that_show_jumping_girl: September 2013

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Hi Diary!

I dug up my diary today and decided my next blog entry would be a page out of this little book full of dreams, emotions en real life facts about me :) I don't use my diary that often, in fact, I think the average entry is 1 per year. But nevertheless, it's so funny to read back and see which dreams came true and which super difficult problems I had to face 'back in the days' ;-)

This entry is dated July 10th, 2007. At the time, I was 13 years old and in my first year of high school.

10-07-2007
Hi Diary!
A pony to take care of.. that's gonna be a while. My English speech about DNA went super! I got an 8.8 (out of 10)!! Pony summer camp was absolutely awesome!! On wednesday, july 4th, we had a jumping lesson from Ilse, this was only the second time I ever jumped a horse and it went quite well.
On thursday, we had a jumping competition. There were 23 entries, and I was one of them. This was only the 3rd time I actually jumped but I ended up getting 4th place!! So now I earned my first two ribbons: A blue one for my 4th place and a pink one as a thank-you for competing in the dressage competition. So many people were complimenting me on my 4th place and now Marlou (head trainer) said I can go ride in a different group. So now my lesson is on friday from 6PM to 7PM. I hope I can ride on tuesdays one day cause Ilse is teaching those lessons which means I'd get to jump! Now that I know how much fun jumping is, I'm wondering what I want to be when I grow up...:
- FBI Special Agent
- FBI crisis negotiator
- professional show jumper
- Pediatrician

Well, you'll hear from me soon! Bye!

A few side notes..
When I was 4, I had kidney stones. It hurt like HELL but ever since that day until this diary entry, I said I was gonna be a doctor for children, a pediatrician. Despite my CSI/FBI phase, the pediatrician thing was dead serious, so for me to add 'show jumper' to this list, was quite something. I remember the endless debates in my head from that time and I can assure you; jumping my first (TINY) show that week at camp surely triggered something in me that was quite a bit bigger than that little show. Clearly. ;-)

On my last day at Jos Lansink stables a few years ago, right before I had to go back to school, I remember Jos saying to me: It's back to reality for you, now! Today, nearly 3 years later, summer vacation is over and it's time to go back to school.. again. Only this time, back to reality means: going back to Lansink's!

Sometimes, it's what we least expect that gives us the greatest happiness.

xoxo

my first two ribbons!

the original diary entry in Dutch :)

Saturday, September 7, 2013

at home with Marcus Ehning

This week has been awesome. Period. I just got home from the 3 first orientation days at college, which were absolutely unforgettable. The orientation team that I'm part of is called 'the Unicorns' which obviously could not have been a better name. Our team leader Julia is being called Mama Unicorn from practically day 1, that should give you a clear picture of the whole atmosphere! :-) I love my new classmates and this year is going to be golden. Can't wait to go back tomorrow for the remaining days! Be sure to check out some of the pics below to see who else is my super sport class!

But, my tuesday was definitely worthy of a blog post. My friend Carina from Norway, whom I met in Florida, is now working in Germany.......---> on the farm of the one & only Marcus Ehning!
Carina had a day off on monday so we went shopping in Amsterdam, I drove back with her, all the way across Holland to the German border. More specifically: a tiny, very German, town called Borken. I crashed the sofa in her apartment for the night and then, on tuesday, we drove to the barn. I love-love-love visiting big international barns all over the world to see how each top class riders organize things at home. The behind-the-scenes are so useful and interesting. Obviously I was very excited to take a peek at Marcus Ehning Sportpferde!

Marcus shares a property with his brother, Johannes Ehning (who's a successful show jumper too) and their father. The barn is located in a nice green village in Germany, just twenty minutes from the Dutch border. They have a beautiful, sand, outdoor jumping arena with a wide track all the way around to give the horses a proper canter exercise. The whole property is surrounded by large fields, some of which are filled with the 'babies', others with horses like Plot Blue or Sandro Boy. There's a large indoor sand arena too and another outdoor sand ring. Furthermore, there are big walkers for the horses and, off course, lots of nice stalls filled with even nicer horses.

It was great to see Marcus and Johannes jump around in the morning and training their students after, observing activities like these, teach you so much. These people are part of the best at what they do, so basically every word or gesture that comes from them is precious information for a tinie tiny little student like me ;-) Equally super, was seeing some of the best horses in show jumping on their home turf. Plot Blue, Nolte's Küchen Girl and Sandro Boy, just to name a few! They all looked great and happy so hats off to Marcus and his grooms. But it wasn't just horses and dogs walking around....... check the pics below to see if you can find her! I promise, it's totally worth it!

It was a great visit and I hope you enjoy the photographs of this very successful business.