CHIO Aachen pt. 2

Whoop whoop, I got to go to the CHIO for the last days too!!! 

Saturday was quite an easy day. I arrived at the show grounds around 11AM and the first jumping class would not be starting until 1PM. But saturday morning is always an exciting part of the CHIO anyways, because it's cross country day. Meaning that the eventing riders ride their cross and the cool thing is; the cross always ends in the main stadium. Therefor, I spent all morning in the stands, cheering on the riders as they galloped into the stadium, jumped their last obstacles and eventually cross the finish line. Usually, there's not that many people in the stands, but I love watching it. The starting order is in reverse ranking order, (the dressage test and show jumping part already took place before saturday) so the highest ranked go last. By the time the top 10 riders are starting, it's much closer to 1PM, so more and more jumping people are filling the stands. The Aachen spectators are so generous, they love cheering on the riders in front of them, especially the German ones of course. I have to admit, the cheers when the rider enters the stadium and even more, the cheers/clapping when they cross the finish line after a successful cross country course.. it gives me goosebumps every single time. I mean, crowds are obviously a part of every show, wherever the show is, but there's nothing quite like the Aachen crowds. On the early saturday mornings, it's probably just a couple hundred people there, but can you imagine the roar of 40.000 spectators when a german rider goes clear in the sunday grand prix? Exactly. It's breathtaking. Each and every time. 

That takes me to another one of my Aachen favorites. Prize giving ceremonies. I know that must sound crazy because usually, they are a pain in the but. The handshaking, name listing thing always seems to take forever and it's much to everyone's release when they finally announce the lap of honor. However, yet again, in Aachen it's all different to me. At the CHIO, during every prize giving, they play the national anthem of the winning rider while they raise the corresponding flag. Now, this is something many more shows do, but again.. it's those 40.000 people that raise up from their seats as 1 man, hearing the first tunes of the anthem.. it's the huge stadium, with stands all around, which seems to capture the sounds and boost the volume.. it's knowing someone, one very talented, hard working person, has just reached an ultimate goal; winning a class on the holy grounds of CHIO Aachen. 

I wish holograms would be deadnormal already, so you could all turn up at the CHIO just to see and feel that in person. I'm trying my best but words just cannot describe, especially when concerning the grand prix on sunday. 

Grand prix on sunday leads me to my next favorite, which was actually a first of this year's CHIO; a course walk! I was lucky enough to be able to walk the course for both rounds of the Aachen grand prix as well as the jump off for this spectacular class. Let me tell you, it was BIG. Sloane took me on a course walk in Kentucky once, to kind of explain the basics of walking the course and I figured I might as well practice a bit.. Well. Holy Guacamoly. Walking up to the first fence and standing right in front of it, got me quite impressed but wow.. those combinations later on in the course.. some of the oxers.. the tricky distances.. it was amazing to see. And just take a look of the pic I'll put up here of the triple bar... There is an average/tall guy standing right behind it... It was HUGE. 

I guess every GP in Aachen really is one of the toughest classes you can possibly ride in your life as a rider so I have an incredible amount of respect for anyone able to go clear in any of the rounds.. It was no surprise however, that Nick Skelton won the thing this year. His horse Big Star could not have been named more accordingly and Nick himself.. well.. he's just a freak. In the most positive way. Every time I see him ride, I get the feeling you can put him on a lama and he'd still win the class. When I worked for Laura Kraut, his long time partner, I was fortunate enough to stay at his barn in England for a couple days and just for the heck of it, I will include a picture of part of the viewing room overlooking the outdoor arena. In this room, a great collection of Nick's won medals and other trophies are displayed and seriously.. the room is stacked. I'm talking olympic medal almost stuffed between giant silver plates kind-of-stacked. The guy is frigging Albert Einstein on a horse. 

Okay back to Aachen. Obviously the prix was a pleasure to watch, very well done too to young Swiss Janika Sprunger and French Patrice Delaveau, 2nd and 3rd respectively. 

