R W MUTCH EQUITATION CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, the R. W. Mutch Trophy class was held outdoors in the Mogavero ring at 10:00 am. A half hour before the class began, the riders were segregated in a small area and an orientation to the class commenced. From that point forward, their was no contact with the trainers. The class is quite different than any other because the junior riders must walk, execute and analyze the course as well as warm-up their horses without the help of their trainers. Overall, from a junior rider's point of view, the class is very exciting and I was determined to do my best on the wonderful horse, Aaron, that was kindly lent to me by Karen Polle, a fellow rider at Beacon Hill.
The first round presented several challenges: a tough gymnastics line, tight turns and a one stride. Three judges who are different from the over fence judges, rated your warm-up from minus 2 to plus 2 and your over fence score is, then, adjusted accordingly. After round one, I was called back on top and received a bonus point in the schooling area.
The second round included two tests: a trot jump and a counter canter jump which included a turn. I was able to jump a solid round with Julie Welles, scoring slightly ahead of me and Maggie McAlary in first place.
It has been a goal of mine since winning the class in 2006, to win a second time in 2007. After two rounds, Maggie was 1.25 points ahead. Most of us thought, even the announcer, that the class was over after two rounds. But the judges decided that Maggie and I would switch horses, completing the same course and test from round two. In the end, I was called back on top.
All in all it was a great day and a memorable experience, at that!
Catch up with me later this week for more on WEF Tampa!
Talk to you later.
Maria Schaub
posted by Maria Schaub @ 8:52 PM
18 comments
18 Comments:
are you good friends with all the heritage riders? and for that, all the other riders you compete against? i mean i know not everyone can get along, but the top competitors like maggie and addie and all them, are you guys all friends?
Hi Maria! I would also like to know if you are friends with the other riders...I mean, at Beacon Hill are you all very close?
I wish you luck with the rest of the show season!
I have had my new equitation horse for a few months now, he goes in a full cheek snaffle, but I know the trend in the equitation ring is a pelham. How do you decide wether your horse should go in a pelham or wether you should keep him in something else?
Congrats on winning Ronnie Mutch! you are such a great rider and one person I would love to watch ride some day!
^^
to the person in front of me, i think you should just go with whatever your horse goes best in, not what the latest styles are. if you horse is gonna act up in a pelham it doesnt matter if everyone else is using that because your horse is acting up. so my advice is to just use what your hrose goes best in, not what everyone else is using
Congrats on winning the RW Championship Maria! You are a great rider and so deserving of the win. Thanks so much for doing this blog!
that sounds so hard! my trainer would go crazy at that competition b/c she's such a control freak. LOL! i kinda think that's a good thing though! great job!
-a.a.e
First off good luck with your show season! Im sure you'll do well as normal. Also, I was going to ask how on earth do you get all your catch rides? I know your a fabuolus rider and all but to people offer it to you? That would be quite nice!
-Alex
Congratulations on the win! You looked amazing out there! I was ecstatic to be able to see some top notch equitation!
I took some pictures of you and Maggie McAlary in the last round you can find them here: http://www.imagestation.com/8498114/3927464883 .
Keep up the great blog Maria! Enjoy the pictures!
~Emily =o)
Dear Maria,
I would like to know how you are able to support your riding career. Do your parents work? Do you own most of the horses you ride? I'm trying to make it in this rough business but money is key it seems. Any suggestions? Good Luck with your showing!
Wow, that sounds like a really great test for a junior rider. I'm not surprised you and Maggie came out on top. You both seemed like very capable, independent riders during the Horse Power series. Congratulations, and good luck at the next show!
P.S. - I was flipping through some of my old Pratical Horseman magazines and I found an article that Frank Madden wrote (and you were featured in the demonstration pictures), and he talked a little about how he felt that the reason for the success of your barn, and it's riders, was the sense of teamwork that's built there, and how he's trying to build not just better riders, but better people. Maybe sometime you could tell us more about how Beacon Hill has effected you, and your successes as a rider, since obviously you guys, on a barn-wide basis, seem to have a solid history of excelling in the horse world. - Ashley
Hey Maria
Congrats on the win! Now it says here that your 18 years old but i thought junior riding stopped at 17. I'm so confused, I think it would be a very helpful artical if you explained the real rules of equitation. Thanks! Keep up the amazing work! -Syd
to the above poster-
If you turn 18 after Dec. 1st, you're still considered 17 for the horse show year, and are still a junior.
hi maria,
i have just bought a trakehner mare who used to be a jumper. you said whimsey also used to be a jumper, what did you and your trainers do to make him such a great eq horse and do you have any suggestions to help me?
congratulations on being such a great rider, it's amazing to see you being successful on so many different horses.
thanks
samantha
What did you do in your warm up in front of the judges?
Hi Maria-
I was wondering if you could do a blog on the trends in the big eq and jumper rings right now. That sort of thing always interests me! I have a friend that said embroidered collars instead of stock pins are all the rage. I think you are a great rider! =]
Hi Maria! I am a big fan of yours & I hope to watch you at a show some day. I have a question. I am interested in riding in the Maclay & the big eqs. I realize you have to have a certain amount of points to qualify for the regionals & you have to place in the regionals to go to the Maclay (correct me if I'm wrong!). What helped you reach the Maclay? I have no idea where to start.
Thank you very much & good luck to you!
-Chantal
Hi Maria,
I did the BigEq when I was junior as well. Since then I had to take some time off for personal reasons. I am about 5' 9" with a long upper body. I have always struggled immensely with my upper body over fences being to stiff or slighted round. As I start the level 7s it something I need to put behind me to help my ride perform its best. Through your training has anyone ever given you a technique or an analogy to think about regarding this issue? Sometimes it takes a person to say it in just a way that works for your mind. Thanks
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