For everyone who read this post title and thought “oh god, there she goes again waxing poetic about eventing” – you’re right, here I go again. Today we embark on our journey to Coconino, and while to most people it would probably seem like just another show (that you can’t wait for me to stop talking about), I can’t help but reflect on just how much this opportunity really means to someone like me.
I don’t have a fancy, expensive horse. I don’t have a new, pimped out truck. I don’t have a shiny, pretty trailer. I have a $900 horse that I bought on Facebook, a used and slightly dinged truck complete with old school crank windows, and I pull a very, uh, “vintage” trailer that cost even less than my horse. Heck, I sleep in a truck tent at shows. And I’m deeply grateful for all of it, every single day.
This is a sport that has room for everyone. Sure, sometimes we lose to the people on a 60k import with a 100k rig, but lots of times we don’t. When I see a fancy horse trotting around dressage warmup, I don’t feel instantly defeated. I admire them, drool a little over the pretty horsey, and then go about my business knowing that we all have 3 phases to get through. At the end of the day, those three very different phases are a pretty great equalizer. Some days you win, some days you find yourself rocketing face first into the water.
The best part is, in the sport of eventing I am not unique — not by a long shot. Many competitors have stories similar to mine. There aren’t a lot of sports where the field of entries is pretty much always split between horses that cost $1500 or less or horses that cost 30k and up. They might range from 14 hands to 18 hands. They could be Arabs or Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds or warmbloods. Their riders might be sitting in a $300 saddle or a $6000 saddle. The competitors roll into the show grounds in all sorts of rigs, big to small and fancy to total jalopy. There aren’t a lot of sports where just about anyone could win, regardless of how simple or how fancy.
Being able to show in other states, travel with my horse, spend multiple weeks on the road… those have always been far-off dreams. They seemed far-off because in my mind those are the things that wealthy people do, and I’m not a wealthy person. I was the working student left behind while the other kids went to winter circuit. I’m the adult shopping for a project horse on facebook with a 1k budget. I considered all those things to be pipe dreams, just about as far from my reality as you could possibly get.
Yet here we are, embarking on a another journey I never imagined I’d be able to make, with the kind of horse I never thought I’d be lucky enough to own. First Nationals last year, a dream come true in it’s own right, and now this. I will never stop being thankful for the relative affordability of the sport of eventing, for all the friends and family who continue to enable my addiction, and for all the opportunities that it has given me. Two weeks in the mountains of Arizona, a long format 3 Day, and my horse’s first recognized show at a level I didn’t even dare dream of just a year and half ago when we started… how freaking awesome is this?
breedrideevent.com 
Congratulations on all of your hard work, you deserve this 😊
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Good luck!!! I can’t wait to see photos and results, you guys are going to rock!
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I do like that about eventing too. 🙂 I wonder if I will ever work up the confidence to compete in eventing again, but in the meantime I like to live vicariously though blogs like yours!
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THIS. All of this. Forever and ever.
Serious feels, I has them.
And I’m not even an eventer.
SO excited for you and Henny! I’m sure you guys will kick butt in Coco, and if nothing else, it’ll be yet another item to cross off your bucket list. Can’t wait to follow along! 🙂
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It’s pretty damn awesome.
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I love eventing and for a lot of the same reasons you just named ❤ Thank you for putting it so perfectly! Have a blast at Coconino and enjoy every second of the ride! Can't wait to hear all about it!
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HAVE A BLAST I am so excited for you all. Kudos to you for getting this far and Kudos for Henry for being..well Henry! 🙂 CANT WAIT TO READ ALL ABOUT IT! Be safe, be careful and have fun!! (PS we never get tired of hearing/reading all about your life :))
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It is pretty freaking awesome!
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Love love love. Have a GREAT trip!!
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knock ’em dead at Coco!!
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No amount of cash can buy a work ethic. When you’ve worked for and earned your reward, rather than having it handed to you, isn’t it so much more sweet? Enjoy and savor every minute of this trip with your beautiful horse!
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Have a wonderful trip! You’ve earned it!
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That is very freaking awesome. Good luck and have fun!
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Yup. This is the amazing thing about eventing. 🙂
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Love this post. Love that your on this awesome journey. Love even more that you share it with us. Thank you!
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Hear hear!
Have a fantastic time – you’ve earned it!
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Yay! I hope you continue to enjoy the journey and have a blast in Coconino!
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So freaking awesome! Congrats on your hard work paying off. Enjoy your trip!
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I hope you enjoy every minute! Your post makes me want to become an eventer!
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Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle.
I love it. Eventing does pull at me for those reasons. There is a certain approachableness and humbleness there I value and respect.
Love the quote too.
Kick ass, Henny!
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damn straight girl.
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USEA should be paying you to recruit. For reals. So excited for you guys, cheering loud from over here in the midwest!
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These are the reasons I want to try eventing, yet the fence height even at BN scares me. Is crossrail eventers a thing?
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Congrats and good luck!
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Wishing you the best…I was going to say, “best of luck”, but I think you’ve found the best luck already! So all the positive vibes and best wishes are being sent your way as you tackle this next big feat.
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Y’all have fun! I’m frequently amazed at how fortunate we are to get to work with these animals, to own them and to ride them. Just think – where will you be next year?!
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So excited for you that you get to cross off so many bucket list items this year. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose, and many other times you’re just working hard. It’s great when you finally have things come together ❤
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I know that feeling! I bought my horse for $1000, trained her myself, and just got back from a show where we were Champion and Reserve Champion in both our divisions out of a good number of people. Never thought I’d have that! I hope you have an awesome time in Coco!
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Totally awesome!!! You go girl (and Henny! and Bobby! and Halo!) Can’t wait to read all about Coco!!
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Have a great time at Coconino!
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So awesome and so much to be proud of. You’re always a great reminder I’ll get back out there someday, even when my paycheck seems like there’s no way that’ll ever happen.
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Have a ball, thank you for taking us along for the ride ☺
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Love it! Good luck, have fun, be safe, and add leg! 🙂
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Just another reason I love your blog (besides living vicariously lol!)
You’re always so humble and worked hard for what you have. Never complain or act jealous or petty like some other blogs I’ve read (and quickly dismissed)
Plus, who doesn’t love a Henny face?!
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Good luck!!
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Having dabbled enough now in the hunter world, I really appreciate the other disciplines that are more open to all, like eventing, or endurance. You still scored one of the best FB deals ever.
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Amazing! You and Henry were meant to find each other. I’m so glad you share your story with all of us. Can’t wait to read allllllll about Coconino!!!!
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Started from the bottom now we here 😉
You go, girl 🙂
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I’m like you; I like to buy horses that need work and do the work myself. For me it’s more rewarding to do it myself than to pay big money for a finished horse. I don’t have big money though, so I guess that’s a good thing!
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