Friday, October 30, 2009

END OF 2009 INDOOR SEASON

Hi everyone!

I have been very busy since I last wrote. This week the indoor season will be winding down, and Frank Madden Show Stable will be heading to the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament. Our barn will have two students competing in the ASPCA Maclay Finals, one student in the older Small Junior Hunters and a few students in the Low and Medium Junior Jumpers. The Syracuse Invitational usually has several International Open Jumper riders and many American Open Jumper riders participating in the higher level competitions, something that I personally find to be very enjoyable as well as educational. After the indoor season has ended, our barn will take a rest, and then, begin to prepare for the winter season in Wellington, Florida.

During the last several blogs, I have attempted to answer some of your recent questions and that format will continue for this blog.

AT WHAT AGE DID YOU START RIDING? SHOWING? AND WHO WAS YOUR FIRST TRAINER?

I started riding when I was eight and a half years old at a summer camp program at Snowbird Acres farm in Long Valley, New Jersey. Snowbird has a riding school as well as a horse show facility. I went to my first horse show at Snowbird and my trainer was Vikki Seigel. After the summer camp, I rode with Mary Babick at Colts Neck Equestrian Center, Colts Neck, NJ.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE FOR ASPIRING EQUITATION RIDERS?

Pursue your dream and do everything you can to be the best you can be with your riding. Involve your parents and trainers when you are developing your equestrian goals. Persist when you are confronted with obstacles, even if those obstacles appear impossible. Make every attempt you can to learn about horses and riding, nurture your enthusiasm for everything equestrian, and find happiness in your pursuit of your goals.

I’M 15 AND HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO SHOW IN THE BIG EQUITATION CLASSES. I WAS WONDERING WHERE SHOULD I START?

If you have set the goal to show in the big equitation classes, you will need the support of your parents and a trainer to participate. Start with a conversation with your parents and ask them to help you get started. Good Luck to you!

Thanks so much for all of your support and your questions!
Talk to you soon!

Maria Schaub

19 Comments:

At Sat Oct 31, 07:13:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Maria! Its great to hear about all of your progressions in the equestrian world. Good luck with the upcoming season and to your barn at Finals!

 
At Sun Nov 01, 10:11:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for answering my question, Maria (It truly made my day!) Those are very wise words indeed :)

 
At Sat Nov 07, 03:27:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you teach lessons? You're an amazing rider and I think people could learn a ton from you!

 
At Sat Nov 14, 05:39:00 PM, Anonymous Emily said...

You're such a great rider and a great role model! :D
I have one question:
Out of all the big equitation classes you've entered, which one would you say is your favorite?
(WIHS, Maclay, USEF Talent Search, etc.)
Thanks! :]

 
At Sat Nov 21, 01:09:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would like to try and be a top rider like you, but my paretns don't have the time and money to bored a horse. I am looking into leasing, but I am not sure if I should. What would you recommend?

 
At Sun Nov 22, 02:26:00 PM, Anonymous Mia said...

You are amazing :)

 
At Sun Nov 29, 01:36:00 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

You're an amazing rider and, as someone else stated, a wonderful role model for other equestrians hoping to accomplish their riding dreams too! I was wondering if you had any advice for me. I'm 15 and I currently lesson twice a week and compete in IEA. Last year I went to nationals and won third in my class. This year I've moved up a level and I'm doing pretty well. I really want to do shows outside of IEA too. My dream is to be able to compete and do well in the big eq shows, but my parents really couldn't afford to even half-lease a horse right now. Since I don't own/lease a horse, my skills (especially jumping) are only progressing so far. I'm going to get a job this summer to try and help my parents pay for half-leasing this horse at my barn so that my trainer will let me jump higher and my skills can progress. I will also try to help them pay for me to do bigger shows outside of IEA but I don't know if that will work; and if it does, I couldn't do many. What would be the least costly way for me to progress and how far could I get with my current situation? Would it be possible for me to go from my current level (probably a little bit more advanced by the time I reach college) and make it big as an adult, as long as I got the right job? Thank you so much! :))

 
At Sun Nov 29, 05:20:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are such an amazing rider! You're one of my idols!

Do the horses who compete in the big eq classes tend to be spirited during normal riding? like when youre just at home riding and jumping? They look so calm in shows but they can't be perfect!

please answer my question! Thanks!

 
At Wed Dec 02, 01:12:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Maria! Thanks for keeping us updated! You're an awesome rider! I have a question for you. I'm trying to move up in my riding. I'm 15 and never owned or leased a horse so I'm not progressig much. My mom's decided to find a full time job to support my riding so that I can own/full lease a horse and do more shows. My dream is to be in a national eq final but because of my age and the fact that my trainer won't progress me past barely 2' since I don't own/lease, I'm worried I'm on a time crunch for training and feel I need a better trainer that can train me higher faster and has more expierence with national shows. Do you know of any trainers in Georgia that can help me achieve my dream based on my current situation? Also which is better to acheive my dream, full leasing or owning a horse? Thank you so much!

 
At Sun Dec 06, 04:39:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Maria! Thanks for the updates! You're such a skilled rider! I know the age limit for most of the Big Eq Finals is 17, but I read somewhere about the date of December 1st being a cut off or something like that... Can you explain the age limit to me more? I'm a sophomore turning 16 in April and I'm just starting really training for the big eq finals in January (I'm leasing my first horse starting in the beginning of the year...he's going to be a good experienced 3' eq.) so I know I'm really crunched on time but I want to know if my last chance to compete in the Maclay is my senior year of high school or my freshmen year of college. Thanks!

 
At Sat Dec 26, 01:33:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To the last comment, if you see this, lol...you're last year as a junior will be your senior year of high school if you turn 18 in the april of your senior year.

 
At Sat Dec 26, 02:03:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

maria i am 12 and i was wondering what shows to compete in to move up levels im just starting. also do you know any good eq trainers in pa or nj? thanks a lot

 
At Sat Dec 26, 03:59:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Maria,
What do you think the future wil be like for equestrian sports?

 
At Thu Dec 31, 11:35:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Maria-
Any words of wisdom for a 14 year old starting recognized shows? Also do you know of any series that are in New York that have divisions of 2'6" and lower?
Thanks!!

ps. I LOVE your blog! i learn so much from it

 
At Sun Jan 03, 10:09:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

to the girl asking about good eq trainers in pa & nj...you're definitely living in the right place! tons of amazinggg eq trainers are up there, like Maria's trainers Frank & Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, NJ

 
At Mon Jan 04, 05:27:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

^^

where have you been?

 
At Tue Jan 12, 10:13:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am desperate for a good trainer Iwant to go to the Maclays in Syaracuse this fall. WHO DO YOU RECEOMMEND IN SO.FLA.???

 
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At Wed Jun 08, 05:03:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

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