End of the GP means time for I guess one of the longest living traditions of the CHIO: The 'Abschied der Nationen'. The official closing ceremony one could call it. Every nation sends their riders who participated in any of the disciplines into the stadium once more, all after each other, while the national anthem of the particular nation plays once again. The Aachen speaker then thanks them for coming and wishes them good luck for the future, in the country's main language! Very impressing ;-)

Then, when everyone is in, it's time for one last lap of honor, and now the white tissues come out. Every single soul in the stadium, rider or spectator, has one, and while the CHIO anthem plays, they all wave goodbyes as the riders exit the stadium. It's really quite something to see. And for sure a unique thing in the show world. 

So that's it. Another CHIO came to an end, another year is over, another year has just started! I wish you all the best for this year and I hope to see you at the CHIO Aachen 2014! 

Tschüß!!! (bye in German) 

Safe finish for Michael Jung! 

water.....

Aachen!

Rolex combination, last jumps before the 2nd round finish line

stone wall...

Rolex last jump of the 1st round

Rolex Grand Slam!!! Calgary & Geneva together with Aachen

HUGE TRIPLE BAR

winner winner chicken dinner! Big Star & Nick Skelton win the GP

Just a couple of Nick's trophies....

Abschied der Nationen! See you next year!

CHIO Aachen!

It’s the beginning of summer again and that only means 1 thing in my mind: CHIO Aachen time!!!! CHIO Aachen, Weltfest des Pferdesports (World Equestrian Festival, the Germans’ own little WEF party) is this giant horse show that lasts more than a week and features right about every equine discipline, even vaulting! The show jumping starts after the first weekend, on tuesday, and lasts till the Big Famous Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. The biggest and most prestigious grand prix in the world. No kidding. 

For me, the CHIO is like my personal New Years Eve. It means another year is over and in general, whatever I do the rest of the year, I always end up in Aachen in july. So every CHIO GP sunday, I wonder what the coming year will bring me. Where will I spend most of my time? Will I be at the next CHIO as a spectator or as an official horse owner or groom? Will I be there at all? This year has been great and very international, I was only home from the USA for 24 hours when I when to my first CHIO day.. But the coming ‘year’ I’m starting college in Holland, quite the adjustment after a year in the States! Thank god it’s a riding college with big ass internships that I can do my (probably American) way! ;-) Anyways, here’s a few lines for you about my days in Aachen 2013 so far!

Thursday June 27
Nations Cup day! Or: Preis der Nationen tag! Thursday is the second biggest day in Aachen after Grand Prix Sunday so luckily I still got in cause there were NO more tickets! Completely sold out! It was packed, wow! Aachen is so nice tho, the atmosphere is amazing and so far, no other show managed that. Yes, Wellington is amazing too, but hey, we’re talking about the holy green grounds of Aachen here! I didn’t do much on thursday, I arrived just an hour before the nations cup started and only met up with a friend for a bit. The NC itself was obviously cool to see, but I felt like a part of it was missing. It’s just not the same without an American team. (Or the Swedish team for that sake!) And I miss Rolf-Göran Bengtsson here. Just  sayin! Anyways, NC was fine, the Dutch won, good job Holland, it’s never easy at the CHIO. I only took 1 picture, which I also put on instagram, and which then ended up on the fabulous website www.horseandstylemag.com, yay! They have a special section each month with their favorite instagram pictures! Check it out, their website in general is really fun. 

my photo on the Horse & Style Magazine website! whoop whoop!

Friday June 28
An easy day, but I’ve been quite active! This morning I felt like practicing my course walking skills after a lesson with Sloane in Kentucky so I stepped foot on the hole green pastures! I think that was the first time even.. It was pretty cool. They had 3 different courses set up for pretty much the whole day so there were plenty of lines to walk! Apart from the normal jumps, it was also quite cool to see the (water) ditches and the water jump from up close. That last one has got to be the most hated jump ever together with the plank btw, those two cause like 70% of all faults. Not very surprising, both are huge! (Pictures at the end!) After I spend like an hour walking around in there, I went up to the Champions Circle VIP area which is like crazy high above the competitors stand. You almost need binoculars to see a horse! I met up with a Swedish friend I met in Florida, she works with Alvaro Demiranda & Athina Onassis and it was so nice to see her again! Plus, the heat lamps and the hot green tea were very welcoming too since temperatures are not quite summer-y here..!! In the afternoon I met up with a Norwegian friend whom I also met in Florida (yay for WEF, best new friends ever) and we watched the Jump & Drive together. This is such a fun class!! 8 show jumping riders are paired up with a 4-in-hand driver and first they jump a 1.25m course as fast as possible, then they gallop to their grooms in the corner of the field, jump off, throw their horse at their grooms (sometimes successfully, sometimes not quite, lol) and then they run as fast as possible to the driver’s carriage, jump on and ride on the back of it while the driver completes a driving course set in the main stadium too. It’s all about the speed and time and all the spectators are encouraged to cheer them on along with the music so it’s a pretty fun class to watch. Heads off for Boyd Excell, AUS, and Shane Breen, IRL, for being the fastest! 
We then watched some of the eventers go in their show jumping phase and I was AMAZED at how many Americans I saw!!! There were team jackets literally everywhere I looked! Way to go USA!!! #USAreppin’ :-)

