A short month ago, I won the Maclay National Championship and finished Reserve Champion in the Junior Jumpers at The National Horse Show. In the moment, I felt a mix of joy and amazement but also a complete blank… all the years of dreaming, working, traveling, messing up… and then winning… It all paid off over 14 hours of grueling competition against the best junior riders in the country, many of whom are my best friends. Over the fall finals season, I was top 5 in all of the previous finals and the first Colorado rider to win the Maclay National Championship. Of course, I have my parents and coaches to thank for the tremendous opportunities, sacrifices and guidance they have provided through thick-and-thin. But I also have my friends – my competition — to thank for always raising the bar of expectation in competition. They push what’s possible. And none of this is possible without our horses. I am so grateful for Cent and Clover – both who made dreams come true for me this year.
This was my first year in the high junior jumpers – and although I am entering my last junior year, it’s not a finale. I’ll keep growing, every day. During this holiday break, I have a pile of college applications due, semester finals to prepare for and time together with my family (finally). I’m most excited to ski! Our horses are turned out to play, grow winter fuzz, graze and just be horses for a little while. Then, it all begins again in January when we hit the Winter Equestrian Festival.
I hope everyone had a great and safe Thanksgiving and I wish you the best for Christmas. I’ve looked up to so many groundbreaking athletes in a diversity of sports but Michael Jordan says it best: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Be well!