knows this, I think everyone was more shocked than anything to hear you talking this way - I know I was. Gotta love those teenage hormones eh!! I don't think anyone has said that they don't want you at the barn anymore. You are a great addition to our little group and camp probably wouldn't be the same without you.
So for all of you who are on this message board, I think an apology is in order, as this probably got a little too graffic for the nice little mb. I know there are alot of kids from our barn on here and we can't control who knows about all of this, but if we can try to keep it on the downlow from now on, it would proabably be best. Let this be a lesson to everyone....if you have something to say to someone, just say it to them. It would probably save alot of typing!!
Good luck Sarah, with whatever happens, hopefully you will stay at WES and continue your riding and showing with Strider. I know everyone would want it that way
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thanks lori trust me i felt really bad for sherri too and i know how she must have felt my mom is really harsh about everything and shes not afraid to show it to anyone lol iv been there more than several times i really hope she can get over this too cuz i couldnt leave here iv been to sooooo many barns (8) and iv never been anywhere like WES i can honestly admit i had never had a friend at riding before here and i had never talked to any one but my coach at the barn before here im really sorry that all of this got so retarded and out of control and i hope we can all just let this go away
yipeeeeee all happiness again! well then i guess it's my turn to apoligize for starting all of this! lol i guess my post came across the wrong way aswell.. sorry everyone!
thanks lori trust me i felt really bad for sherri too and i know how she must have felt my mom is really harsh about everything and shes not afraid to show it to anyone lol iv been there more than several times i really hope she can get over this too cuz i couldnt leave here iv been to sooooo many barns (8) and iv never been anywhere like WES i can honestly admit i had never had a friend at riding before here and i had never talked to any one but my coach at the barn before here im really sorry that all of this got so retarded and out of control and i hope we can all just let this go away
No worries, it's already gone!
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Welcome to where ever you are, this is your life, you've made it this far!
oh lori have you ever read the book called hold your horses??? if not you have to read it i thihk you would find it hillarious! i can bring it to the barn tomorrow if you want ?? u have to read it though
i really wanted to but my mom needed me to help her move some furniture and stuff out of our basement and clean some stuff up down there because we are getting it finished and stuff and it has to be ready by thursday and she is working all week and my dad is in new york for the week so i had to stay home and help her but i herd everyone was amazing im so proud of everyone YAY WES!
so bye bye sarah 
lol iv been there more than several times 
and i had never talked to any one but my coach at the barn before here im really sorry that all of this got so retarded and out of control 
and i hope we can all just let this go away 
