~Kirsten's Corner~

Welcome to Kirsten's Corner!

Kirsten is an adult amateur rather new to the world of Eventing and enjoying every minute of it! Together with her Percheron/Thoroughbred mare, Ariat, she just started jumping a few years ago. She and Ariat began competing at local schooling shows at Elementary and worked consistently and systematically over the years moving up to Beginner Novice and then Novice. Most recently the pair qualified for and competed in a Classic Novice 3Day. Unfortunately, after a solid endurance day jumping clean Ariat was too sore to continue onto Stadium, but nevertheless Kirsten could not be more proud of what they have accomplished. Ariat has a personality larger than her large beastly self and makes great content for Kirsten to write about. Please enjoy as Kirsten shares what it's like to ride a Girafferator (head set of a giraffe and suppleness of a refrigerator) in the dressage ring, keeping a naughty beast mare contained in her paddock when jumping 5' from a standstill is all in a days work, and how someone who survived steeplechase fences of 3'3" can still have confidence problems when it comes to jumping small schooling fences.

Photo Credit: GRC Photo

Kirsten's Blog Post # 7

How Much is Too Much?

So this topic has been on my mind for the past 9 months or so.... Really since I started training both myself and my horse for the classic 3-day: How much is too much? How hard can I push this horse? How high can we jump? How fast can we run? How much distance can we cover? What is "fair"? Just about anyone who knows me and knows how careful I am with this animal can tell you how seriously I took training for this 3-day. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Kirsten's Blog Post # 6

How to Condition a Beast Eventer

Conditioning you say?

So you want to get your beast eventer as fit as possible! You want your draft cross (or other non tb horse) to be fighting fit out there on xc galloping right along with those nimble thoroughbreds! Said thoroughbreds get fit walking to turnout everyday where as you have been consistently riding your beast for MONTHS and find you are still running out of steam on xc... What are you to do?! How do you condition a draft horse? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Kirsten's Blog Post # 5

Are You a Creative Rider?

When you are riding or working with horses, when you come up against a road block, do you keep drilling the problem? Never changing how you are asking? Never assessing the situation? (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Kirsten's Blog Post # 4

"Hospital or Back On"

Before I even get into this topic I want to start off with a few ground rules. First, WEAR A FREAKING HELMET. Second, these are my personal opinions and thoughts, everyone is different. Third, please use common sense and air on the side of caution when it comes to the risk/presence of a concussion. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Kirsten's Blog Post # 3

One Step Forward, Three Giant Leaps Back...

So right off the bat I apologize if this comes across as whiny... But you know what? I think I need to whine a wee little bit.

The Beast Mare herself has been not quite right since November at this point... (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)

Kirsten's Blog Post # 2: "I'm Allergic to Barn Drama"

I'm Allergic to Barn Drama

So it almost goes without saying that the horse world is filled with drama. I like to say I am allergic to drama, I literally just want to take care of my horse, ride, learn, get better, compete, maybe pick up a ribbon or two, and repeat.

But as easy as that sounds it is really not. Drama can happen on so many different levels. (Click on Blog Title above (in blue) to read full entry)