What a year.
As 2012 comes to a near end, I can't help but think forward to 2013. It was a year that I am proud of. So much was accomplished from hard work, dedication and determination. It was a year that I can honestly hold my head high about.
Every time I jump into my truck i am reminded of all the places it has taken me; to Florida, to Georgia, to Ontario, to Quebec and through so many states I can't keep track. With my truck, my trailer and my GPS one more thing has also stayed constant - Smarty Pants. Without him, the places I travelled to, never would have been reached. My huge heartedly 8 year old, 17 hand little thoroughbred gelding has been my best friend throughout this entire year, and the previous 5 years leading up to it. I am so proud of the things we have accomplished this year, the biggest goal being completing Fair Hill International CCI*** this fall.
If you asked me 5 years ago where we would have been i'm not quite sure Fair Hill 3 star would have been the answer. Between being bucked off almost every day and my knees almost touching themselves because he was so narrow, I really had no idea what my 3 year old Smarty Pants would be capable of! But it's amazing where a little time, patience and a determined mind set can get you. It's also amazing being surrounded by a great support team reminding you of what great things you have done, are doing, and can do in the future. Without my parents i would be no where. I have them to thank completely. They were the ones to encourage me to venture to South Carolina when I was just 18 and fresh out of high school 7 years ago. (7 years already!?) They drove across the country with me, dropped me off in St. Mathews SC and said farewell. I was nervous for a few hours but immediately realized that i would become part of a new family. Until this day, i am still friends with some of the best people i have ever had the privilege of meeting. They say if you can count the number of good friends on one hand, you're considered lucky. I guess my luck is rare, because I can hold out both hands.
You know it's been an unbelievable year when you can't stop reminiscing about each an every event that's taken place. And now i can't stop thinking about next years adventures and what the future has in store. I hope that Smarty Pants and I can continue to preform to the best of our abilities and aim for goals that i know we are capable of reaching. I can't wait to pack up the trailer in 6 weeks time and head to florida to get a good start on the 2013 season. It will be a sad time though. It will be the first trip in 6 years that i will be crossing the boarder without my little best friend Buckley. It's truly unfair the hold our pets have on our hearts. With Buckley's passing 4 months ago, it still feels like today was the day i said goodbye to him. Not one day passes where i don't think of him and not more than 3 go by without a waterfall of tears where my heart mourns his loss. It took two months for me admit to myself that he was really gone. And I am only now just realizing that he won't ever come back. That dog was so damn cute. And so full of love. It's so cruel that he was taken away from me so soon. My sadness turned into grief and my grief turned into anger and i am so thankful that I have my two other horses who help me keep my feet on the ground and my mind in a happier place. I'm not quite sure what i would do without my animals. Sometimes i wish i didn't have them. To spare heartache. But then i wonder about those who don't have them at all in their lives. There must be a part missing in their hearts. A huge part. A part that i am quick to remember having. And a part I would never live without.
Our animals come and go, in and out of our lives but I can't say I would ever want to change that. they each give us something special. It may be big or it may be small. It may be for a long time and unfortunately some times it will be too short. But for however long they are with us, we should appreciate every moment. We are so lucky to have them in our lives. I believe they make us who we are and the more time we are able to spend with them, the better we become.
So this one is for you Smarty Pants. This one is for you Buckley. This one is for you Justin. This one is for you Pongo. This one is for you Jello. This one is for you Bailey. This one is for you Captain. This one is for you Texas. And this one is for you... the one i haven't met.
Cheers to the animals. Here and gone.
I love you all to bits. Thanks for filling my heart so full.
About Me
- Kelly List Eventing
- Welcome to Kelly List Eventing! Horses and the love for Eventing have been part of Kelly's life for as long as she can remember. Beginning her riding career at the age of 5, horses have become Kelly's base for a competitive lifestyle. Having competed at the 2006 NAYRC on the CCI** bronze medal team, long listed in 2007, 2008 and to the 2010 Canadian Eventing Team short list, Kelly has learned to set attainable goals and has huge goals for the future including participating in the Pan American Games, World Equestrian Games and the Olympics Games in the near future.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
You Rock, that is all.
Well, It's been a typical twelve months since my last post, but I'm sure you're all used to that by now.
I'm not even sure where to start. Since the last post on here, I feel like a million things have happened; 4 seasons have come and gone and a new family member has been added, and one has moved on.
