Less than a week and counting!!!!

By Susie Beale, April 16, 2009

It has been so hectic since our return from The Fork, I had wanted to update sooner but the days seem to be rushing by.

We arrived home at midnight from The Fork, we were exhausted but happy, Isabella was sound and I had managed to jump around a big advanced course. Monday she had the day off and I spent the day organizing my life, all the things that you put off when you are too busy or away! I am still far from caught up, but Mirar has been helping me with the paper work and slowly I hope to get things a little more organized on the home front!!

So Tuesday is was back to the drawing board, we spent all week practicing our dressage, and bit by bit we are improving! Saturday I took her to Valley Forge Park for our third from last gallop! The weather had been miserable and so the ground was very wet, we galloped quite a bit slower than planned, but came in safe and sound. She was then iced and poultice up for the night. When we gallop for training purposes we treat their legs with the same care as when they compete. Sunday we jogged her and she looked great! With no time to waste I opted not to give her the day off, and gave her a light flat ride.

Each day I have been spending 20 to 30 minutes working without my stirrups to strengthen myself, in addition I am religiously attending Physio Therapy and they are pushing me as hard as they dare. This week I graduated to the bike!! Yeah, not just the monotonous leg lifts J So day by day I feel more and more confident. In addition to Isabella I am riding 2 or 3 other horses each day to strengthen my body too.

Monday April 13th I drove to Phillip’s farm in West Grove for a jump lesson, prior to leaving, again not wanting to miss one day of dressage practice, I gave her a quick school, before driving down there. The jump lesson went great and he announced that we did not need to come back, he would see us at Rolex! “Bloody Exciting” was his exact quote :)

Tuesday I drove to Chester Springs and had a dressage lesson with my father, Jeremy Beale, (he has finally returned from Florida!) it was fabulous, he really gave me some great help, from there I drove straight to Valley Forge Park, for our second to last gallop. Yet again the ground was wet, in fact it was pouring as I got her off the trailer, yet again I was not able to go as fast as planned, but better safe than sorry. We gallop for one mile, and the target speed is 18 seconds per 200metres, hmmmmm, not even close J but it was wet!

Today I got the BEST changes I have ever had………………I cannot wait to ride her tomorrow and try them again! I made everyone come up from the barn and watch :)

Tomorrow morning we are going to Duncraven Horse Show in New Jersey to practice our show jumping, I will do the 1.2m class and the 1.3m class and come home. I think the show atmosphere will be good for us to practice a big show jumping course. When I come home I will practice the changes AGAIN :)

It looks as if I will have my dressage on Thursday afternoon, I am a little sad that it won’t be Friday because so many people who are coming down to support us will not arrive until Friday, but such is life. Isabella, Chris, T, Cassie, Gelsey and I will all leave Tuesday.

Thank you to all of you who are wishing me good luck! And to those around me who are without question, through all the ups and downs, emotional and physical, supporting me on my “Road to Rolex” and thank you Isabella for being such a wonderful horse!