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As a native Floridian, I'm accustomed to the moderate climate, so the Gold Coast and Gulf Coast, as well as the winter circuits that continue in Venice, entice me in other ways. No. 1: Proximity I live in Ocala, Florida, just less than two hours up the road from the circuits in Tampa. Because I work full-time and am also an amateur rider, and because my horses aren't under the care of a trainer, it's a big struggle to find time to ride, much less show. After an absence from competing in Quarter Horse shows, I'm trying to get reestablished. I'm rusty, my horses are green, and we're headed to Tampa. Sounds like a disaster! These 13 days could determine a lot. Months ago, I worked out a detailed schedule with my boss, my coach and my mother specifying how I planned to drive back and forth between Ocala and Tampa, working on the "off" days and showing on "show" days, thereby still managing to keep my job and try to get our feet wet in the show ring again. When friends saw the 13-day run-down of driving, showing, braiding, schooling and working, they rolled their eyes and told me I was nuts. But I had to give it a try. No. 2: Time As you know, most young, green horses require days of exposure to horse shows before they finally decide to chill out and work as they do at home. Hauling three green horses to the show ensured that we would have our hands full. With the horses housed at the show for these two circuits day in and day out, they can grow accustomed to the loudspeaker, the lights, the rings, the jumps, the scooters and the exhibitors. Overexposure is the perhaps best way to let them know there's not a monster underneath the manure dumpster by the stalls. No. 3: World-class competition Realistically, every horse at these circuits isn't a world champion, but when you're competing against them, it sure feels that way. Horse after horse enters the ring, and it's easy to recognize names from the pages of The American Quarter Horse Journal or from top show rosters. By having the opportunity to see what the best of the best look like, and how they practice and perform, it's hard to be barn blind. I can trot my horse right beside one of the nation's best and see how I compare. No. 4: World-class coaching The horse show runs from daylight until waaaaaay past dark. Trainers are there spouting oodles of information non-stop. Even if you don't have your own coach, you can sit on the fence and learn - for free! It's showtime! After working half a day Christmas Eve, I drove to my home in Ocala to pack up, wrap and load the horses, and drive three hours south to Wauchula, Florida, to celebrate Christmas with my family. After enjoying family festivities that night and the next morning, I tried to fit in some last-minute riding before dark Christmas day. On December 26, Mom and I were up early, packing the trailers for Tampa. At 11 a.m., we were set, and off to the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds. It was a tight squeeze to unload, bed the stalls, hang buckets, longe, ride and school three horses before dark, but it somehow it all got done. That night, I barely finished braiding before midnight. Friday, Dec. 27: The alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., and there was just enough time to school my mare, Antiqua Rap, and gelding, In the Front Line, before the show began at 8. Our rides in green working hunter began very poorly. The mare actually STOPPED at two fences, which rattled me, and the gelding was pretty "looky" all around the ring. I was bummed, and I was beginning to wonder if I had forgotten how to ride in this sort of crowd after all. The jumps were beginning to look bigger than they actually were. Saturday, Dec. 28: Saturday was a mostly western day, and after feeding, I went for a 4.5-mile jog around the fairgrounds to continue my personal training for a January 12 marathon at Disney World. I'm way behind in my training, and every muscle in my body ached from riding. The jogging was painful. Later in the day, I worked my two hunters and the 3-year-old we brought along, plus helped my trainer work three more out of her barn. At sunset, I was still riding, and there were still two hours of braiding ahead of me before sleep. Sunday, Dec. 29: The alarm rang again at 5:30, and as I pulled on my show clothes, I visualized some better rides in the show ring. By 7, I was in the ring schooling over jumps, darting around the other hunters who are also pushed for time to school the fences. When the gelding felt a little more solid, I hopped on the mare, which Mom held ready by the ring. The air was chilly, and the horses were frisky. Our trips in green working hunter were improved, but nowhere near where they needed to be to place alongside the pros. Still, I was smiling, because I understood my mistakes and could see where we needed the most improvement. In our amateur classes, we were actually in the ribbons, having our names announced for the first time! After changing my show clothes, I worked the 3-year-old again, and he was super. No more whinnying every time he left the barn ... he was beginning