As a child I remember the adults at the barn talking about why eventing doesn’t have prize money.
And why it never should have prize money.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-confused-face-2-DP.jpg)
I was a young child, and just took what they had to say as fact.
In hind sight, the comments made on this topic were…….
possibly misguided, if not down right offensive.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-offensive-smelly-shoe-DP.jpg)
I’m not going to repeat the comments here.
But the message was people that participate in horse sports where you can win money are………… less than bright & shiny.
Basically, sports like show jumping were definitely
Off Limits.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0184.jpg)
I was a little kid. And even then it didn’t make much sense to me.
What’s really wrong with winning some money?
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0185.jpg)
In more recent years after reading about some of eventing’s absolute greatest riders who also compete in pure show jumping it sounded like something I wanted to try. But my crazy busy schedule and a series of injuries had just gotten in the way.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0186.jpg)
After ending the 2019 show season
by making an unplanned dismount
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/animated-1.gif)
at “the Big One”
I had to really think about what’s next…….
I’m going to be honest.
The COTH “discussion” about my fall just felt like being kicked when you’re down.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/BE-kick-me-cartoon-DP.jpg)
To my pleasant surprise the cyberworld, for the most part, came to my defense and called the bullies out for what they were.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0197.jpg)
Or sent me a kind note.
And that did help.
So if you’re one of those kind souls
Thank you.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0187-1.jpg)
Really, thank you.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0196.jpg)
But having had the wind taken right out of my sails, I sat down for some serious contemplation.
I spoke to my finance person & whined a bit about how much money I had spent “following my dream.”
I really didn’t think it was worth it.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-Buyers-Remorse-DP.jpg)
He’s pretty frugal.
So his reply was fairly remarkable.
He said, “You’re only saying that because it didn’t go well.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/BEcartoonfallfromhorseDP-76.jpg)
If it had gone well you would think it was a great investment.”
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-thinking-balance-DP.jpg)
Fair enough.
So after some time out of the saddle
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-vacation-beach-DP.jpg)
while all the ponies were on their after-season vacation, I decided it was time to try something else.
Today the BadEventer went to her first actual jumper show.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-surprise-pug-face-DP.jpg)
Since show jumping is one of the phases in eventing……….
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/BE-Atrax-Rich-SJ-1-BE-1024x683.jpg)
you wouldn’t think it would be all that different……….
I’m going to say that couldn’t be more wrong.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0188.jpg)
The first thing that happened is a standing martingale magically appeared on my pony.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-confused-face-DP.jpg)
Next, I noticed that nearly every single dog in attendance was more obese than my most overweight patients at work. (And I thought eventers had fat dogs!)
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-fat-dog-DP.jpg)
Forgive my momentary soap box.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BE-doctor-pink-glasses-DP.jpg)
Dogs get diabetes too
& arthritis
& heart problems.
And you know what? They don’t feed themselves.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/BE-sad-face-dog-101-DP.jpg)
Soap box rant over.
Back to my first jumper show……
The trainers yelling from the rail during rounds made my brain scream,
“Unauthorized assistance!!”
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0189.jpg)
In eventer-land show jumping has an optimum time.
In straight show jumping they go a lot faster. Faster than I ever imagined was possible.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0195.jpg)
When it came down to it, I decided to go the total
BadEventer-is-a-chicken-sh*t route & entered the 90cm class.
I know.
I’ve stormed around a few 3*s…..
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/BE-Zima-Rich-XC-ditch-brush.jpg)
but I’m not gonna lie. I was worried.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/BE-fear-hyperventilation-DP.jpg)
I hate feeling like I don’t know what’s going on. And jumping “big jumps” while swimming through all the unfamiliar rules & weirdness just seemed like too much to handle.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0190.jpg)
So we jumped the 90cm class.
Successfully.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0159-576x1024.jpg)
And while I was reveling in surviving my first actual jumper class I hear these words.
“So.
Do you want to do the 1 meter class?”
Wait.
What?
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0191-1.jpg)
I said, “OK” before I could talk myself out of it.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0192.jpg)
It went well.
BadEventer has survived her first TWO “real” jumper rounds.
![](https://badeventer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_0181-2.jpg)
I didn’t win any money.
But it’s official, I’ve been to the dark side.