Great things!

Dear Rori,
I'm sorry for all those times I threatened to sell you and complained about how tough and awful you were.  I'm sorry for thinking you couldn't do any of this, and I'm sorry for thinking it was a bad decision to buy you.  You are the BEST horse and have taught me more about riding, myself, and being a greater horse person than any other horse could have.  You have also given me the confidence which I never had before.   Thank you.


Sincerely, 
Your grateful owner Sarah
_______________________________________________________________________
It's true. I have the best horse out there. Sorry for all of those who thought you did, because I know for a fact that the greatest horse is residing with me.  I am THRILLED to say that Rori and I placed 3rd today at Rocking Horse our first time going training.  It went so much better than expected and it was the greatest way to end my trip to Florida.

We placed third after dressage with a 32.7 and were able to keep it by going clean in stadium and cross country.  I rode our dressage pretty conservatively and didn't really go for our lengthenings as much as I could have which may or may not have hurt our score.  I figured for the first time it was better to keep her relaxed and get through the test smoothly rather than really ask for her lengthens (which those of you who know Rori, know how well she can really do them) and get her all jazzed up.  In the end I think that was a better decision and I'll take third!

Stadium was fantastic.  It was actually a pretty tough course which had a triple combination of 2 strides and some rather quick inside turns and she handled them all with ease.  Cross country was even better!

We walked the course yesterday (and then I walked it again....and again...) and it was definitely not easy.  Jump number 5 was a triple combination of a roll top that was placed on a slight incline and 2 strides behind it was a ditch that the horse could not see until one stride off the roll top and then 3 strides behind the ditch was a skinny coop.  She was a bit wormy but we put our game faces on made it through clean.  We also jumped our first corner (it was awesome!) , two banks up in a row, a HUGE and tricky trakehner, and a skinny located in between two trees.  Through it all she was fantastic and I'm so happy that Sinead made us do it...it was definitely the push that we needed.

Also, with our third place finish today and our first place finish last week at novice we are now qualified for AECs (American Eventing Championships) at Novice and Training! Not too shabby :)