The countdown is on! It’s amazing to think we are just a bit over a month away from the Makeover. I’ve spent so much time reflecting on my journey with Bronn in the last couple of blogs, but now things are starting to feel real… maybe a little too real!

In mid-August, we had to declare disciplines. I waffled between staying in my comfort zone or trying two totally new disciplines. I have put so much weight on this decision, it was so difficult and beyond stressful! Bronn has been such a jack of all trades for me, showing up in whatever I have needed him to, so the pressure came from wanting to represent him in the best way I possibly could.

At the 2021 Makeover with Pied, I went in knowing exactly what we would be working towards. Having a Western background, I was passionate about proving the Thoroughbred’s versatility. It was so much fun to spend the summer training towards ranch work. She also proved to be quite scrappy when it came to tricks, so Freestyle was an easy next choice! This year, I decided to fall back on my passion for the Western Thoroughbred, so ultimately I included Western dressage alongside eventing. Thanks to the amazing advice of a friend I’ve gotten close with from the Makeover, which is, “Do what you both will have fun with.”

Courtesy of Megan McNamara

In my last blog, I wrote about my confidence waning from a fall. I’ve been working hard to overcome my fears and in the last month, we have done two Events at the starter level. Eventing is certainly the discipline that’s entirely out of my comfort zone because with the couple of shows and schooling shows we’ve done, we have never made it through without disqualification or an error because I can’t seem to stay on course. Please, someone tell me… how are you supposed to remember all these tests and the correct order of jumps! If you see me in Lexington galloping down the highway, it’s probably me thinking it’s part of cross country and Bronn just going along with it having the time of his life!

All jokes aside, declaring eventing as a discipline and having not been able to complete a horse trials is a bit concerning on my end! I will say, I can’t stop giddy scream-laughing during cross country at the sheer bliss of it! Perhaps that’s my problem… At the last event, I missed a jump early on cross country following his best dressage score to date. Management kindly let us do our show jumping round as a courtesy, and I’m so grateful for it because it felt like our best round yet. However, at the show, I noticed him becoming increasingly spooky… completely out of character for him. I got back to the trailer and said to my friends, “Something is not right with him, I just know it.”

I know my confidence has been shaky and I haven’t been the jockey he deserves lately, but I also know my horse. Horse shows can be overwhelming and stressful for a young horse and he is only 6, but he had been to that show grounds before and wasn’t worried about a thing! He certainly shouldn’t be jumping sideways at his own shadow! When we got home, I scheduled an appointment with his vets. We did a lameness exam, X-rays, an eye exam, scoped him, and checked his Vitamin E levels. Trust me when I say I left no stone unturned. While we are still awaiting his results for Vitamin E, we did find ulcers and some body soreness all of which are being treated! His body soreness is not serious, in fact very normal for a big horse getting back into work and I have had to fight ulcers with him in the past. He wears his heart on his sleeve, so when his behavior changes, I’m always certain he is trying to tell me something.

So with just over a month until the big show, what does this mean for him? It means a vacation! I’m known for being obsessive over my horses’ health, probably to an annoying degree to those around me, but they owe me nothing and their health and wellness is most important. This in no way derails our plan to make it to Kentucky. Even though his ulcer treatment ends soon, and his body is feeling well again, I refuse to push him. I’ve scratched him from all our upcoming shows and plan to just play around with him at home.

Maybe everyone in Colorado will find me practicing jump courses on a stick horse while I work on memorizing courses. With putting so much stress on myself earlier this summer, I think Bronn was trying to tell ME to relax. Anyway, I am so thrilled to see everyone so soon and have the time of our lives with the horses we have come so far with.