Black Sheep of the Barn


I was considered the black sheep of the family for, of the ten boisterous kids, I was the quiet one. A homely child, with my unruly curls and large eyes, I was painfully shy.  Needless to say, from a very young age I was a bit of a loner, marching to the beat of my own drum.

Therefore, it came as no surprise to those who knew me, that in my early twenties I decided to move from Colorado to Boston, not knowing a soul in Massachusetts. I did this on a whim, thinking, “If I am not smart enough or rich enough to go to MIT, then at least I can live there!” With that mantra I moved to the town abutting the Cambridge campus and never looked back.

A happy black sheep today.

So to now find myself, a show jumping Grand Prix wannabe, training at an eventing barn, is well, just par for the course.  To me, this recent adventure reaffirms my tendency to seek out new experiences and challenges as well as my commitment to the sport.

The way I figure it, I am learning SO much in this world of formal equestrian riding, totally removed from my childhood experiences riding bareback through the Florida orange groves, that terms like, “two phase,” “prelim,” and “combined test,” are just more of the same.

My quest for the prix is a journey, and it has challenged me to continue to step out of my comfort zone to meet new people, tackle new information, and openly share my experiences with the world.   

Rainy Days Don't Get Me Down

It is raining “cats and dogs" outside and the forecast calls for more of the same all week.

Distracted by the sound of it pummeling down onto my roof, I glance outside my bedroom window to witness the site. Hmm...I contemplate, it’s going to be a wet ride today.  

I have to admit, I am quite cozy in the dry warmth of my room reading from what appears to be an eerie glow coming from my bedside lamp, made so against the stormy backdrop.

Still, the thought of not showing up at the stable today, doesn’t even occur to me.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of times when I have hesitated and even rescheduled my ride due to an unplanned event arising at the last minute such as a hurt child, or call from a client that I simply had to take, or more recently due to ‘doctors orders' i.e. "if you ever want to use your right arm again, then you must rest and ice it for a week!” 

Inclement weather, however, is generally not a good enough reason for me to miss my ride.

I actually enjoy riding in the dead of winter, when most shutter at the thought. You know when it’s so cold outside that you can actually see your breath and not feel your fingers or toes, even with winter gloves and boots on? Yeah, that kind of weather. I love it, for it keeps me cool when I am working hard at trying to learn this challenging and oh so demanding sport.

I do find it smart though to plan around hot weather. For example, if I know that it is going to be a blistering and humid day out, then I will purposely wait until the evening to ride, if I happened to miss my early morning opportunity that is, not only for me but for the sake of my horse, as it is just not optimal to intentionally ride in the heat of the day when there are more intelligent options available.

Geared up for the rain.

So for now, I happily throw on my ‘Wellies’ (knee high rain boots), a slicker and my beat up Boston Red Sox cap and head to the barn.

I know that Duncan will be in his field as he is an 'out all day and night’ kind of horse, sturdy that is. I have read recently that it is actually healthier for horses to be outside in the fresh air, grazing and roaming about day and night than to be in their stalls, go figure.

Anyway, this poses no problem to me, as affixed with my rain gear; I am up for the muddy challenge, so to speak.

As I make my way to the back pasture, the rain dances off my cap, and lands on my face, so much for that strategy.

But then the smell of wet grass, mingled with hay, floods my senses and I am suddenly taken back in time to when I was a young child growing up in Florida doing this very same thing. 

It is as if time has stood still.

I pause and think to myself, “if this is to be my Quest, then I hope it to never end.”