Day 3 and competition day 1

Day 3 and competition day 1

  What a phenomenal learning experience for all of us! Again today we got to talk to many of the top people in our sport. With competition starting at 3PM we had all morning to watch training sessions, walk around, and talk to these super knowledgable horsemen.

     This morning we met in the hotel breakfast area at eightand had a lovely little breakfast. We then took a quick ten minute walk through part of downtown Aachen! Then we were off to the show grounds!

   The first person we got to talk to today was Betsy Juliano. What an incredible person she is! She has helped support dressage in America in so many fabulous ways! She is not only a huge support to the American Team but also to Laura Graves and other top riders in America. One of the biggest pieces of advice she gave to us was to tell us about how she met Laura and how over time got to know Laura and see how hard she works and how she handles herself in difficult situations. Betsy says this is what she is looking for when she thinks about sponsoring a rider. Betsy also brought Andy Thomas over to the American Team to help the riders!

       Next we spoke with Andy Thomas, he formerly worked with the British Team riders and has recently started helping with the American Team thanks to Betsy! Andy is essentially a physical therapist. He helps our riders with their symmetry on a horse. He will give the riders exercises they can do off the horse to help them improve how their horse goes by changing how they sit. Andy is very big into making sure the saddle fits correctly so you aren't fighting against yourself. (how lucky am I to ride in a County that I have complete confidence fits my horses and me correctly!) Andy says the biggest problem he sees in dressage riders is the lack of hip mobility.

   We then got to talk to two of the worlds best judges! Stephan Clarke from Great Britain and Gary Rockwell from the United States. Both had exceptionally good advice for us! Stephan explained to us how judging is a challenge and how he loves a challenge. Stephan explained how he believes oneof the biggest places riders lose points is in their accuracy. Stephan says half a point here and half a point there can bring your score down drastically. Gary believes that the centerline is somewhere to really distinguish yourself. He said many people loose points on the accuracy of the centerline.  I believe we need to start working more on our accuracy if we ever want to compete successfully at shows such as Aachen!

  Emile Faurie a rider and trainer from Great Britain was just lovely to speak to! Not only is he a fabulous rider but a fantastic person! Emile started a charity in Great Britain that helps teenage youth at risk by getting them into a barn where they focus on horses. He has had great success changing many teenagers' lives! What a fantastic human being!

        We also got to spoke to the American Team riders who are competing this weekend! Tunny Page who as always was a delight! Her biggest words of advice were "stay focussed on the process do not to worry about what just went wrong but what is happening now and what is happening next." Katherine Batson Chandler's advice to us was regardingpeople skills; people respect you more when you are truly interested in them.

        A lovely day that I have not even begun to realize how amazing it was! My absolute favorite ride and rider of the entire day today was Hubertus Schmidt! He and his horse were just amazing to watch, the harmony between horse and rider was just absolutely incredible. 

  Looking forward to tomorrow's competition!