So that was another great day at the CHIO Aachen, I’m trying to go tomorrow and sunday as well and if i succeed, I’ll make a CHIO pt. 2 with all the new pics! For now, thanks for reading and enjoy the photos! 

ditch with liverpool

Rolex!!!

Jump on top of a bank

The Aachen Water Jump. More like; the CHIO pool...

triple combination followed by an oxer.. so triple bar,  plank vertical, oxer, line, oxer.. yup.

Jump & Drive driver Chester Weber! whoop whoop USA!

pt. 2 of the liverpool combination... and look at the eventing water jump in the background!

follow the leader, leader, follow the leader!

CREPE WITH KINDERSCHOKOLADE. #foodporn

Tschüß!!!!

The Coles Family

Today was my last official working day at Spring Ledge’s home farm in here in the Plains. Tomorrow we all leave for Saratoga Springs Classic horse show for a week and after that I will make 8 hour drive back here to pack the last things, sleep one more night and then fly home to Holland. I’ve been here in Virginia for about 2 months (should have been 3, but college messed it up) and I want to dedicate this blog entry to the wonderful people I worked for here; the Coles family.

Obviously I worked with Sloane Coles all winter in Florida since she was working with Lauren, but funnier is the reason why I knew Sloane’s name long before I actually met her.. A couple years ago, I was spending my sunday afternoon on YouTube. Looking for interesting horse related videos such as clinics etc, I stumbled upon an episode of what appeared to be a tv show called; Road to the Maclay. (--> Maclay = ASPCA Mayclay Finals = right about the most prestigious final for junior riders in the USA) This show followed the top junior riders of that year on their road to the finals. The riders were training with either Heritage farm or Beacon Hill, two of the biggest show barns in the US. Perfect show for me to watch! So I did. The main character was a still very young Brianne Goutal. While most of the action took place at horse shows or at those show barns, Brianne did have a best friend who lived in Virginia and in one of the episodes she goes there for a weekend so the viewers get to meet that friend....Sloane Coles. :-) Now, I don’t remember much of what they were saying in that episode but the one thing I never forgot was the first scene with Sloane in it. You should know, all the kids in this show were always dressed meticulously in their very classy, kind of conservative neat looking tan breeches/tucked in shirt etc etc. Well, Brianne arrives in the Plains and here comes Sloane Coles. A hands on girl, ready for trail ride, wearing jeans overalls and just looking like she’s about to mount a wild mustang like any other day. Brilliant. I said to myself; I like that girl. 

Turns out I was absolutely right. The Coles’; Sloane, dad mr. John Coles, mom mrs. Julie Coles and even sister Fraley and brother Peyton whom I only briefly met, are I guess the best people I have ever worked for. I mean, people underestimate sandwiches and kind words, really. They bring snacks (healthy, not Walmart) down to the barn/show or sandwiches and drinks or have us all come up to the house for breakfast/lunch/dinner.. Not once, nearly every day! They help whenever they can with everything. Yes, also with night check and mucking stalls. It’s been amazing. (Despite now they are all trying to make me feel really guilty for leaving earlier) If every boss would be like this, the world would be a different place. Instead of feeling like I just worked myself to death for 2 months (still recovering from the end of Florida....) I feel like I spent 2 months in a host family of the best kind. I just would like to thank the Coles’ for giving me that feeling and adding this great experience to my list! I’m gonna miss you all very much! Hereby I do want to give you a 1 week notice of Chantilly and Bailey leaving. They are flying over to Holland with some girl who just loved them too much to leave them behind. Just sayin’! 

