Earlier this week Advanced level event rider, Evention star, and sweet Dressage Skillz rapper Dom Schramm announced on his FB page that a plan was in the works for Plantation Field to run an Iron Horse horse trials/triathlon competition at their international horse trials next fall.
Sounds awesome right?!
From what I gather so far from his post they plan to run it as a Prelim horse trial (http://discovereventing.com/?q=glossary/term/93), followed by a Sprint Triathlon (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon). The top finishing scores from the horse trial will be combined with their finishing score in the triathlon for an average combined score to determine the winner. First prize: $5000 cash!
Since I've started my weightloss journey this year- down 20lbs since mid February- I've gotten a bit stuck lately. I'm very goal oriented, so what better way to motivate myself on this fitness adventure than a competition that involves both eventing and running/swimming/biking?!
So here's the hard part(s):
1) I have never competed in any fitness competitions, apart from swimming races at summer camp about 15 years ago.
2) I have never evented recognized above Novice (2'11") and never schooled cross country above Training (3'3").
3) I retired my event horse last year.
4) My current competition horse has never so much as schooled a cross country fence.
Sounds pretty impossible right?? Well, tell me I can't do it and I'll try harder! I've assembled a pretty fantastic group of people to help me with the first problem. I've also joined the YMCA and started on a training schedule, today was day one!
Second, my horse, although never having evented before, is not without competition experience. CSS Cor De La Mar (Nicki) is a 16 hand, 8 year old Bavarian Warmblood mare. She is a granddaughter of Cor De La Bryere out a a TB mare. She has a fabulous uphill build, 3 stunning gaits, and a big snappy jump. She is an absolutely amazing partner and gives 110% every ride. She is athletic, brave, and has a ton of heart. I think she will take to eventing like a duck to water.
She has shown in the hunter ring to 3ft over the last couple years so is used to a busy environment. She focuses well on her job and doesn't seem to be flustered by much going on outside the arena. I have shown her in one dressage schooling show at Training Level where we received very high marks and scores in the mid to upper 60's and we will be giving First level a go on Saturday at another schooling show.
My goal for her is to do a couple BN's this fall, as well as paper chases, cross country schoolings, and the occasional hunt this winter. The big goal for both of us this winter is fitness. Lots of trot sets for Nicki, lots of running and biking for me, hill work for us both....many many lessons. Late winter/early spring I will try to do a couple recognized Novices, start the summer at Novice/Training and then make the leap to Prelim. I also plan to enter at least 1 triathlon, several 5ks and a couple mud runs for myself.
I realize all of this seems ambitious, but without goals what are we working towards?? I plan to try and document this journey here in my blog with at least monthly updates on progress!
Cheers!
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