From Fear to Confidence: Ansley's Equestrian Journey with George
In the heart of every equestrian journey lies a story of courage, growth, and the unbreakable bond between a rider and their horse. Today, we share the inspiring tale of Ansley, a rockstar student at Eremos Farm, whose story resonates with anyone who has faced their fears head-on and dared to dream big.
Ansley's journey began with a simple yet profound goal: to jump. Partnering with her horse George, a 16-year-old thoroughbred-quarter horse appendix, Ansley set her sights on eventing. Despite facing a mental block and a fear of jumping, her determination, coupled with the unwavering support of her instructor, Conoly, led her to conquer her fears and achieve her dream of competing in her first event at Windridge.
Ansley's path was not without challenges. She grappled with nerves and the fear of falling, but through meticulously planned lessons that focused on building trust and confidence, both in herself and in George, she overcame these obstacles. Her dedication to becoming a better horsewoman, understanding the nuances of care, training, and aftercare, has not only strengthened her partnership with George but also deepened her respect and love for the sport.
The highlight of Ansley's year was not just competing in her first and second events but the incredible bond she developed with George. This companionship was built on trust, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to each other. Together, they ventured into the realm of eventing, discovering a sport that perfectly aligned with their interests and abilities.
Ansley's journey underscores the importance of perseverance, the willingness to learn, and the courage to face one's fears. Her story is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the strength that comes from embracing challenges.
At Eremos Farm, we celebrate riders like Ansley, who remind us that the true heroes are those who dare to try their best. We are committed to fostering an environment where riders can be vulnerable about their fears, courageous in their endeavors, and unwavering in their pursuit of growth and learning. Ansley's story is not just her own; it mirrors the journey of countless other riders who, each day, strive to be a little better than they were the day before.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the spirit of perseverance and courage. Whether you're taking your first step into the world of equestrian sports or looking to elevate your skills, remember that the journey is as important as the destination. Like Ansley, let us all embrace the challenges, cherish the bond with our equine partners, and continue to learn and grow together.
Relaxation is the first step to progress
Bluey (Hear the Blues) is a new addition to our farm. He is an 11-year-old quarter-horse. I knew when we went to go look at him that he needed some work and that he would be a project horse on the ground. What was his issue? I was told “He was a bit explosive” and “He knows better, but you have to make him do it.” I definitely understand where people are coming from, but all of this stems from nervousness, insecurity, and confusion. I knew I would have my work cut out for me. It is not a simple fix but a process of helping the horse understand his place and learn how to solve problems. I knew this would be a long road, but I was pretty confident I could do it.
The past couple of weeks have been going pretty well with this horse. I took him to Aiken the first week I had him, and he was great with Margaret. He is a pretty chill dude when in a relaxed setting. He has amazing breeding out of Sky’s Blue Boy. He jumps and goes great when he is relaxed. The problem was that nervousness would sneak up while on the ground. He would have moments where his giant 16.3-hand body would somehow get the speed of a cheetah, and generally, he would shy toward me or someone else. He also tends to be a free spirit with his hind end, and I wasn’t sure when he would react.
Since everything else was going well I should take him up to Harmon Fields in Tryon. That’s where everything went downhill. A ton was going on during the warm-up on Friday, and horses and kids were everywhere. For the seasoned show horse, it’s nothing. But for Bluey, he about lost his mind. I should have taken more time initially to settle him in and work on relaxation, but I didn’t. While trying to get on, I attempted to walk him toward the mounting block, and he reared up and actually fell back on his hips when I put pressure on him to move forward. I should have taken him back to the stall when he was getting nervous and worked on relaxation, but instead, I attempted to get on him and walk him around. Big Mistake.
His neck kept going up and up even though I was trying to talk to him and let him walk it out. Big mistake. We almost cleared an area in the warmup ring where he exploded when a horse came from behind. All the signs were there, but I ignored them, and I paid for it. I decided he needed to start back at the beginning. I pulled him from all his classes and made a plan for the weekend.
Most people would have then implemented drugs, a chain, and a lot of force. We just don’t believe in that.
We went back and just tried to stand still and relax. And that’s what I worked on all day Saturday and Sunday. The heart of the issue is buddy sour with insecurity/confusion. When horses are insecure, they want to be near their friends and the farther they get from them, the more nervous they get. So we work in an area where they are ok with the distance, then when they relax, we move a little farther. We keep doing this until we can gain relaxation throughout the entire grounds of the show. I think each day we spent an average of 4-5 hours of time going back and forth to the stall and achieving relaxation each time. The first few sessions were pretty rough. Someone complained about me to the show steward that I was “lunging my horse too much.” This was interesting because we believe that a horse should be allowed to move their feet to gain relaxation. His feet just couldn’t stop moving, so I allowed him to keep walking. The walking helped him ultimately achieve relaxation. I find most people to be really uneducated when it comes to teaching horses on the ground.
Jamie Grant Rowland was so kind to help me some, and one of her points was, “I’ve found some of the lazier horses under saddle tend to want to move their feet more on the ground.” I would say this is 100% true about this horse. As quiet as he is under saddle, it’s surprising how much he wants to move his feet on the ground. He takes quite a bit to get there to final relaxation.
We ended the weekend being able to walk the grounds with ease which I decided was a huge milestone met. Getting in the show ring isn’t the main goal. Getting the horse relaxed and comfortable in his job and able to confidently problem solve is the challenge.
Bluey Loading easily on the trailer
A Fun Look Back at Our Horse Show Weekend at Harmon Classic Tryon
We’re sharing stories of our wonderful horses and a young rider named Margaret making big strides. Read on to hear all about each horse's time in the ring and how this weekend was a big step forward for everyone.
Margaret with Coach Lisa going over the plan
Margaret and Angel Dewey: Crushing it in Crossrails
Margaret and her horse, Dewey, had a fantastic time in the crossrails class. Margaret showed off how much better she’s gotten at staying balanced and riding straight. She also had fun hanging out with her friends Lydia and Everly. This made her weekend at Harmon Classic even better
Cheddar is Better: A Shining Star
Cheddar, our star horse, did great this weekend. He’s learned so much in just a month. He stayed calm, listened well, and tried really hard, even though horse shows can be stressful. We had a few moments where we lost balance, but Cheddar kept trying his best. We’re so proud of him! Check out his round here:
Saratoga Sass (Penny): Small but Mighty
Penny showed everyone that she’s a force to be reckoned with. In just a year, she’s gone from a beginner to jumping 3” fences with no trouble at all. She did so well at Harmon Classic and even won a blue ribbon. We’re thinking about moving her up a level because she’s ready!
Hear the Blues: Learning and Growing
The weekend was tough for Blue. He got really nervous with all the hustle and bustle. We decided to spend the weekend helping him calm down and learn to relax. By Sunday, he was walking around much more calmly. We learned a lot and know what we need to work on for next time.
A Weekend Full of Learning
Our weekend at Harmon Classic Tryon was full of ups and downs, but everyone learned a lot. Margaret and Penny had a blast and won some ribbons. Cheddar tried really hard, and Blue learned to stay calm. We’re going home happy, with lots of new experiences and a strong desire to keep getting better.
Lydia and Margaret enjoying their success!
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