SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE FTI/WEF CIRCUIT AND SOME MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS

Hi, everyone, I wanted to catch up with you and give you an update, now that the first two weeks of the circuit are over.

I've been in Wellington since just before Christmas, working for Frank Madden Show Stable at Hunters Moon Farm. Since the circuit began, I have had the opportunity to show some of the customer's horses and some sale horses in the schooling division with the future possibility of showing those sale horses in some jumper classes later on in the circuit. In addition, I have continued to teach lessons and train horses. The spring 2009 college semester will begin this week and I will resume studying while I am working.

In comparison to the 2008 winter circuit, there is a noticeable decrease in the number of entries in most of the divisions at the horse show. The number of weeks in the circuit increased last year and there is a possibility that either this week or next week the number of entries will go up. The recent downturn in the US economic situation and the global economy appears to be having a direct effect on the number of equestrians competing here this year.

The response to the new format used for the last blog entry prompted me to continue the format for this month. Your feedback and questions are truly appreciated!

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO DO ANY OTHER COLLEGE ACTIVITIES BESIDES RIDING?

Instead of participating in college riding opportunities, and after discussing the options available with my parents and my trainer, I decided to become a professional and work while attending college. Because I had determined, after conferring with those whose opinions I value, that my current situation was the way I would continue the pursuit of my equestrian goals, I began to develop some riding goals that are realistic, for me, in terms of time and motivation. However, the IHSA and the NCAA programs have a great deal to offer those riders who may choose that route during their college years. Some riders that I had gotten to know while competing as a junior, have chosen to participate in college riding programs. Many of them have said that they enjoyed the team aspect of college riding and have felt that competing on many different horses was a valuable learning experience.

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START RIDING AT THE MACLAY LEVEL?

In the late June, early July 2001 time frame, when I was twelve years old, my trainers thought I was ready for the challenge of moving from the three foot equitation to the big eq while horse showing in Lake Placid. My parents had leased a horse for me that year that had helped another student from Beacon Hill make the same transition in the previous year. I was really happy to enter classes with the older students in the barn and watching them ride helped me with my riding. Looking back, it was a such a great opportunity to be able to show in the big eq as early as I did and with the help of my parents and trainers that year, I was able to qualify for and show in the USEF Medal finals in Harrisburg.

Thank you for your continued support and questions!
Talk to you later
Maria Schaub