When you’re as bad at your sport of choice as I am, you would think that feeling like a failure would come more often.

For whatever reason I have pretty amazing self confidence, and even when I’m being carted off in an ambulance…..

AGAIN……..

I usually still think I’m a rockstar.

or maybe that’s just all the morphine they give you………….

Anyway.

I have 3 event horses right now.

My theory is the more hours I get in the saddle the more chance I have of one day getting to Rolex overcoming my Bad Eventer status.

Back to the 3 horses.

Number One is Satan, so anything I get from her is an accomplishment. Riding her without dying is just fantastic.

Low expectations.

Number Two is a true Wonder Pony. Perfect in every way, a monkey could win Prelim on him.

And a Monkey apparently did (more on that in a moment.)

Number Three…………..is a Warmblood.

If you want to find frustration at every turn, buy a warmblood.

I’ve sent said warmblood off for training – TWICE. Funny, they have no issues with him whatsoever………………

He’s even competing – in the ribbons- at Prelim.

You would THINK I could take the ride back over, and muddle along somewhat.

WRONG!!!!!

We did our first XC schooling since his return, and there was a pretty easy turning question, that I just

couldn’t

get

done.

The idea went something like this. Jump itty bitty tiny log into water, go straight for 2 strides, turn left, go straight for 2 strides, jump slightly bigger up bank, one stride to a litte house.

Didn’t happen.

My version……

Jump log……celebrate jumping log, enjoy splashing…… oh yeah remember you have to turn, fade out like a jet ski ……trip up bank, miss house………..

Sigh…………………

We never actually got it done………..

I went home determined to fix this turning left issue.

I set up a similar question (without the water, or the log, or the bank)……

OK so it wasn’t that similar…..

but it DID involve a left turn!

The first day, we didn’t get it done without trotting into the first jump.

UGH!!!!!!!

The second day, we cantered jump #1, turned left and cantered jump #2.

WHOO HOO!!!!!!!

I felt such an accomplishment.

I was proud, I admit.

I sent the video to my coach……

Oh yeah.

Bad Eventer finally got it right.

The response from my video……………………………….

Something about too &^% fast, too much &&^% hands, looking like a monkey doing something explicit to an inanimate object……………….

Note to self, do NOT text any more videos…………..

I can’t wait for show season to start.