Most days in Lake Placid, have been early at the barn, no later than six fifteen am. Most evenings, when returning home from the show somewhere between seven and eight pm, the routine is eat, shower, and go to sleep. Some nights when returning tired, it is right to bed after I eat, while on others, I have dinner with one of my friends. Riding quite a bit and trying to help at the barn is satisfying. Lake Placid is a big show and Beacon Hill has quite a few horses and riders here. We are busy and it is great! There is always something to do or someone to help! The classes are HUGE especially in the big eq and the low junior jumpers. Today, the second week started with some hunter and jumper warm-up classes. Wednesday, the show gets underway and it should be lots of fun. Next time around, will be an update on the show and answers to some of your questions. Have a happy Fourth of July!
See you later,
Maria
posted by Maria Schaub @ 12:15 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
I posted a question under the 6/15 and the 6/20 blog comment section. Unfortunately, I think I did it after you had already "finished" with that section. Maybe you would be kind enough to re-read those and have a comment or two?
Are you already qualified for all of this years finals? If not, which one(s) to you still need?
This blog is very kind of you to agree to do - how much longer will it continue - through finals maybe?
dear maria,
I was wondering if there is a way to get noticed and be 'lent' horeses or sponsered. I love eventing, and I know I have the talent to make it to the top, but I do not have the means lease/buy an expensive eventer. Are you sponsored? if not how do you manage to pay for everyhting, as it is very expensive. Do you have to pay for all the leased horses you ride, such as amigo? or do you get to ride them for free?
My father said getting me a sponser would be difficult in this sport, not to mention that I have not made a name for myslef since I have not competed enough.
Please answer, riding and eventing is so important to me.
It is unfair that you and brianne and chelsea, etc. all get to ride at the top level. Some people have the talent but just aren't rich enough and are stuck doing local shows.
i agree with the person on top of me. brianne may have won all the eq finals but when i look at pics she really isnt the best rider.
To the 2 people above me: These girls, I'm sure work just as hard as everone else. The spend hours riding and perfecting everything. It takes money to compete in this sport, and I know plenty of people who aren't extremely rich and pin at zone finals, the hampton classic, etc. Maria, Brianne, and Chelsea are all very talented riders who work long and hard to get to finals and pin at the huge shows. It's not 'unfair'. They have the money to be able to do it, and why shouldn't they? They obviously have the talent.
Maria, you are a beautiful rider and I loved you on horse power. I'm hoping to get to the finals in a couple of years. Good luck!!
Chelsea
To the two people above me:
Why shouldn't Maria, Chelsea, and Brianne ride at the top level? If they have the talent and money, then that's great. These riders could be future olympic riders, and they need the experiance of the bigger shows. Just because you do the local shows (as long as they're rated) doesn't mean you cant qualify for the finals. Plenty of riders do that. These girls work extremely hard to get where they are. It certainly doesn't come easily.
Maria, you are a beautiful rider and I loved you on Horse Power. I'm hoping to make it to the finals in a couple of years. Good luck!!
Chelsea
To the poster who thinks that it is unfair for Maria and others to show at the bigger shows - get over it! Your comment illustrates how little riding and competitive knowledge YOU have. All those girls you mentioned, as well as many others, work extremely hard not only to achieve and maintain their riding level, but also to juggle their school work at the same time. Whether or not they are "rich" is not an issue as far as their riding ability. The horse has no idea how much money his rider has or does not have, he just knows how competent his rider is at guiding him around a difficult arena. Yes, their finances allow them to show more often and at the best shows, but the bottom line is that the riders still have to work darn hard to compete at that level. Additionally, I think it is rather unfair and in poor taste for you to criticize these KIDS for the financial situation of their PARENTS. Hopefully you would not give a child born into poverty a hard time because he did not have enough money. I do not see a difference - both situations are out of the control of the children.
Also, there are riders out there who have NOT had financially supportive parents. Those riders possessed two important traits: strong work ethic (willing to do anything and everything to learn/ride/show), and a level of talent (if you have zippo natural ability it is very difficult to ride at the upper levels). Margie Engle is an excellent example. I will not go into her whole story here, but if you don't know it, you should look it up.
It's really crappy to slam someone who has been nice enough to volunteer their time, knowledge, and experiences, to do this blog for US to read. It is unfortunate that those who think it is unfair for Maria et.al. to compete because of the finances her family has ruin the experience for the rest of us. Please try to be more sensative.
Are you in your last junior year? There are many juniors at the top who do not show again after their junior years. And others who go on to show as amateurs, and some as professionals. Do you plan to continue riding after you are no longer a junior? If you do, in what capacity? If not, what do you hope to do instead?
What is your favorite show and why?
What do you (or your trainers) feel are your strengths? Weak points? What do you (or your trainers have you) do to try to improve the weak area?
How long have you been showing at the bigger shows? Did you ever show ponies? I love ponies!!!
I'm sure all of your traing has been excellent. Was there any training excercise that has helped you the most? What was the hardest "thing" for you to master? And how did you finally "get" it?
Thank you for sharing with all of us! I enjoy your posts. I would really like it if you would tell us more about "the behind the scenes". What do you do in your practice sessions and your time at the barn out of the showring?
DEAR MARIA!
I show in the jumpers, but many people have told me I could do extremely well in eq. I am very interested in eq and am thinking of purchasing a horse to really get into it. I am not sure how much I should spend on a new horse. In what price range do you think would be acceptable for a horse to take me to the maclay? I know I have the talent, I just need the right horse to get me there. Money is not an issue. So how much do top equitation horses such as Logan, Amigo, Chagall, Onatello, etc. sell for? I would really like to know as I do not want to spend too much or too little! thank you, PLEASE PLEASE help!!
to the person above me. i don't think it is about how much you spend on the horse, it is the quality of the horse. i have(well am buying) a horse for 6,500 for the eqs and he certainly has the potential to be a top eq horse. and my first pony(who i currently have) i bought for $2,000 and she's done 4' with ease and is an excellent pony. i don't think you should be asking how much to spend, more like what to look for. Just because a horse is 20,000 doesn't mean it is the best horse out there. the best horse out there could be alot less, like 2,000.
oh and to the person that said it isn't fair that maria and all get to show at the top level riding: i show on the "A" circut and my isn't made of money. i work at my barn to pay off my lessons and to help pay for board. you don't need the money, you just have to work harder if you don't have it. certainly them having the money helped some but i'm sure if you really wanted it you could figure out a way to work it out, expecially if you say you have the talent.
maria: do you know anything about getting sponsered??
To the person inquiring about the cost of a big eq horse. The answer is that a proven top equitation horse goes for well into six figures. However, if you are truly showing at that level, I would have expected you to already know that - or at least your trainer would. Additionally, I wouldn't worry about "spending too much or too little" - I'm sure your trainer will find a suitable horse for you within your price range. Most people do not start out with a top equitation horse ~ they get the experience with another horse and then, if they are fortunate, purchase or lease one of the few and far between top equitation partners.
Hmmm, this post just struck me as a little too naive for someone who is supposedly going to be doing the big eqs. I wonder . . .
Maria I don't know if my mail gets to you or not please mail me....Hope you have fun in your shows......See yah tell the girls I said hi....
Abigail Cathcart
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