Hits Different

 After our BN run at IEA I started getting a little addicted to the high that eventers chase.

So after mild peer pressure this time, I entered Revel Run (up in Michigan). I thought the weather may be nicer to us and the location looked lovely. Before that event though I went to a little local mini trial that had a ditch and bank. I wanted to be sure we could tackle those without schooling them first.

No need for me to worry, Hampton said yes maam to both.

Me: We are jumping this ditch
Hamp: ON IT!!!

We also squeezed in lessons with Stephen Hayes who is a lovely and kind teacher. Hampton picked right back up and worked hard on balance, half steps, changes and cadence. 

***

Revel Run is a LOVELY location. Remember how we used to all dream about galloping on golf courses? Welp, Revel Run is a former golf course and maintains the lovely landscape and scenery. There's a big old club house with a full bar on site too. Too bad perimenopause keeps me from drinking like the old days, but it's the thought that counts.

Clubhouse

We stabled at a nearby farm that is about a 10 minute hack to the Revel Run property. Then another 10 minutes to dressage warm up. There was a spooky bridge you had to cross as well. All of our years of trail riding certainly paid off and Hampton marched right over.

The bridge

Cute combo on our course. Rode great!

Dressage

We were riding the average bus in dressage and scored a solid 30. I am not sure why people seem to expect that Hampton will/should? score a sub 20 every time out. It is odd to me. Just because he "does the Grand Prix" certainly does not suddenly make him a 10 at every movement in Beginner Novice? He has average gaits at best. And when the judge is faced with 10 lovely bay geldings, all who are steady and on the bit and riders ride accurately - what else is there to score on? Quality. Quality of the gaits, quality of balance, uphill nature. There were some QUALITY horses in that BN division, and Hampton scored very appropriately. Also, a 30 is not a bad score? 

I digress.

Hampton enjoyed this little peep hole in his stall

Cross Country

I still have pre-cross country tachycardia but we went out there and slayed it. Our first up bank, rather large down bank, ditch/somewhat half coffin-ish combo in competition! The course was so fun and Hampton was absolutely amazing out there. He did a very quick safety check at the down bank, and for a second I thought he stopped but I think he just hesitated. We were clear with some time because I need to step on the gas. #DQproblems

Pro photos by Megan Cole
Last fence - Hampton game AF

XC makes him more uphill than dressage does

Show Jumping

We showed jumped on Sunday and Hamp was out there more confident than I think I have ever felt him. Unfortunately we had another two rails. I failed at helping him balance and I think show jumping on grass is a bit tricky for him. Also, when Hampton hits rails he does not care. He literally moves right on with life. He is an unbothered King. Perhaps a lesson for us all haha. Regardless, the course was otherwise smooth and confident which is all I can really ask for. We were knocked out of the ribbons but the confidence and experience we both gained is invaluable. 

My face is losing the terrified look bit by bit haha

Hampton's face here melts my heart. He is trying so hard and is so focused

***

After a pretty easy August we have some more adventure in September!

This fence felt easy!

Hamptons first time in big ol ice boots haha

Enchanted IEA

 Update.

Clinic with Lillian

We took more jump lessons, we worked with Lillian again. She gave us the green light and ...

I entered a Beginner Novice.

I know this isn't a big deal to most. It's "small" and "easy" but I have never done a recognized BN, I have barely done anything of that height at schooling competitions.

To say I was about to shit my pants nervous is an understatement.

I picked IEA - which is conducted at our home base, the Hoosier Horse Park. Hampton has been there many, MANY times.

Not pictured: Anxiety at 11/10

And then they had torrential rain. And the course was underwater a week out.

By the time I walked the course on Friday, IEA staff had completed the ultimate pivot and moved the course so only safe ground was used. It was a fun, windy course and the footing was PERFECT. I cannot express how grateful I am to all that went on behind the scenes.

Dressage was solid but a little boring. Still, we were sitting in first heading into cross country.

Then somebody fell off. Hold on course.

Unbeknownst to me, the rider before and after me fell at the same fence. The fence right before the water.

Off we went. The first fence was a GIRTHMASTER and I feared it to the point I may have closed my eyes on the approach. Hampton, however, jumped it, probably was wondering why his rider's heartrate was 200000 bpm today and kept on going.