2012 started as any other year has with the great memories of the year that passed and future goals for the year that had just begun. In the later party of January I made an incredibly emotional decision to sell my one and only Danimal (Minstral) to a new but amazing student of mine, Vasiliki Rousakiss. "Siki" purchased Danny with the hopes of starting her eventing career with a partner that would not only educate her but be forgiving and competitive. They both travelled south to train with me and my boys in sunny Ocala, Florida where they got a real taste of high energy and intense eventing competition! They competed at the beginner novice level for the florida season and moved up to Novice (pre-training) once we returned home to Ontario. Boy they've been on fire! It makes me happier than I could ever explain to see my old boy having so much fun with a new partner on courses he gallops so proudly over. I can't believe how much I learned from him. And I can't believe how much fun Siki is having and will continue to have while riding one of the best horses I've ever known.
Before I headed south I made a mistake great decision of going to try a few horses where I purchased my other super star Smarty Pants from 5 years ago. The owner of the farm had emailed me telling me about a big chestnut she thought I would love. She's good. I did love him. It was love at first sight and love at first ride. I drove home that day organizing vettings and such and wondering when the hell I could go pick him up to bring him home to the farm to join the family! It wasn't long before I was the proud owner of my first ever red head with four white socks :) So "Oscar" and "Smarty Pants" were now two cute brothers with matching white socks who were loaded on my trailer as we headed south for our winter season.
We headed south a bit later than usual this winter to make it down for Feb 18th. My sister Tanya was due to have her first baby girl around this time, so I wanted to make sure I was around to see the little bundle and take a few pictures :) baby Reid Ava Forest is the cutest baby girl I have ever seen. I wish I could have taken her with me to Florida!
I also had the lovely privilege of riding Christian's lovely boy, Roo for the winter season as well. While He was being studious and studying in Ontario to make his millions, Roo came to live with me in Florida where we had a lovely time in the sun. This was the first time in two years that I would be separated from my other half. It was good that I had 3 horses to keep me occupied and busy but it just wasn't the same without having Christian there, and at times, it just plain sucked. Call me a baby but when you don't have your best friend to talk to all the time and laugh with, the heart starts to ache while on the other hand you blatantly realize what a special thing you really have. I'm not sure if it was because I had kidnapped Roo or if it was me Christian really wanted to see, but driving to the Orlando Airport to pick him up for a visit was one of the best moments in my life. I felt like school girl opening my favourite package of candies on a friday night! Yes, I'm ridiculous blah blah blah.... but I'm in love and I can't help it.
The Fork horse trials was the second big event of the year where Christian and I packed up Roo and Gavin and headed to North Carolina. A few weeks prior i did my first Advanced back in over two years on my now very grown up "Baby G" (Gavin aka Smarty Pants". It was unreal. My Mom came all the way from Bracebridge Ontario to hold my hand, clean my boots and walk the course and tell me I would be ok and to tell me good luck as I left the start box. There's something about my mom being there. She's just some kind of rock. it doesn't matter how i do, she always has something positive to say. For instance, after a horse got lose before my dressage test there (NOT good for Gavin) and i came out quite disappointed in my test, my mother explained to me how much better we looked than last time she had seen us (a year before). In a way it made me feel better, because even on our worst of days, she reminded me how far we had come from our best days a year before. It was really special to have her with me on my upgrade to the big blue numbers on my horse she has known since he was 3 :)
But back to the Fork! Christian and I managed to not get lost ONCE on our way there. It was a sign - the weekend was going to be amazing! Both of us had great dressage tests, Christian especially since he had only ridden 4 times prior to the show and not for about a month prior to that due to school! He got a 33 with Roo - yesss!!!! Gavin was a really good boy as well! Gavin's xc was much for solid and confident than poplar place as i think he realized that the jumps were in fact a lot bigger and the questions harder and felt as if he knew what he was doing now with only a few green jumps. He then went on to show jump great with just one rail but a few time faults (my bad!). Christian had a great weekend too with a stellar xc and a good show jumping. He said there were some things to work on, but....there are always things to work on and always will be.
In the middle of all of Gavin's big upgrades and Christian visiting and Coldstone ice cream, Oscar "Benevolent" had made his eventing debut! We headed out to our first novice event at Rocking horse with one xc school under our belt. He was awesome. He was quite spooky to say the least but tried his heart out. I learned very quickly that he was unsure of hills and mound type questions so i knew the things we had to work on. But to skip ahead a few months and a few shows, Oscar is now blowing training level out of the park and is aimed at his Preliminary upgrade at Willow Wind farm in the middle of July. I have a great appreciation for this horse and his willing attitude to learn with a little sass on the side. I really enjoy working with young horses and the feeling you get immediately get as they figure things out and chip away at understanding the things I ask of them. My once little shy xc horse has now turned in to a confident, willing, well oiled machine and I can't wait for the things he will do !
