Will you be giving younger students lessons now that you are a professional?

Hi, everyone!
The day after Christmas, I drove to Wellington, Florida, to work as a rider during the winter circuit. If you remember, I deferred my first year at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, to compete at the indoor shows and to gain some work experience in the industry. The trip to Wellington took two days but once I arrived, I was eager to begin working. I've also been busy getting settled and organizing my family's rental apartment near the show grounds.
Recently, someone asked if I would be giving lessons to younger students, now that I am officially a professional registered with the USEF. Currently, my short-term goal will be to train and ride horses and, when possible, to compete in the hunter and jumper divisions. I may become involved in teaching students at some point in the future, but that will not be my primary focus in the beginning of my professional career.
Catch up with me next week, for a blog about the Horsemastership program scheduled for the week of January 21, 2008. By the way, anyone can audit the week long program for free, an experience that I would highly recommend.
Thank you for your continued support!
Maria Schaub

My feelings about leaving the Junior ranks

Moving out of the junior ranks is not frustrating or sad for me. In fact, I am looking forward to 2008 with great excitement and continued passion. I've had such wonderful experiences as a junior and I am very grateful for all of them. My current frame of mind is to absorb everything about the sport and the industry, in order to become the best horsewoman possible. I want to try to do a thorough job, so that the people who believe in me as a rider and a horsewoman, can be proud that I have become a part of their team. I have been fortunate since I started riding to be involved in an excellent training program which also included horse management.

As far as not being with and seeing my old barn mates, their families, and all of the staff associated with the barn, in the way I once did, I will remember them fondly and hope to continue to see them whenever possible .

The horses, well, with them, I always try to get them to trust and believe in me and, I, in turn, believe in them. The horses that I have been fortunate to know will always have a special place in my heart.

Catch up with me soon when I answer another one of your recent questions.
Talk to you later.
Happy Holidays,
Maria Schaub

AFTER RECEIVING A GOLD MEDAL AT USEF EAST OR WEST COAST FINALS CAN YOU STILL COMPETE AT THE FINALS THE FOLLOWING YEAR?

Hi everyone!

For the next few weeks, I will be answering questions that you had asked while I was reporting to you this fall about my experiences at the big eq finals.

As far as the USEF East and/or West coast finals are concerned, once a rider has received a gold medal, (twenty class wins are required), he or she can no longer participate in classes during future qualifying periods. However, riders who have won the gold medal are eligible to compete at the finals until they have reached the age of twenty-one. The only competitors, aged twenty-one and under, who are ineligible to compete at the finals, are those riders who have won the talent search final.

If an opportunity to compete at the USEF East Final presents itself in the next few years, I will consider it a privilege to have such an option. School and work responsibilities, obligations and their limitations could influence the decision to enter the competition one way or another.

Catch up with me next week when I answer another one of your recent questions!
Thank you for your continued support.
Talk to you later.
Maria Schaub