The Grand Prix test is approximately 6 minutes, 30 seconds long.
I have completed that test in the show ring, in front of a rated judge, 7 times.
(Plus two more attempts, one in which I scratched before going down centerline and the other I retired in the middle of the test because disaster)
That is a total about 45.5 minutes I have spent riding the Grand Prix test in the show ring.
Which is why it makes me rather uncomfortable if referred to as a "Grand Prix rider" or "FEI rider." Um, no I most certainly am not.
Who is an expert, or even GOOD or SOMEWHAT knowledgeable at something they have done for 45 minutes? That is beyond ridiculous.
Even if I had gone in one time and scored a 75% - STILL that does not make me an expert.
This test is a gauntlet and it is unlike any other level. It is a totally different animal, and despite not scoring very well a couple of times, boy did I learn from those experiences. Every time I went down centerline, I came out 7 minutes smarter.
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| Probably about to shit myself before my first GP. |
Is anyone an expert at this test? Probably not, but man do I have respect for those who have cumulated hours, DAYS, even years worth of experience riding in the show ring at this level. Because lets be real honest, you can school all the Grand Prix all you want at home. But once you are in the ring and have to put it all together in 7 minutes, in front of a judge, and it all has to happen right now - it gets real dicey. That requires a new level or riding, of mental multi-tasking, of response from your horse.
I had a great clinician tell me if you haven't had a meltdown or disaster in the Grand Prix, you simply have not ridden it enough. You will. It's coming for you.
Riding the Grand Prix is the single most difficult thing I have done as far as my riding.
So while yes I will for sure hype up my horse as a "Grand Prix horse" because he deserves all the credit and admiration, I will not be saying the same about myself.
With my 45 minutes of experience.
But - you have put the time in outside of the show ring. And always put your horse first. SO that makes you a Grand Prix rider. It's about the journey too - not just the destination. (also waiting patiently for the medal progress to be updated ❤️)
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, this is the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever read. Your horse did the same time in the GP ring as you but he is a GP horse and you are not a GP rider?! Despite the fact that you trained said horse from start to finish. Despite the fact that the horse isn’t purpose bred and had some physical limitations. Despite the fact that you have a full time job and no endless supply of cash. You overcame all of that with sheer grit, determination and talent. You are every bit a Grand Prix Rider and deserve that title. You should be shouting it from the damn rooftops!
ReplyDeleteBut, like, WE can call you a grand prix rider right? Because you're out there doing it, accumulating all those minutes. I'm incredibly impressed with you and Hampton!
ReplyDeleteI'm super way way behind so this is two months late but this resonated so much with me and I've never seen anyone else write about this feeling so I wanted to comment.
ReplyDeleteI put myself out there as a GP rider (mostly for business reasons and forcing myself to deal with my own impostor syndrome) after earning mine. But it always felt so so wrong, and it still does.
I think there's a perspective you gain once you're there. Like at the lower levels you look up to the Grand Prix and all the GP riders kind of blend together at one level. But at the Grand Prix you are looking up to like... the better Grand Prix. And once there, there's kind of a realization that you're actually way closer to a Training Level rider than you are to a lot of other Grand Prix riders. That's how it felt for me at least.
You've earned the right to call yourself a GP rider of course, I see you as one and so does everyone else. But... I do understand how you're feeling and I wanted to let you know that I felt/feel it too myself.