Good luck Spring Ledge, for the rest of the summer! 

Thank you!!!

Chantilly, the BEST. 

Baby G! love him

Beautiful Coles residence

So pretty here

BAILEY. <3

Nugget & Bailey! 

Gertie Boo!

Best boy Conner :)

Pretty Mama spa treatment :) 

Princess Chantilly

Aww Gertie!

puppy love

best dog ever. 

I'm just a girl - Deana Carter

I've traveled 'round the world in airplanes and in cars

                 And lets not forget trucks..! With showers, sinks etc! 

I've tried exotic foods and smoked some fine cigars
                 I don't smoke but yeah I've had some funny food variations..! Chili cheese fries for example. OMG, can it get any more American???

I'm just a girl, an American girl

                 I love how in America, you can order a dish yet change it to how you'd prefer. Limitless. Like, you can basically create your own dish at nearly any restaurant. Amazing and SO convenient.

I'm just a girl, but I'm not an ordinary girl
                Cause hey, what 16/17/18/19 year old goes overseas all alone just to 'horse around' all day..?! :)

I'm a Chevy girl
                 Lauren would probably not agree with this. 

I've strolled down Paris streets, been lost in London fog

                 Never been to Paris but it's on top of my list! Did go to London a couple times, never got lost and                never seen fog there but hey, I had an awesome time! Miss you, TTO! 

But all I really need are the fields of Arkansas

                 Or any field, as long as it's mowed by four-legged creatures I can ride. (No, not cows.)

I'm just a girl, an American girl

I'm just a girl, but I'm not an ordinary girl

I need an old Corvette with the top down
And a backseat for my friends

                  I miss my friends but I'll see y'all soon!!! Don't own an old corvette but we all have bikes don't we.. ;)

I need baseball and apple pie to feel alive

                  Maybe not baseball but show jumping for sure. Apple pie? YES. Especially home made with good friends I miss dearly. 

Gimme a Coke-a-cola sundae and a Beach Boy's serenade

                  Make that a Coke-a-Cola Cherry or Vanilla and you got me babe! And I guess I could take the serenade too, haha

I need freedom to be all around the world
                  This defines me. There's not a lot that is more true about me than that line.

I'm a Southern girl

                 Yes! South of Holland, and South of USA! A true Floridian. :)

I want an old porch swing under Montana skies
To hold a working man, looking good in his old Levi's

                  Could definitely live with that. Just perhaps not Montana.. 

I'm just a girl, an American girl

I'm just a girl, but I'm not an ordinary girl
              I'm gonna miss America. There's just something about this crazy country I can't resist. I wish I could take all my friends and family over to experience it because there's no way I can write it. But hey, I'll be back soon I guess! 

I need an old Corvette with the top down

And a backseat for my friends
I need baseball and apple pie to feel alive
Gimme a Coke-a-cola sundae and a Beach Boy's serenade
                  In fact I'd really love a Coke Vanilla right now. Why-o-why don't they have em in Holland?!

I need freedom to be all around the world

                   I love that freedom and all the wonderful things that come with it. Such amazing experiences I've had while enjoying that freedom.

I'm daddy's girl

I've traveled 'round this world and I'm ready to go home

           <3

P.S. If you click on the title, you can listen to the original song :) 

