From the Least Exciting to the MOST EXCITING!

I am reeeeeeeally careful about what I put up here.  I don't post pictures of other peoples' animals without their review and permission.  I don't post other peoples' news, and when I do, I get permission.  So I've been sitting on this particular piece of information for so long, I forgot that I never shared it.

You know how Karen won that Dressage Today contest, and one of the prizes was a clinic with an Olympian?  (Let's just revisit the fact that, for once, those contests picked a SERIOUSLY deserving winner, hats off to them!)  She's picked me and Connor as one of the pairs that get to ride in the clinic too!

My first reaction was just total shock and gratitude.  I did not expect to be included and was just awe-struck at the opportunity.  We just don't get clinicians of this caliber in this part of the country, this is a really big deal.

My second reaction was EXTREME EXCITEMENT because the Olympian Karen chose, KPG, took a Welsh Cob Sec. D stallion to PSG:

Getting to ride with this caliber of trainer under any circumstances would be amazing, but one that has worked with your exact off-breed in your exact sport?  Totally awesome.

My third reaction was WOW I'M NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS.  But man has that been great off-season motivation.  Karen asked me to be in on it in...October? So this whole winter, everything I've done has been with the goal of showing up and looking halfway competent at this clinic.

(No really, every time I think about staying in my warm house instead of getting bundled up to go to the barn and ride, I make myself think about embarrassing myself at this clinic because I didn't put in the work over the winter.  It's fantastic winter motivation, can we all chip in for a big pre-show season clinic every year?)

Me, five seconds before remembering this clinic is less than two months away.

My winter goals have been to fix his stupid long warmup, which I think we've done, and implementing\solidfying all of the other big pieces of info I've gotten from JenJ, NK and my trainer over the last six months - chest up, sitting evenly on my seatbones, following hands, etc.  I want to be really solid in our basics so that we don't spend the whole lesson working on his warmup, for example.

Future Jen says "Put your damn torso forward!"

I'm like 10% nervous and 90% an even mix of grateful and so excited I can hardly take it.  Can't wait!  Thank you, Karen!