It was then time for Bromont CIC***. Where did the year go? We originally had planned for our CIC*** to happen at Jersey Fresh a few weeks before but Gavin got sick with shipping fever and it held us back from training and being at our best. But things happen for a reason and as much as it sucked to not be able to compete there, Bromont was better than i could have ever imagined.
The tension was high at Bromont. It was the selection trials for the US and Canadian eventing teams so everyone was on their game and very focused. Gavin and I were in a division filled with all the best horses in North America being considered for the Olympics. I knew i wasn't there for that reason, but wanted to put in a solid weekend to show some people that we could do it too. Our isle of horses started off a bit rough when my dressage coach Jessica Phoenix was jump schooling with the Canadian Team when she unfortunately took a tumble and broke her collar bone. Fortunately she was in the hospital in for surgery the next day and somehow managed to make it back to warm me up for my dressage test at 2 pm. What a champ she was to make it! I know she can't help me in the ring, but it's nice to have someone there to tell you you're doing a good job or that that "wasn't good" or to "try that again damnit!". I was feeling nervous. So was Gavin. It wasn't our best test, but moments in the ring were some of the best we'd ever had, only with some of the sassiest moves to follow! ha! Our nerves got the best of our dancing feet that day but some nice words from the coach were all it took to realize that one day, we will get it right!
Xc day was upon us and for the first time, ever, I wasn't so nervous that I could puke. I wasn't sure if there was something wrong with me so i didn't tell anyone except a text to Vanessa that I thought the xc was going to be a friggin blast. I don't think i've ever thought a 3 star looked like a "blast" before. More like "hard work" "that's going to be tough" or "ohhhh that is going to ride tough". But a "blast" am I sick? Don't get me wrong, i still had butterflies when i went to the start box which was reassuring to myself that I was in fact human, and I could still feel things. But it was werid. I usually have those jumps on course which i have explained before where i think "if i make it over that ok, we're going to be fine". But I didnt have any of those. Every combination was set up for Gavin. He's a rockstar at going straight and holding his lines because this horse never looks for a way out. He sees the red and white flag and knows he's supposed to stay in between. It was after a big ditch and brush combo to a corner where he had jumped up quite high and made the normal 5 strides quite a forward one for me where i just knew i had the best horse in the world. It was supposed to have a bit of a "bend" in the line, but after he ballooned over the ditch/brush plan "a" was no longer an option and plan "b" of adding a 6th stride was also not an option as we had drifted a bit to the left heading towards a right handed corner. If you know what im trying to draw a picture of, you will understand that i have not made the corner out VERY difficult with it being extremely sheer and making it very easy to have a run out to the right. But I was now on plan "c" or "d" or whatever at this point and all i knew i needed to do was keep as straight as possible and be very confident in where i wanted Gavin to leave the ground. Before i knew it, we were over it like it was a caveletti on a sunday afternoon. WTF kind of freak am i sitting on i thought??? A great freak. A freak who would do anything for me and safely at that. He pretty much bombed around the rest of of the course like it was just another training level event. The two stride corners in the arena were a bit long even thought i got a good shot it, but again, when you're sitting on Awesome Pants you feel like you can do anything.
The next day the jog went great and we were ready for show jumping. Gavin felt like a superstar in the warm up. I knew we could do this. After hearing the course rode tough I knew that it was in good favour for us. I know a lot of people find related distances in the show jumping tough especially when 7 out of the 9 lines you have to remember how many strides are in between. But it makes me feel safe and it makes me feel confident because i always know where i am when i count. I count out loud too. maybe not so anyone can hear me, but loud enough so Gavin can. It was going amazing. I really was in shock when i came to the last jump and we were clear up to this point. I got about a hoof print too long to the last and had it down. At this point, I didn't care. My horse just jumped the best he ever has. I've never been so happy. Seriously. I still have a smile on my face two weeks later. There's no better feeling than having a partner you know inside out. And i've been so proud with his progress this year and his maturity level. My jumping coaches voice is always with me and i have her to thank for providing me with the correct tools to make that weekend one i will never forget. So thank you Vanessa. You've really helped me more than you know.
It was also a special weekend for all the words some people have shared that have not been so positive. Let me tell you that there is no better feeling than proving people wrong. You can do anything that you want and if you work hard enough you'll start to make other people think that too. Gavin and I did our own fist pump to celebrate our victory and to show some peeps what's up. A 10th place finish at our first CIC*** together in a feild full of the best horses in the world.
I can confidently say that you, my Smarty Pants deserve more than anyone to be on the list with them.
You truly make my heart smile and I'm glad i've been able to enjoy the ride with you.