ride baby ride

Have you ever heard the saying that says your life is like a train and every person in your life represents a passenger? Those passengers get on your train and off again at any station along the track. Some may ride with you till the end of the track, others will only join you for a couple stops. Well, I always really agreed with this point of view and today even more. Lauren's winter here is over and yesterday I said goodbye to my lovely ponies and off course to 2 of my new friends My and Denise. They left with 8 horses, en route to Miami-Amsterdam-UK. Since I'm only 19 (u gotta be 21) I couldn't fly with the horses so I helped packing, cleaned up the last things once they were gone and I fly home tomorrow. Ok, enough with the plans, back to my train story. The reason I can relate to it so much here is because you meet the greatest variety of people during WEF. People with all sorts of backgrounds, nationalities etc. and they all have a different story. The people here who are my age or a bit older have already been to so many different places all over the world, it's amazing. And not just on holiday, they actually lived and worked there. We all come together here for 12 weeks and we are a bit sad when we then all spread out again. But it leaves you with friends in the most amazing places. (Ecuador, Sweden, France, Argentina etc etc). I learned so much this winter, about myself not the least, thanks to them. It makes my life feel so much richer! I know I could never give up on traveling. Even tho I hate the sight of an empty, packed up barn or house. It means another chapter is over, my train passed another station. Some of my passengers got off (for good or temporarily, only the future knows) and some just got on. I for sure am sad to leave this station since it was a big one and it taught me so much, but I'm also super excited for the next piece of my track and the next station!! I hope you join me for the ride!

Let's ride baby! Adios!

the marvelous story of Maggie magpie

Lets start from the beginning. For quite some years now, Lauren shares a barn down here in wellyworld with fellow GP rider Jeffery Welles. Each winter, Lauren flies her horses in from Europe and Jeffery's horses come down from New York. All the same this year except for an additional little princes who came down with Jeffery's horses this year; Maggie. A tiny, round, adorable miniature horse with an attitude at least twice her size. (Gareth and Jeffery rescued her) I say round because Maggie megpie was not particularly skinny. So the little one got put on a suiting little diet and all was good. Except for the fact that she just wouldn't loose that roundness. I mean, she got in shape and everything just that belly..! A few weeks ago, the breaking news came thru.. Poor little Maggie wasn't round from grass & grain; she was carrying a baby!!! Excitement filled the barn as everyone pictured a baby Maggie. That would for sure be he cutest thing ever. But along came the worries.. Miniature horses are famous for having lots of issues giving birth, it's not uncommon for the mum or the foal to not make it thru. Besides, nobody had (and still hasn't!) a clue who, or rather what, got her pregnant! Specialists were contacted and plans were made. Things got a little more relaxed when (last week) they said it would be at least 3 to 4 more weeks. Phew, enough time to set up a baby camera in the stall etc etc. s
So, Thursday morning started just like any other day. It was still early, around 8.30, and we were all finishing up the stalls and Jeffery and some others just got on their first horses of the day. Now, before I continue I should mention the following in case you don't know Jeffery.. Sometimes, when something goes wrong, Jeffery can get a little.. worried. This usually happens when their lovely English bull is about to eat someone or so and in that occasional event, he will yell. Mostly for Gareth or Patrice to come to the rescue but that's not the point. The point is the yelling. Jeffery manages to scream in a way you think someone is getting seriously hurt. (Or that Mavis is already halfway thru someone's leg.) well, this Thursday morning I was listening to my iPod inside the barn and suddenly I heard Jeffery scream. I automatically dropped everything I was holding (in this case a pitchfork and the bars of the wheelbarrow) and ran outside the stall pulling out my earplugs. Jeffery was screaming even harder now, for Gareth, Patrice and even just 'somebody' to get out there. The scary part was that he was also screaming for someone to call the vet. Well, I, together with everybody else in the barn, ran outside fearing the worst. Who knew we would find right about the cutest sight ever out there in the paddock?! Right there in the paddock stood little Maggie.. With a little foal coming out..!! We were all watching in complete awe. She knew exactly what to do and everything was going so perfect! To hell with problematic births and possible casualties, Magpie was doing great!! A little bit later we could welcome the newest addiction to the triton family! Beautiful TINY Nutmeg, welcome to the world! I'm sure Gareth, auntie Patrice and obviously Jeffery will take care of you in the very best way they can :)

Winter circuit is officially a wrap and that means we can say RIP WEF'13 (and bye to Magdalena's Mexican food, fresh French crêpes etc etc :( ) As I expected, the plans have changed. Again. I am now flying straight home and back to Sloane in Virginia ASAP. I hate packing especially when it's packing to leave a nice place. The sight of all our things stuffed together in trunks and suitcases waiting to be put on the truck to the airport.. It just always makes me sad. But obviously the end of WEF does mean a few less stressful days at the barn and those are very very welcome. So here are some pics of the last days in beautiful Florida! (Beautiful morning..beach day..riding quick study..)