I am super excited to announce that this guest post by Georgina “Georgie” Hammond about her experience at USEF Medal Finals. For those of you that read her up & coming rider feature earlier this year, you already know that qualifying for and competing at USEF Medal Finals was one of her goals. She did, and she made the journey all the way to Pennsylvania from Florida with her lease horse, Easy. Things did not go as planned, but her choice on that day shows what a true horsewoman and equestrian she is.
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Many people will have many different things to say about this article and my decision that day or the type of rider I am or the type of horse Easy is, but the fact of the matter is, I made the right choice. I kept myself and my horse safe. Easy is still an incredible horse and that one day does not define who I am as a rider or human being. It makes me an equestrian (Editor’s Note: And a great horsewoman, who shows a lot more knowledge and maturity than many other individuals who even are older than she is). It was putting my horse before my dreams and goals. It was having the dignity, self-worth, and confidence to say I wasn’t going to do it, and for a very good reason at that. It was putting myself in Easy’s shoes and really understanding what had happened in his mind. It was knowing that Easy is just an animal and if he doesn’t understand what we are doing, that is totally okay too. It was knowing that I may have only gotten over four jumps in that ring, but that was probably four more jumps than he would have jumped for anyone else. It was knowing that I love Easy, and no matter what happened, I was still going to and still do love him to the moon and back.
Reblogged this on Breeches and Boat Shoes and commented:
This is a great article on putting your horse ahead of yourself and a reminder that a ribbon isn’t all that showing is about.
G, I cried when I read your article. You write well, and I can relate to your heartbreak. Thanks for sharing your journey! Hugs, Robin and Jet
I don’t even know Georgie, but I’m proud of her. What a wise young woman. I have total respect for her actions. An excellent role model (and I started following her on Twitter)! 🙂 @susanwordlover
this is a lovely article – and really speaks to the decisions we need to make for our horses. they rely on us to protect them, and that’s exactly what Georgie did for Easy. well done. the show will be there next time!