Fun & Exciting!

Time has gone by so fast lately and everything has been so fun and exciting that it’s been so hard to keep you up to date. Both Finally and Taison have done really well and I’m very proud of both horses. The first CDI show of the year was down in San Diego. Unfortunately, I had a head cold and the stomach flu at the same time and I was wiped out in the hotel room in San Diego. I couldn’t even make it to the jog, so my beloved Anna had to jog Finally. I pulled myself together and went to the horse show, did the warm up and rode my test. And with the spooky indoor arena, which I didn’t have a chance to bring Finally into before, it was just too much. I did pull off a good test on Taison and I won Intermediare II on him.

The next CDI show was Burbank in March. Out of about 30 horses, Finally was 6th right behind Steffen, Guenter and Jan, in both Intermediare I and Prix St. Georges. He was great both days, and so was Taison in Intermediare II. Because of the good results, I was invited to do an observation clinic with Anne Gribbons (Chef d'Equippe of U.S. Dressage). Anne was very impressed with both horses. At the clinic, I went through the Grand Prix test with Taison and I felt that he is ready to go out in Grand Prix the next time. With Finn, Anne was very supportive and thought I have a really, really good horse.

My goal is to make it to the finals in Gladstone and try for spot at the Pan Am Games. So the week after, I went to Rancho Murieta. This time I only brought Finn and he won Prix St. Georges out of 30 horses and was 2nd in Intermediare I (he was beat out by only 2/10 of a point)! It was a fun show with a lot of help and support from my friends and sponsors, especially since I’ve been feeling unwell. (See photos from Rancho Murieta on Mette's website)

Now I'm back to work at home again and Debbie McDonald is working very hard at helping me reach my goal. I promise to write more often in the future!

~Mette