I just experienced the last time I will ever step into the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa. as the mother of a junior rider. How do I feel? Giddy and sad at the same time, if that's even possible! Eleven years we've sat in these stands watching 3 daughters compete in the Medal Finals. Eleven years of highs and lows, of sometimes not even making it around, sometimes your horse decides to rear going to a jump, sometimes the nerves are so much that you fly around the ring because you just want to get around! Sometimes you are on the standby... to get knocked off. Sometimes you never make the standby. Sometimes you are lucky enough to make the top 25. And then there is that time, this time, when your child says to you, "I just want to get a ribbon at finals." And she does! We couldn't be more proud of Lizzie and her journey.
We live in Michigan and Lizzie rides with Aaron Vale in Ocala, Florida. Lizzie has been with Aaron since she was in 7th grade. Lizzie attended Greenhills school, a college prep school and would fly to Florida to ride or meet Aaron at shows.
Lizzie's Equitation horse, App For That got hurt the beginning of HITS this year. This was a devastating blow and he would be out 6-9 months. Lizzie tried many horses during HITS and while Aaron had gotten some lovely ones in from Europe, because it was her last Jr year, Lizzie wanted a horse that had already been to Indoors.
I received a call from my friend Laura Hindle who owns Freedom, a lovely Equitation horse! In May, Freedom arrived at Aaron's and our wonderful journey with Freedom began! Just and FYI, Freedom will be for lease/sale the end of this month so ... get on that quick!!
Lizzie is a Freshman at the University of South Carolina and on the Equestrian team. They had a meet on Friday, Lizzie competed in that, got in her car and headed to the airport to fly into Harrisburg! She arrived at 9:30pm, we headed to the Farm Show Complex for her to ride!
Saturday, Lizzie and Aaron talking over the warm up class.
Sunday morning!! 6:30am course walk and the first horse is in the ring at 7am! Lizzie drew the 188th spot so she had many trips to watch and 3 standby lists. Her time arrived, she and Freedom laid down a very solid trip but she had 50+ trips to sit through before the 4th standby list. She was on it! The judges had a list of the top 25 riders that they would bring back for another round. Lizzie was on it and in the 9th position! Another solid round! The judges would bring back the top 6 riders and test them! Lizzie was on that!!
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| Realizing this was my final time writing the standby list! |
Lizzie and Freedom ended up 6th out of 280 riders!! It was truly an incredible day and so much thanks goes to Aaron!! He has been such wonderful trainer and has made a great impact on Lizzie's (and all of our) life! He is by far the best horseman there is and we feel extremely blessed to have had him train our girls!
To watch Lizzie and Freedom, here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPaUuAIDNxc
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| How great to have Lizzie's Head Coach, Boo Major, from the University of South Carolina present! |
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| Lizzie and Aaron, picture presentation! |
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| A very special moment! |
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| Our groom Lencho! The best guy! |
At this point, we literally ran to the car to get Lizzie to the airport to head back to college! We arrived 25 minutes before her flight was taking off! She made it! Eric and I started our drive back to Michigan, arriving home at 3am! I can't tell you what it meant to read every text, post, comment, etc.
Next stop: Washington DC for Equitation Finals!