to pay attention. People at the show began to notice I was always on the go. "You're on another horse?" they'd say. "When do you stop?" Frankly, there wasn't time to stop. The afternoon quickly dissolved, and after putting on blankets, applying liniment and leg wraps, helping bed stalls, and cleaning up the barn, it was dark. I left Tampa by 7 p.m. and was home in Ocala by 9, just in time to collapse into my own bed with Mom staying in Tampa to care for the horses until my return Tuesday night. Monday, Dec. 30 and Tuesday, Dec. 31 Having worked on Monday and Tuesday, I headed back down to Tampa. There would be no New Year's late-night partying for me. After braiding and listening to a heavy rainstorm hit the barn roof, I was in bed by midnight when the fireworks went off. Wednesday, Jan. 1 Wednesday morning found the fairgrounds soaked from the rain. At 6, my coach was looking for me. "Summer," she said, "are you planning to jump this morning?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. You don't just not show because of a little mud. It's not something you even let yourself consider. But when we walked out onto the grand prix ring, it was obvious that jumping in that slick footing would be a disaster. Not one horse out of 20-30 hunters entered showed up to school or show that morning. The judges put their heads together with show management and worked out a deal. The hunters would be moved to Thursday, and we crossed our fingers that the footing would be dry. That decision put me in a quandary. I actually had this day off as a holiday. I had arranged to work on Thursday, and planned a day off from work to show again Friday. What to do? I changed out of my show clothes, made arrangements for Mom to care for the horses, and drove back to Ocala on New Year's Day to work in the closed office. Alone, I got as much work done as possible, sent out e-mail to my boss, crossed my fingers that my change of plans would be approved, and at the end of the day, drove back to Tampa to show on Thursday. Thursday, Jan. 2 and Friday, Jan. 3 The horses and I were improving with each day. We were in the ribbons Thursday. Friday, I was overjoyed when I showed Antiqua Rap to a second place under one judge and a third place under another judge in Amateur Equitation Over Fences! The placing meant we accumulated our first AQHA points - the first ones for the mare, and my first amateur points. We were all smiles that afternoon, and I was beginning to feel better all around. Even though there were still kinks to work out, we could see light at the end of the tunnel. Saturday, Jan. 4 By this time, everything at the show was becoming routine. On off days: get up, clean stalls, ride, clean tack, and get things ready for the next day. That's about how Jan. 4 went, except while driving to town to buy batteries and a quick bite for supper, I ran over a huge bolt, which punctured my truck tire and caused for some major inconveniences. I finished braiding late that night, and I couldn't remember where the day had gone. Sunday, Jan. 5 Rising bright and early again to show in the first class! The horses were schooling well, but before sunrise, it was frigid cold for Florida! I was so chilled when riding at 7 a.m. that my toes went completely numb, and I had to keep looking down to see that they were there. Our classes went well. My mare, especially, began to really show her stuff. We had some bad luck with a lead switch-off, and she actually pulled a rail in one class, but I was still extremely proud of her. She was showing that she could hang in there with the big boys. After a full day, I headed back to Ocala to work Monday. Monday, Jan. 6 The day at work rapidly dissipated, and it was after 7 p.m. when I made it back to Tampa. Mom had tended to the horses, and was preparing supper when I arrived. Somehow, we made it to bed by 10. Tuesday, Jan. 7 For this last day I decided to show only the mare. She was delightfully good, doing her job and everything I asked. It was hard to believe that less than two weeks prior, she was going berserk on course. In the green working hunter, we had a very nice ride... until, going around a corner headed to a diagonal line, she slipped in the mud, causing me to lose a rein! Somehow I recovered, picked up the rein and headed straight down the line, jumped from a decent spot and accurately finished the course. In our final two classes, she was a doll. Though we didn't place in the high ribbons, I was incredibly pleased and encouraged about the year to come. It took Mom and I several hours to prepare to leave the show - wrapping, packing, and paying show tabs. We drove away with a high level of satisfaction. Our horses were good. The experience was phenomenal. We were exhausted, but it was worth it. Mom headed south to Wauchula, and I drove north to Ocala - both of us using our time on the road to ponder the 13 days of national-level Gold Coast and Gulf Coast showing. Staring at the pavement ahead of me for two hours, I just kept shaking my head. Man, I thought - I am blessed and lucky to be able to even play this game!
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