Until next time,
Dance to your own song
Kelly
I'm not even sure where to start. Since the last post on here, I feel like a million things have happened; 4 seasons have come and gone and a new family member has been added, and one has moved on.
2012 started as any other year has with the great memories of the year that passed and future goals for the year that had just begun. In the later party of January I made an incredibly emotional decision to sell my one and only Danimal (Minstral) to a new but amazing student of mine, Vasiliki Rousakiss. "Siki" purchased Danny with the hopes of starting her eventing career with a partner that would not only educate her but be forgiving and competitive. They both travelled south to train with me and my boys in sunny Ocala, Florida where they got a real taste of high energy and intense eventing competition! They competed at the beginner novice level for the florida season and moved up to Novice (pre-training) once we returned home to Ontario. Boy they've been on fire! It makes me happier than I could ever explain to see my old boy having so much fun with a new partner on courses he gallops so proudly over. I can't believe how much I learned from him. And I can't believe how much fun Siki is having and will continue to have while riding one of the best horses I've ever known.
Before I headed south I made a
We headed south a bit later than usual this winter to make it down for Feb 18th. My sister Tanya was due to have her first baby girl around this time, so I wanted to make sure I was around to see the little bundle and take a few pictures :) baby Reid Ava Forest is the cutest baby girl I have ever seen. I wish I could have taken her with me to Florida!
I also had the lovely privilege of riding Christian's lovely boy, Roo for the winter season as well. While He was being studious and studying in Ontario to make his millions, Roo came to live with me in Florida where we had a lovely time in the sun. This was the first time in two years that I would be separated from my other half. It was good that I had 3 horses to keep me occupied and busy but it just wasn't the same without having Christian there, and at times, it just plain sucked. Call me a baby but when you don't have your best friend to talk to all the time and laugh with, the heart starts to ache while on the other hand you blatantly realize what a special thing you really have. I'm not sure if it was because I had kidnapped Roo or if it was me Christian really wanted to see, but driving to the Orlando Airport to pick him up for a visit was one of the best moments in my life. I felt like school girl opening my favourite package of candies on a friday night! Yes, I'm ridiculous blah blah blah.... but I'm in love and I can't help it.
The Fork horse trials was the second big event of the year where Christian and I packed up Roo and Gavin and headed to North Carolina. A few weeks prior i did my first Advanced back in over two years on my now very grown up "Baby G" (Gavin aka Smarty Pants". It was unreal. My Mom came all the way from Bracebridge Ontario to hold my hand, clean my boots and walk the course and tell me I would be ok and to tell me good luck as I left the start box. There's something about my mom being there. She's just some kind of rock. it doesn't matter how i do, she always has something positive to say. For instance, after a horse got lose before my dressage test there (NOT good for Gavin) and i came out quite disappointed in my test, my mother explained to me how much better we looked than last time she had seen us (a year before). In a way it made me feel better, because even on our worst of days, she reminded me how far we had come from our best days a year before. It was really special to have her with me on my upgrade to the big blue numbers on my horse she has known since he was 3 :)
But back to the Fork! Christian and I managed to not get lost ONCE on our way there. It was a sign - the weekend was going to be amazing! Both of us had great dressage tests, Christian especially since he had only ridden 4 times prior to the show and not for about a month prior to that due to school! He got a 33 with Roo - yesss!!!! Gavin was a really good boy as well! Gavin's xc was much for solid and confident than poplar place as i think he realized that the jumps were in fact a lot bigger and the questions harder and felt as if he knew what he was doing now with only a few green jumps. He then went on to show jump great with just one rail but a few time faults (my bad!). Christian had a great weekend too with a stellar xc and a good show jumping. He said there were some things to work on, but....there are always things to work on and always will be.
In the middle of all of Gavin's big upgrades and Christian visiting and Coldstone ice cream, Oscar "Benevolent" had made his eventing debut! We headed out to our first novice event at Rocking horse with one xc school under our belt. He was awesome. He was quite spooky to say the least but tried his heart out. I learned very quickly that he was unsure of hills and mound type questions so i knew the things we had to work on. But to skip ahead a few months and a few shows, Oscar is now blowing training level out of the park and is aimed at his Preliminary upgrade at Willow Wind farm in the middle of July. I have a great appreciation for this horse and his willing attitude to learn with a little sass on the side. I really enjoy working with young horses and the feeling you get immediately get as they figure things out and chip away at understanding the things I ask of them. My once little shy xc horse has now turned in to a confident, willing, well oiled machine and I can't wait for the things he will do !
