The Season Begins

The weeks of practice have made them excited for the season to begin. They are ready. The riding has been fast, precise and crisp. It is disciplined. Trish has observed they are riding in mid-season form. “They are that good,” she has said.

saddle point-of-view: following Tara’s lead on Cameron, Deborah’s view onboard Comet (RRC, May 06 2017)
South Platte River on the left

The girls, along with Trish and Mark, are viewing this season as one of great challenge. Last season was a very good one, and resulted with an appearance at the Las Vegas National Horse Show. The expectations for them are likely greater this season if not higher.

My girls have said they are equal to the challenge for this season. There are no doubts, just riding. Everything else will follow.

pure love: Deborah and Captain Andrew (Jul 2016)

Beginning their 2017 season today, my daughters will once again start in Texas.

Photo credit – the saddle point-of-view is courtesy of Deborah.

“Ride now, ride forever”

 

Setting The Course

It is graduation day.

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs: Graduation Day, Class of 2002

Deborah, Elizabeth and Tara will be receiving their Bachelor of Science degrees, Deborah and Tara in Biology and Elizabeth in Chemistry. Instead of participating in the ceremony, it is a day of final preparations for the start of their riding season in a few days. It consists of the necessary certifications of health and vaccination by Dr. Burrell, our horse veterinarian.

Dr. Burrell conducting an oral exam while Dr. Diehl holds Brie’s tongue

It is a day of mixed emotions. There is a greater sense of excitement. It is also a recognition our daughters have taken another step forward in their personal journeys.

It is their day to be recognized and celebrated. While they have achieved much, so much lays ahead.

Ready

Warm, summery weather was the setting for the final, full weekend of practice. It was a much welcomed relief from the last 2-3 weekends of wintry, unsettled weather. Hot, sunny, dusty and sweaty – the way practice should be – at least to my girls.

taking a break: Deborah undoing her helmet (RRC, May 05 2017)

The riding – it is fast, crisp, precise and disciplined. Trish has said the girls are riding with a level of excitement that she has rarely seen. They are loving every second of it. They are riding with a purpose. The ribbons and success are of little importance.

Wistful as she may sound, Trish knows the horizon for her three best riders ever is wide open – inside and outside of riding. Stay, they will be among the best in 18-24 months riding a full schedule. Outside of riding, everything and anything will be possible. “They are that good,” she says beamingly.

Compliments aside, my girls would settle for one more practice session. And, one without snow.

was not forecasted: a snowy practice start for Elizabeth and SAM (RRC, Apr 29 2017)

 

Counting Days

Their excitement is palpable. It flashes in their eyes. It is heard in their voices. It is in their smiles.

prepping for finals: Deborah studying to the end

With graduation days away, my daughters have been asked what they plan to do next. More school? More riding? We, the parents, have been asked too about their future plans. Our response has been whatever the girls want to do, we’ll be comfortable with their choice. The girls, too, have replied with little specificity.

They do have career ideas away from the show ring. One of the side lessons from Trish and Mark is to have those plans ready, have the education to support those plans, and have the determination to carry them through. “If there is a career-ending, riding injury to either you or your horse, you need that plan. If your talent has plateaued, you need that plan. Most of all, do what you love.” It is not much different from riding.

the meditative Elizabeth: unwinding after a Grand Prix win in SoCal (Jun 2016)

They do have plans in which they will continue with their horses. They have made the forever commitment, and will honor their word to the fullest. They are horsewomen in every sense.

The degrees they have earned – Deborah and Tara in Biology, Elizabeth in Chemistry – will take them far, whether into their chosen fields or into allied disciplines. Or, maybe something completely different.

in the laboratory: Tara, performing an enzyme experiment, for her biochem lab course (Feb 2017)

Deborah, Elizabeth and Tara, they will be whatever they want to be in every sense too.

Farriers: New Shoes

Last week, the farrier fitted new shoes for all the horses. The exception is G-Man, who will remain unshod until later this year.

bucket o’ tools: TJ’s farrier tools

This is the second year we’re using TJ and his daughter Jules as our farriers. Matt, our previous farrier, retired in 2015. He recommended TJ and Jules. They also shoe the working horses for JN Ranch. They are meticulous in their process and technique, preferring to take their time.

after removing a worn shoe, Jules trims the hoof on Mr. Ed in preparation for the new shoe
(JN Ranch, Apr 17 2017)

TJ seating a new shoe on Cameron
(JN Ranch, Apr 17 2017)

TJ nailing on a new shoe on Candace
(JN Ranch, Apr 17 2017)

After the shoes are nailed on, TJ and Jules will wash the hooves and file finish the nail heads and the shoe even. On the back of the shoe is the cut-out for studs. Wearing the new shoes for about a week, the cut-outs are drilled out and the studs are attached, adjusted then removed.

Of our horses, Lilith and Comet wear the classic horseshoe shape. The others require a slight modification of the shape to where they best fit the horse.

Easy Like Sunday

“As they stood there puzzled about this, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared by their side. Terrified, the women bowed their heads to the ground. But, the two said to them, ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen.’ ” (Luke 24: 4-6, The New Jerusalem Bible)

Through His resurrection, He made all things new and He made all things possible.
May your Easter be blessed and holy.

A Rider’s Impressions

Written by Elizabeth Ksenia Ramos

The week of everyday practice went well, but we probably could have ridden it better. Though we got off to a non-start with some sketchy winter weather on the first day, we kicked it into gear on the second.

Practice, Day Three: Trish waiting on us (RRC, Mar 26 2017)

Preparing for a season is more than shaking off the rust and losing the bad habits picked up during the off-season. It is about riding with more precision and speed, but also with discipline. While we push ourselves to be better riders, we are careful not to push our horses too hard and ask them to do things they may not be ready to do. Horses, while they aim to please, they, too, need to ease back into the stepped-up pace and difficulty.

The note-taking has been thorough as have our back-and-forth discussions among ourselves and with Trish. She is quite pleased at how well we are riding, and how well our horses have responded to the increased tempo and practice. “You’re showing mid-season form. Can’t ask for anything more.” While her words are very complimentary, Trish knows we have areas that need some work and polishing.

It would be fair to say we accomplished most of the priorities we had set for ourselves. But, it wasn’t all practice. We had a chance to do a few trail rides despite the snow, fog, rain, and wind.

Tara leading the trail ride on a snowy Saturday morning (RRC, Apr 01 2017)

The last practice session of the week was riding the GP qualifier course from the 2016 Las Vegas Nationals. The aim was to ride a faster time than the best time cleanly. Trish had a new class of young, learn-to-ride students (age 5-7) watch our session. Afterwards, we did a Q&A period with the kids. They were great.

Deborah & Comet: in the start area of the GP practice course 1.50 m (RRC, Apr 01 2017)

About the author –

Elizabeth Ksenia Ramos will be graduating from the University of Colorado in May (Class of 2017). She will graduate with an ACS certified Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Elizabeth graduated with honors from Machebeuf Catholic High School in Denver in 2013.

She is the most decorated equestrian in Rustler Riding Club history, winning Rider of the Year, Horse of the Year and Regulator of the Year awards on multiple occasions. Additionally, she has won multiple blue ribbons, and other placement ribbons, with Mr. Ed, Lilith and SAM: Secret Agent Man.