See part one in the November issue of We Ride Sport and Trail Magazine
My weakness in my left leg slightly improved over time and my ankle stop bending over. Unfortunately, the same symptoms switched to my right side and my right ankle. In addition, my heat intolerance continued to get worse. I could no longer ride in the heat or even go outside on a hot and humid day because the heat caused my symptoms to exacerbate so badly it was dangerous. Nonetheless, I have an awesome barn family where I board my horses and with their help getting me tacked up and mounted, I continued riding in the cooler weather and on nicer days.
Then, this past winter, one of my closest friends, Sandy Klinkey, told me about a working equitation clinic she had signed up to ride in. I had heard one other friend mention something about working equitation in passing, but I knew nothing about this discipline other than it sounded like something my horse Whisper and I could do for fun.
Part Two
28 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Continued >
Mike and Karen Boso of Karmik Stable hosted the clinic and the instructors were Howard and Erica Peet. All of the riders and the Peets were some of the nicest people I had met in the horse world in a very long time. Howard and Erica were so upbeat and took the time to explain the discipline and its various phases. They taught us what was expected at each obstacle and constantly encouraged each rider – no matter how bad we might have been!
At the end of the clinic, Howard and Erica told all the riders and auditors about a schooling show that would be taking place in the spring. My friend Sandy and I thought there was absolutely no way we knew enough to ride in a show, so we thought we might just attend to watch. As the time grew nearer, Sandy and I both agreed we wanted to support the Peets and this new sport, so we took a leap of faith and signed up to compete at the Introductory level.
Although we were both rode solid dressage tests, we also both disqualified at different obstacles during the Ease of Handling. It didn’t matter though, because we had so much fun with the people at the show and accomplishing a goal that we realized we were hooked!
By Christine Righeimer