It was then time for Bromont CIC***. Where did the year go? We originally had planned for our CIC*** to happen at Jersey Fresh a few weeks before but Gavin got sick with shipping fever and it held us back from training and being at our best. But things happen for a reason and as much as it sucked to not be able to compete there, Bromont was better than i could have ever imagined.
The tension was high at Bromont. It was the selection trials for the US and Canadian eventing teams so everyone was on their game and very focused. Gavin and I were in a division filled with all the best horses in North America being considered for the Olympics. I knew i wasn't there for that reason, but wanted to put in a solid weekend to show some people that we could do it too. Our isle of horses started off a bit rough when my dressage coach Jessica Phoenix was jump schooling with the Canadian Team when she unfortunately took a tumble and broke her collar bone. Fortunately she was in the hospital in for surgery the next day and somehow managed to make it back to warm me up for my dressage test at 2 pm. What a champ she was to make it! I know she can't help me in the ring, but it's nice to have someone there to tell you you're doing a good job or that that "wasn't good" or to "try that again damnit!". I was feeling nervous. So was Gavin. It wasn't our best test, but moments in the ring were some of the best we'd ever had, only with some of the sassiest moves to follow! ha! Our nerves got the best of our dancing feet that day but some nice words from the coach were all it took to realize that one day, we will get it right!
Xc day was upon us and for the first time, ever, I wasn't so nervous that I could puke. I wasn't sure if there was something wrong with me so i didn't tell anyone except a text to Vanessa that I thought the xc was going to be a friggin blast. I don't think i've ever thought a 3 star looked like a "blast" before. More like "hard work" "that's going to be tough" or "ohhhh that is going to ride tough". But a "blast" am I sick? Don't get me wrong, i still had butterflies when i went to the start box which was reassuring to myself that I was in fact human, and I could still feel things. But it was werid. I usually have those jumps on course which i have explained before where i think "if i make it over that ok, we're going to be fine". But I didnt have any of those. Every combination was set up for Gavin. He's a rockstar at going straight and holding his lines because this horse never looks for a way out. He sees the red and white flag and knows he's supposed to stay in between. It was after a big ditch and brush combo to a corner where he had jumped up quite high and made the normal 5 strides quite a forward one for me where i just knew i had the best horse in the world. It was supposed to have a bit of a "bend" in the line, but after he ballooned over the ditch/brush plan "a" was no longer an option and plan "b" of adding a 6th stride was also not an option as we had drifted a bit to the left heading towards a right handed corner. If you know what im trying to draw a picture of, you will understand that i have not made the corner out VERY difficult with it being extremely sheer and making it very easy to have a run out to the right. But I was now on plan "c" or "d" or whatever at this point and all i knew i needed to do was keep as straight as possible and be very confident in where i wanted Gavin to leave the ground. Before i knew it, we were over it like it was a caveletti on a sunday afternoon. WTF kind of freak am i sitting on i thought??? A great freak. A freak who would do anything for me and safely at that. He pretty much bombed around the rest of of the course like it was just another training level event. The two stride corners in the arena were a bit long even thought i got a good shot it, but again, when you're sitting on Awesome Pants you feel like you can do anything.
The next day the jog went great and we were ready for show jumping. Gavin felt like a superstar in the warm up. I knew we could do this. After hearing the course rode tough I knew that it was in good favour for us. I know a lot of people find related distances in the show jumping tough especially when 7 out of the 9 lines you have to remember how many strides are in between. But it makes me feel safe and it makes me feel confident because i always know where i am when i count. I count out loud too. maybe not so anyone can hear me, but loud enough so Gavin can. It was going amazing. I really was in shock when i came to the last jump and we were clear up to this point. I got about a hoof print too long to the last and had it down. At this point, I didn't care. My horse just jumped the best he ever has. I've never been so happy. Seriously. I still have a smile on my face two weeks later. There's no better feeling than having a partner you know inside out. And i've been so proud with his progress this year and his maturity level. My jumping coaches voice is always with me and i have her to thank for providing me with the correct tools to make that weekend one i will never forget. So thank you Vanessa. You've really helped me more than you know.
It was also a special weekend for all the words some people have shared that have not been so positive. Let me tell you that there is no better feeling than proving people wrong. You can do anything that you want and if you work hard enough you'll start to make other people think that too. Gavin and I did our own fist pump to celebrate our victory and to show some peeps what's up. A 10th place finish at our first CIC*** together in a feild full of the best horses in the world.
I can confidently say that you, my Smarty Pants deserve more than anyone to be on the list with them.
You truly make my heart smile and I'm glad i've been able to enjoy the ride with you.
Until next time,
Dance to your own song
Kelly
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