Susan Says It Best...

Because the World Equestrian Games is such a huge deal, in the Equestrian World at least, I thought Susan's email to me last night said it best, so I've decided to just copy and paste. Enjoy...

"Hello! All is well here. I had my first session with Ellen today, MP felt FANTASTIC. I cried and jumped for joy when she got here, its so nice to have someone that knows me and the horse so well. It felt so good to just ride and not have to think. Opening ceremonies was on Saturday and was an amazing experience. I have never been involved in something quite like it. The US uniform was Ariat jeans, boots, and shirt topped with the US blazer, belt, scarf and cowboy hat. Actually, several nations wore cowboy hats. Prior to the ceremonies, they had each discipline take team photos and then they sent us inro a staging area. Altech provided their famous Kentucky Burbon Ale so everyone was having a very good time. We got to meet many riders from the other nations and other disciplines, and we chatted quite a bit with Anne Gribbons, the US Dressage Team coach. She is SO nice! When the vaulters started throwing each other in the air, we knew it was almost time to go. Staff began walking through the athlete crowd with signs for the individial nations. Athletes followowed their sign and thats how the precession began. It was very moving to line up behind the US flag and when we got outside the staging area we could here the bluegrass music coming from the main stadium. I had chills walking from the staging area all the way to the stadium. We could hear them announcing the nations and we could hear the crowd cheering. When we rounded the corner before entering and saw the jam packed stadium, I had a very wierd out of body experience. I couldn't believe that I was really about to walk with our country in a parade of nations for the World Equestrian Games. It was sureal, the feeling of emotion and pride. When they announced the United States over the loud speaker the crowd went wild! It was so crazy in the stadium. Everyone was signing and dancing and cheering. After we all made the lap around the arena, they led us to athlete seating so we could watch the show. To be honest I dont remember much from there - not because of the beer, but because I was so overwhelmed. I hope I get to do this again, because next time I will bring a good camera! So now we train. Other events are going on, reining and dressage. Endurance finished yesterday. We are going to try and go see some of the other events tomorrow."

And if Susan does "this again", it will most likely be the 2012 Olympic Games, of which I promised her I will attend! I can do "on the site" blogging. Until next time, GO USA, GO SUSAN AND MONEYPENNY!

Heaven, Safe & Sound

I'm happy to report that MP has made it safely to Kentucky, and is settled into her beautiful stall, drinking and eating happily. Susan calls the Kentucky Equine Research Center, "the horsey motherland"! MP enjoyed turnout this morning on 5 acres of rolling bluegrass, and thought for sure, this was heaven. The KER facility, owned by Joe & Anna Pagan, is beautiful and it sounds as though every need is being met, complete with automatic waters that tell you how much your horse is drinking!

Susan went for a light ride this morning, and is pleased to report that MP looks great, feels great, and most importantly, seems happy. MP is already wooing her neighbors, she's such a tease. She likes to be wanted.

The team should all have arrived by tomorrow, and they start their "processing" where they get their accreditation's and US gear, which Susan is very excited about!

GO SUSAN & MP!

Up, Up and Away!

Hello friends of Susan and MP! This is Susan's friend, Eva, hijacking her blog to bring you breaking news and photos of the event we've all been waiting for, the World Equestrian Games!

Scott dropped Susan off early yesterday morning, with a huge suitcase, named "Bagzilla", so that she could arrive and get settled before Miss MP made her arrival. Scott and Devon then dropped MP off at some insane time this morning, before the sun came up, for her flight. I don't know a lot about transporting horses via air, however, it's a big deal! The horses are put in boxes and then lifted up to the plane and loaded. They stay in their boxes the whole time, and they have "handlers" which accompany them during the flight. When you think about how horses spook at things like hoses and birds at home, it blows my mind to think about driving them to the airport and loading them on a plane! But MP is a champ, and she knows she deserves all of this hoopla!

Until the next post...GO SUSAN AND MP!!!

Adequan Video Promoting WEG & Para Dressage

Woot woot! Made the US Team!

Wow! Its been two months since my last post! Time flies. We have been really busy and we've had a lot going on with starting my training business, finishing up my Senate job and preparing for WEG, but I cannot complain! Life is good!

The really big news is that I made the US WEG Team! We had a good showing at Lamplight which placed us 5th overall and 4th on the ranking list. The competition was stiff, the pressure immense and the weather in the Midwest just plain stinks!! It rained with thunder and lightning almost every day, and was 90 degrees. Not what we are used to! We had mistakes in our tests which did impact our placings - the difference between 3rd and 6th place overall was less than 1 percentage point! Our take home lesson from Nationals was that we need to go home and iron out all the wrinkles before WEG! The US team REALLY wants to medal with this event being held on home turf!

MP is feeling good and I'm feeling good so I think we are on the right track. We had a really good support team in Chicago including Scott, Ellen, Devon, Susan Parry, Katy P, my parents, my aunt Karen and cousins as well as a few Midwesterners, my mom's best friends Susie & Robbie. It was an amazing experience and once again it reminded me of what a great life it is that I have, with a wonderful horse, wonderful companion, and wonderful friends and family.

Pictures to come, and I will plan to post once a week from now until the WEG! I need a snazzy phone so I can do this on the road...

US Para-Equestrian Association Webathon

Next Tuesday June 8th from 7-9pm est I will be co-hosting the first ever US Para Equestrian Association webathon. It will be broadcast live from Lexington and will feature a number of special guests. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the US Para Equestrian Team for the WEG. For more information or to tune in go to: http://www.horseradionetwork.com/

Team MP Carmel Valley Fundraiser

I don't even know where to start in order to explain how FANTASTIC the Carmel Valley fundraiser was on May 16. I guess I should start by thanking the "Team MP Committee" for all their hard work and time spent pulling off such a great day. All we had to do was drive in, meet our supporters, ride for them and then go head home. The CV fundraiser committee included: Nancy Bareilles, Katy Peterson, Julie Culver, Susan Baxter, Erin Branson, Susan Rowland, Elizabeth Pasquinelli, Margaret Robinson and Andrea. These ladies are go getter's to say the least. And they know how to throw a party!


The setting

When we arrived everything was set up and the setting was unbelievable. The Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club is like a park, tucked into the mountains. Its lush and green and very low key so the atmosphere was very relaxed. The Committee had decorated all of the tables, serving areas and silent auction coral in red white and blue. Everything was so darling and perfect!



The event started at 2 pm with cocktail hour, silent auction opening and was followed up with tri-tip and the works! Every detail was attended to...even down to tin plates and red, white and blue wrapped silverware!




After the mid-afternoon lunch, the demonstrations began. First, Tiana Coudray, a top US Three-Day Event rider, rode a young horse over fences and on the flat to demonstrate the skills of three-day horses. She and the horse were beautiful together, there were many oh's and ah's from the crowd. Next up was me and MP with our freestyle. For whatever reason, riding in front of this crowd was the most nervous I've ever been on a horse. We started with a little warm up from Ellen, in which Katy P was able to talk the crowd through some of the movements required in dressage. Then our freestyle to the Can Can, Cabaret and the Stripper. We showed off some of the new freestyle moves which debuted without a hitch.

The fundraiser was more successful that we ever imagined. It was just perfect. There is no other way to explain it. We had a wonderful time and the event put us over half way to our fundraising goal. As I said before, the group of people that pulled this off for us are amazing. We couldn't ask for a better support team. Thank you Team MP!!!