This 4A-B combo rode perfect!

Fence 10 also frightened me because its WIDE. 

"Will not touch!"

We did trot through the water, and trotted fence 7 but hell yeah. The rest of course he stormed around (for a Clydesdale cross) and we finished double clear.

Hampton literally pranced back to the barns - I am not sure I have ever seen him so proud and full of himself. Definitely not after a dressage test haha.

We had show jumping early on Sunday and while Hampton jumped awesome, we did have two rails which knocked us down to 7th. Couldn't have cared less though he was SO GOOD and I was so happy to have completed my first recognized Beginner novice OF MY LIFE.

Pro photos by Xpress!

Truly having the time of my life out here.

Thanks, Hampton.

The Way Back

 When I was a teenager and immersed in the Indiana Morgan Horse Youth Club, we did a "field trip" one weekend to the Hoosier Horse Park where we were fence judges for a horse trial. I don't know which one it was, but this was the 90s.

We got quick directions, score sheets, a radio and sent out to our assigned fences. I plopped down next to a girthy looking log. I immediately was in awe of these riders who soared over this log one after another, and one girl had a refusal and fell off. She got back on and kept going. I thought wow what a badass. I can't recall what level this was, but I remember they jumped my log and headed to an up-bank into the woods.

I thought wow ... I would love to try this one day. But, Eventing was never an opportunity for me as I was in the Morgan/Saddlebred show world and that was just not on the menu. I have always loved the sport though, and follow it in the media. 

When I got Hampton, I thought maybe I would event with him. And we did - we competed in a couple of little mini-trials in my first few years in Kentucky. Hampton had always loved jumping and we did ok at these little mini trials. He was young though and wasn't great at carrying his big body around.

I think this may have been 2012 or 2013?

There were times I thought oh ... maybe this isn't our sport. 

... maybe we should not be doing this.

But he often jumped super cute, despite my terrible technique.

And sometimes we did alright!

Except then I fell off at mini trial at STARTER. I got back on and finished the course, and Hampton seemed fine. When we got home, he was LAME coming off the trailer. Lame at the walk. That started the whole soundness battle for years to come. I basically quit jumping him at all.

I poured everything into dressage, and ... you all know that story. 

But I don't want to keep pressuring Hampton into doing the upper levels all the time in dressage. Real talk, the Grand Prix is beyond his scope. He did it because I asked him and he figured out how to manage his body to do what I asked.

Maybe, maybe we could try very light jumping to give us both something fun and low pressure. 

Windridge XC. It almost looks as if he is cruising.
 This is in fact a crisp canter.

I did a couple of clinics with Lillian Heard, that went extremely well. Hampton loved it and stayed sound. Peer pressure ended me up at my first recognized event at Sporting Days where Hampton loped around to 2nd place. He seemed to really enjoy the jumping and the "game' of hunting for the next one.

Sporting Days  XC

It took zero convincing to get me to enter Windridge in North Carolina on Derby Weekend. The dressage was a massacre where Hampton scored the lowest score of the show, an 18.5. And again, he was happy and willing in stadium jumping and actually really took to cross country - hunting for the next jump and having a bit more pace. He ended up winning the Starter division on that 18.5.

Windridge show jumping.

Hampton's happy face is the best

Hampton - happy
Me: Oh shit where's jump 6

He was in GAME mode here.

Windridge was a decent test because they have pretty significant terrain. Hampton was unbothered by it and was sure-footed. The terrain made me more nervous than the jumps to be honest.

So here we are. We have found our way back to where we started.

Just a pair our having fun. Zero expectations.

But no, I am not giving up dressage. You can still find us schooling all the things. And I am sure we will hit up a dressage show or two.

We just add in speed bumps now.

Aiken Spring 2026: An extremely late post

 Work took me down a month-long abyss and I completely neglected to finish up the Aiken posts!

The quick and dirty -

I completed my very first - and Hampton's first - recognized USEA event. No I have NEVER entered a recognized event. What better time than while in Aiken!

We entered Starter so don't get too excited, but I was NERVOUS AF.

Can't tell that my heart was pounding out of my chest here.

The shirt was PERFECT.

