Year in Review

This past year has gone by incredibly quick. Many things have happened and in this post I'll pause for a moment and review & enjoy it all once again.

January
The first week of 2005 I got ready for my very last semester at UPEI. Just needed 5 more credits to be able to graduate later in the year. That same week I started my new part time job at InternetWorks.
Later that month Kionus and I moved into a different barn. Gary's nice heated barn seemed to do Kionus well, and I must say I enjoyed it too. Besides riding Kionus, Dexter & Conner kept me busy as well. Thursday afternoon lessons went well but it was quite chilly some nights!


February
Spring break! It was spent mostly at the barn. No warm exotic trips for me. I remember there were quite a few school projects but it was hard to get my act together during this last semester. Kionus was working well, in the back of our mind we had our goal for the summer: compete in third level. The changes were slowly becoming more consistent but the half pass was still difficult. Dexter and I are becoming more used to eachother. The jumping on Saturday afternoons is fun but not always easy in the indoor arena.


March
Plans started to get underway for the upcoming show season. I was very happy with the opportunity to be able to show Dexter and Conner as well. Since Dexter had some experience with eventing I started to consider the possibility of trying cross country. Gary and my friend Ambre did a great job promoting the eventing discipline during this month. Deadlines for my last projects started to approach, never before had I been so slack in school. I was sure I could pull it together during the last week of school...



April
Some late nights and weekends had to be given up for school. Everything got done, in time. Also, wrote my very last university exam. Marks turned out great and graduation is only a month away! Went to the first training show of the season. Dexter and I had some nice jumping rounds. Certainly also got some homework that needed to be done before the first official show.




May
The big day had arrived: Graduation on May 14th! I received my Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a minor in Finance and Economics. We celebrated our achievements that evening at the Old Dublin and the next day many friends came over for a nice dinner. Early May I had already started working full time at InternetWorks and riding lessons were picking up as well. The horses were being trained outside again in Gary's beautiful big outdoor ring. Also, went on a roadtrip with three friends to Boston and Martha's Vineyard during the longVictoria Day Weekend. Saw many interesting things and certainly shopped a lot!

June
The show season started with the Dressage PEI show. Kionus did some very nice third level test; it was beyond my expectations. Showed Conner for the first time, second level was quite a challenge and there were lots of things to work on for the next show. Two weeks later we're off to Port Elgin. It was a wet and cold show. Kionus had again nice tests. The decision was made to show Conner is first level; turned out to be a very appropriate level. We won high score awards both days. It was also the first weekend we stayed with Tawil's On Wheels. Never knew a motorhome could hold so many people! The next Saturday I competed at my first Cross Country Event in PEI, won third place. The next day we're on the road to Blainville, Quebec. Wonderful week, well organized show, and nice rides. With a 69% with Conner I broke my personal record!

July
First show this month was Central Nova. Travelled with the Tawil's. Ambre and I both won reserve awards. Also, that month we travelled to Saint John, Evergreen Horse Trials. It was a weekend full of laughs and lack of sleep. Many things kept us awake that night but it didn't bother the next day's performance. Dexter and I won the training division. It was a busy month with lessons and working the horses. Many evenings were spent in Strathgartney or in Gary's ring jumping. For the first time ever I went swimming with the horses at Canoe Cove. Dexter loved it but he wasn't as brave as Trinny since he just loves to roll in the water.

August
We're on the road again to Saint John, this time for dressage. Conner won the Saturday first level high score. Worked through some ring issues with Kionus but got nice results. Next weekend the eventing team was on the road again to Fredericton, Foshay Farm Horse Trials. The cross country course rode beautiful but we're a little fast: 20 seconds before the minimum time allowed. Placed third in this event. The Thursday following this event Old Home Week started. I had a wonderful weekend. My jumping rounds didn't start off too well, luck didn't seem to be on my side. Until things changed Saturday evening when I won the Stake Class. Something I never expected but maybe quietly hoped for!

September
This month started with the Dressage Championships in Saint John. Tawil's on Wheels was once again nice enough to open their doors this weekend. Kionus had very nice consistent tests and won the third level championship. Conner went like a dream and won first level championship. I kept breaking my personal record that weekend. Score to beat now is 76%. A few weekends later we competed at the PEI horse trials in Strathgartney. The rain waited for a long time but it didn't hold up, at the end of the day we still got very wet and cold. Dexter went nice and we won the training division and senior high score. At this show, Darren made us aware of an important event coming up two weeks later... The question was: are we going or are we not?

October
Yes we're going! Thanksgiving weekend was spent in Bromont. Early Friday morning we're on the road but nothing was given to us. Many times we asked ourself are we actually going to arrive in Bromont? Late that night we got there safely. The next morning the trouble wasn't over because of horse problems! Luckily everything got fixed and Sunday morning Ambre and I were both ready to compete on the International circuit of Bromont! The day started great with a very nice dressage test which later turned out to be the winning test. With a clean cross country and stadium jumping I ended up winning the training division. A dream had come true! Ambre also did amazing, she placed in the top 15 out of more than 30 riders! This show closed the season for 2005!

November
It was time to relax! Hacking in Strathgartney and Brookvale was nice for us as well as the horses. We also attended the annual Island Horse Council award night. I received the award of senior female athlete. Very pleased to receive that and felt like my accomplishments of the summer had been truly recognized. Also, received Horse Trial awards. It was also nice to see my students receiving awards! My family also became the proud new owner of Whiscalina! For two years we had our eye on her, and during the middle of November I was able to call her mine. She didn't know anything yet but by the end of the month I was able to ride her.

December
The holiday season started with the Charlottetown parade. Although, I was somewhat skeptical of the whole thing at first it was certainly a day to remember and worth noting in this year's review. Still working on Whiscalina a few times a week. By this time she's doing nicely walk, trot, and canter. Very happy with this horse, she's very cooperative and friendly. The other horses are having somewhat of a break they are being worked only a few times a week. Everybody deserves a nice break after an incredibly busy year!