DEVON 2008 - A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL'S PERSPECTIVE
Hi, everyone, thank you for your continued support!
In an attempt to answer a recent question about what a work day was like, I thought I would talk about my experience at the Devon Horse Show this year. Before going into the details about my day, I thought I would tell you more about one of the oldest horse shows in the United States. For those who are not familiar with the show, the Devon Horse Show, circa 1896, is held in late May for a week and a half and participants qualify for many of the classes; the junior equitation classes are an exception to the qualifying rule. For seventy five years, the show proceeds go to the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation which benefits the institution. This year, there were a reported three thousand volunteers planning year round to make the show a special event. The show grounds include beautiful landscaping and, for the children and family, alike, an old fashioned country fair with cotton candy, rides for those who are game, wonderful shops and a food court.
So, now that you have some background information on the show, I will tell you about one of my days working. I was at the barn by five fifteen in the morning, and exercised a horse or two so they could adjust and acclimate to the new setting. Afterwards, I assisted the trainers in every way I could and I helped the riders prepare for their classes. Throughout the day. I spoke with the trainers and remained on a designated schedule. Along with the trainers, I assisted at the warm up ring and at the ingate, and was involved in the feedback after a rider's round was completed. When the classes were finished, I helped clean up and set up for the next day. The days were quite long, so when the work day was over, I ate and went to bed early so I could be rested for work the following day.
I am hoping that next year or the year after, I will be showing in a class or two with other professionals.
Catch up with me next time, when I answer another one of your questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub
posted by Maria Schaub @ 11:24 AM
28 comments
28 Comments:
Maria, I am a big fan of yours, and i hope you do wonderful as a professional. I am an ispiring EQ Rider, and I am 14. I can't afford the big a circuit shows so I am trying to find a trainer that can give me a working student oppurtunity. I will need to get catch rides as i won't get my eq horse for a few years, and I live in Colorado where there aren't many catch rides to get. I am wondering how I can put my name out there and go to the East coast as a working student for top trainers without the cost. I will try to apply for R.W. Mutch and I want this more than anything else. I ultimatly want to be a Grand Prix rider and be in the Olympics, and Equitation can get me there. Please respond! I think it's great that you are blogging for equisearch! You truely are my role model. Thanks!
Lindsay
Hi Maria,
It's great to get an update from Devon, what a wonderful show it is. Thanks for the continuous updating, it is great to hear what a young professional like you experiences in the horse industry today. The work at Devon sounds hard but fun for the commited rider. Keep updating, you are a great role model and, like many other junior riders, I am a big fan of yours.
Jordan
Hi Maria,
Thank you for all of your updates and keeping your fans posted on your daily routines at shows. Its great to hear the show from your perspective now that you are helping those in the ring and not just the one inside of it. Thank you again for updating and keep up the good work!
Hi Maria,
Wow! You just described my dream day! I am a big fan of yours and I am very happy for you. You are a great role model. You are very lucky, but you truly deserve your success! Thanks for sharing your awesome experiences with us!
Hi Maria,
I had a question about catch riding, like do you pay the owner to ride their horse or do they pay you or does nobody pay? Like how does it work because I just recently began attending a new barn and I am about to turn 16 and haven't really had much show experience and I need to show more if I want to end up going Grand Prix when I graduate so I think catch riding is a great oppertunity I just dont know the in's and out's of it.
Thanks
hi, for the person who asked about catch riding: there are a couple of possibilities like, a person that owns a horse wants to sell it but he can't ride, that person will look for someone to show the horse. The idea behind this is that if the horse wins the owner can sell the horse for more money. If your not really well known you can get catch rides but don't expect to be paid(you still have to be a good rider to get a catch ride). Your best chance to get a catch ride is from someone who knows you and how well you ride and has a horse he wants to sell. I speak from experience as i'm only 14 and got a catch ride to show in ireland in two weeks!!!
I hope this comment helps you
Benjamin Flakoll
Upperville Colt and Horse Show, in Upperville, VA is actually the oldest show in the United Sates was started in 1853.
to handyhunter:
she didnt say devon was the oldest horse show. she said it was ONE of the oldest horse shows! read more carefully next time!
Hi Maria!
I have a question for you. I first saw you on the TV Show Horsepower. It is great to be able to read your blog and see what you have done with your riding career after the show and your years as a junior rider. Can you tell me, do you still keep in touch with the other cast members, and what are they doing now that their junior careers are over? (For example, I know Brianne is still with Frank and doing Grand Prix)But what about the other riders from the show? Do you still keep in touch/are friends with them, and are a lot of them still with Frank as well? I would love to know. =] Thank you!!
Brianne does not ride with Frank.
Frank has a new barn, Stacia runs Beacon Hill now.
I thought Brianne rode w/ Frank... Does she ride at Beacon Hill though? and what ever happened to Chelsea and Lyndsey?
(This is the person who asked earlier about the other HP Riders that most of us here in the Midwest don't get to see every weekend) Brianne DID ride at Beacon Hill when Frank was there, but Frank left and started his own barn. Brianne stayed with Max and Stacia at Beacon Hill (correct me if I am wrong) and is now doing Grand Prix. I heard of Chelsea winning the Maclay Class in Wellington in spring 08, but other than that I am pretty isolated and haven't heard much about the other riders from the show, so if you still keep in touch with them I would love to know what they are up to! (to the person that asked about Linsday - she doesn't show on the circuit anymore.)
Actually Lindsay does show, saw her at WEF this year, she was riding with a friend of mine.
Brianne 'rode' with Frank, but mostly stayed with Max, even in her junior years. You have to understand everything you see on TV isn't always true.
^
to the person two posts above me, just because you live on the east coast doesnt meen you see these riders all the time! i live in florida and ive seen nikko once and brianne once in the 2+ years the show has been out. the only people that really see these riders "every weekend" are the rich kids who can afford a show barn and to compete 'A' circuit every weekend. so dont think that just becuase we live on the east coast meens we know everything that goes on!
Lindsey actually shows on her College Equestrian team now also
Cool! I didn't know Linsday was still showing! On HP didn't she sell LV cause she was quitting Equitation?
And to the person a few posts above me about defending the East Coasters, I don't think she meant just the East Coasters - I live in the Midwest too (I live in Illinois) and she's right, even though WE may show, we don't see them because they don't really come out our way to the shows out here! So I doubt she meant the whole east coast in general...just the higher circuits. I for one, have never seen any of the riders from HP or the ones that rode with them out in Illinois. But I don't have the money to do the bigger shows. So we are pretty cut-off over here! It's hard to know what goes on every weekend by you guys if you don't have connections.
I was recently checking the prize list for the Beacon Hill show (as I'm showing there), and I noticed that only Stacia Madden trains there now. Why did Frank get a new barn? Divorce? What gives?
to the midwesterners (IL especially), heritage is showing at lamplight for 2 weeks!!! should be interesting to see how everyone competes!
wow, yeah that WILL be interesting! I would love to go, do you know if it is Equifest or Showplace Spring Classic?
it's showplace. im not sure if they are coming back for equifest??
Maria,
Why did Frank leave Beacin Hill?
So you are my inspiration when it comes to riding :) You are my favorite rider of all time :D I love your position and I'm just a humongous fan :)
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