Completed a very boring dressage test and went double clear to place 2nd! I was also shamed for wearing my white gloves at Starter. I did not realize that ... it's overkill.

The girl wearing white gloves at Starter. 

Stadium round was just about foot perfect!

Hampton took really good care of me and popped over everything without question. He seemed to really enjoy it and the footing is really soft sand so I wasn't too worried about his feet. He loped around completely happy, probably wondering why my heartrate was so high. 

Hampton was DIALED IN.

And cross country was ... FUN! I maybe hyperventilated but made it!

Ok, ok Eventers I GET IT. 

I came away from that thinking maybe we can dabble in some events this year. Maybe.

And by Maybe I mean we are entered in another one Derby weekend. Ooops.

Aiken Spring 2026 Part 3: Shine Bright Like a Diamond

To end another fabulous week in Aiken, we entered Stable View dressage. I entered my First Level Freestyle which is so cute and features The Chicks and other country artists. 

Our freestyle was pretty darn smooth, other than letting myself anticipate and get ahead of my music at times. But still good enough for a 70%.

And that makes the last score for my Bronze Freestyle medal.

AND the last score for my USDF Diamond Achievement.

On the USDF website, the list of Diamond riders is not particularly long. And I am curious how many earned their scores on the same horse.

Pretty darn special achievement for myself and for Hampton. How did I do it? I think I am either too stupid or too stubborn to have given up. I have no other explanation.

Newly minted Diamond rider!

Hampton looking cooked for almost 19!

The dressage show was Day 1 of our Weekend Double Header Before We go Back Home.

Day 2 coming up next.

Spoiler alert:

Aiken Spring 2026 Part 2: We don't need roads

Hacking down the road, not too bad!

After our little XC jump sesh at the Vista, we spent the remainder of the week doing Aiken things like:

> Dressage lessons with KE

With a focus on body work for the horse, straightness, balance and swing. I love her lessons as they are so detailed and focused and Hampton always comes out better than when he went in. I really appreciate an instructor who seems to really enjoy teaching and seeing the results.

> A jump lesson with LH

I have taken two stadium jumping lessons with Lillian back in KY and have LOVED her. More importantly, her thoughtful approach builds up both horse and rider and Hampton comes out of those lessons feeling like a superstar. That is on top of his already large ego. So we swung by her winter base while we were in Aiken and skipped over some BN fences. I am starting to get my jumping sea legs back bit by bit!

>Over eating at delicious restaurants

TakoSushi, Pizza Joint, Feed Sack, French Bakery, Whiskey Ally and others. I am not a "foodie" but there is something about food in Aiken.

> Shopping (I won 2 raffles at Aiken saddlery - thank you!)

Silva commenting on warm ups

>  The Eventing Showcase at Bruce's Field

We stopped by on Friday to watch some dressage and listened to Silva Martin comment on some rider warm ups. It was interesting to hear her thoughts about how one might warm up a very fit upper level enter horse for the dressage. Many ride their horses in the morning and then do a shorter warm up before the test.

Bummed to miss the jumping portions but we had other plans ....

Aiken Spring 2026 Part 1: Test flight

Not pictured: The profanity leaving my mouth

The annual pilgrimage to Aiken in late February was yet another amazing time. I am so lucky to have a horse like Hampton who puts up with my shit rolls along with anything I ask of him, and the friends who enable the insanity.

We spent the first few days hacking and lightly schooling. Sunday included a trip to The Vista where I was peer pressured and tricked encouraged to try some cross country jumps and see where we were at. The Vista is absolutely gorgeous and features a very friendly starter/BN field as a warm up, complete with a little water and tiny banks. 

Yep that's a jump saddle!

To my surprise, Hampton was GAME and jumped everything I pointed him at. Keep in mind, we maybe schooled 5 xc jumps in Aiken 4 years ago? It's not something we do.

We moved to another field which has BN/Novice and maybe some Training Questions. (I mind my own business in the big Training/Modified/Prelim field.)

We ended up jumping a number of Novice questions (including mine and Hampton's first corner!), unbeknownst to me as I was TOLD they were BN. I had one messy jump where I missed the distance, but Hampton took care of me and got us over the jump safely. That was actually a huge confidence boost that it can be messy and nothing bad happened.

What a good little test for my secret little plans I had for the end of the week.