Featured Rider - Karen O'Connor

We are writing you from the Red Hills camper parking where Teddy is getting ready to run the CIC*** World Cup Qualifier. Since the last installment Teddy has run two events; the intermediate at Rocking Horse 1 and the Advanced one-day at Rocking Horse 2.

Rocking Horse 1 was a good educational run for both of us. His dressage was very steady and quiet, maybe too quiet, but I was happy with his state of mind. We ended in the middle of the pack, but still competitive. He show jumped amazing. Very rideable (after he stopped bucking in the warm-up) and he had a great clear round. Off to the cross country – we were having a great go and I got a bit too hungry for the time and cut the turn to the water jump. He didn’t really get a chance to study it and he stopped so quickly, I was hanging over his head looking him in the eye… I really didn’t want to get wet. I shimmied back in the tack and went around and he was great. Lots to think about. I was maybe thinking that maybe Kentucky was going to have to wait until next year.

We went back to the farm in Ocala and did some schooling in our neighbor’s, Overlook Farm, water jump. We had huge confidence boost and felt better about turning around to go back to Rocking Horse for the advanced one day.

I was lucky enough to have a few days that weren’t filled with shows or training sessions, so Max and I packed up 5 horses and went to Wellington to work with Betsy Steiner for some dressage lessons. There, we taught Teddy half steps and really worked on his medium and extended trots. He handled the work really well. I was really looking forward to test everything out at his next run.

I had two rides at the one day – Teddy and his stable-mate Upstage who we call Woody. I was thrilled with both of their performances. Teddy again was very steady in the dressage, but didn’t score as well as I thought he should have. He was first to go for the day, so perhaps he was scored conservatively. Again – he show jumped really well over the very twisty (and HUGE) course. He had one down, but I was not too worried about the rail. To the cross country – AMAZING – he was foot perfect throughout the entire course. And – very brave through the water jump – so happy we can put that issue behind us. Hmmmm – maybe Kentucky after all.

A few months ago I was asked to captain a team for a new competition called Derbycross (www.derbycross.com), where they combine show jumping and cross-country. You jump a short (7 fences) show jump course then run around a short (6 + jumps including water, banks, etc.) cross country course and then come back to jump another short show jump course and the fastest time wins with 4 seconds added for each rail. I couldn’t think of any horse or pony I would rather ride than Teddy. My other teammates were students Donna Smith and Clark Montgomery and jumper rider Sharn Worldy. Donna and Clark went first and were both fantastic – but we were still in second after round two. Teddy stepped up to the plate and was fast and clean. He had one down in the second show jump round, but was good enough to put our team into first by 12 seconds. The jumper riders had a BIG jump course and then a preliminary short cross country round and then back to a big jump off. Sharn’s horse was very good, but not quick enough – so the team ended second. A really fun day was had by all (tail gating and VIP tent with a DJ) and we are really excited about the future of Derbycross.

Rolex – you ready for 14.1?

So – now to Super Ted’s next big venture – Red Hills. We are here early for training sessions with US coach Mark Phillips, and Teddy has settled in great. Miles to go before it’s all over, but I am really pumped for the weekend. I have 4 other horses besides Teddy going this weekend and they all have a great shot of doing really well; Ted and Woody in the World Cup, Mandiba and Hugh Knows in the two star and Mamzelle in the preliminary.

Till the next installment…. Hope that I will be driving a BMW at the end of the weekend.