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26 SIDELINES JULY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE H O R S E S H O W

My Line

Short Term Memory Loss and Long Term Memories

Sarah Ward is currently living in Atlanta. Sarah rides with Finally Farm’s Jack Towell and Liza Towell-Boyd and competes with Finally Farm in the hunters and jumpers in both the amateur and open divisions.

By Sarah Ward

It was just before my 13th birthday that I began to ride seriously, old enough to remember pretty much everything – the good, the bad, and everything in between. There are times that I will never, ever forget - from my very first horse “Happy Go Lucky,” to my first fall, to my first “First.”  I am pretty sure most riders have their own personal, “never forget” moments; their most exciting wins and devastating losses. When I think back on my highlights in the show ring thus far, I can often recall not only the class, but the actual courses!  Amazing right? In retrospect, it all comes back, fence by fence, as clear as day.  But then I have also suffered from what I will call my “short term memory loss!”  No, this is not a medical condition, but refers to those times when I have failed to recall something kind of important… like, for example, the order of jumps on a course! Looking back before the courses and even the horses, I vividly recollect the first time that I ever fell off.  I was 5 years old, and the horse was named “What.” When the good natured gelding leaned down to eat some grass, I basically tumbled down his neck, onto the ground, and onto my butt!  I’m not sure if this really count’s as a true “fall.”  I feel like I’ve come off a billion times since then, but this unremarkable event stands out because, to be honest, I am not sure WHAT happened that lovely day on “What.” After I won my first blue ribbon on “Happy,” I was hooked on showing and moved up through the ranks in Long Stirrup, Jr./Sr., and Open Hunter. My first “big” victory came aboard “Chocolate Moose” in the Jr./ Sr. and Open Hunter State Championship. Although not the same caliber of competition that I would later face at shows like the Winter Equestrian Festival or year end Finals, this was a treasured win. It was what made me decide to take my riding to the next level, leading me to training with Finally Farm, and inevitably

to the purchase of my amazing hunter Onassis (my boy!) Of course, there have been some things that I have unfortunately FORGOTTEN during my “career in the saddle!”  Although I am now riding in the A/O Hunter I have had more than a few “senior” moments!  Most recently, I went off course during the Camden Spring Classic aboard my hunter Voltaire.  Off course in a hunter class?!?!  HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN!?! Luckily, I had the chance to redeem myself on Onassis. Not only was I able to remember the course correctly, but we won the class!  This is not the first time my memory has failed me though!  I went off course in the Derby Finals… again, can you say EMBARRASSING? I was mortified! I like to think of myself as organized and focused, but I admit I’ve forgotten my boots, show jackets, shirts, collars, belts, saddles, you name it, it has been left back at the barn, at home, or at school at least one time!  You can often borrow from a buddy. But the one thing you don’t want to forget is to close the stall door, and a horse is not as easily replaced as a hairnet or helmet! I did once, and “Happy” went for a little stroll... He seemed to enjoy it so much that he made a habit of getting loose whenever and where ever possible.  Talk about teaching an old dog new tricks!  I think we can all agree that we all have fond memories, and some we’d rather not recall. When it comes to showing, my motto is, “If you’re not having fun, what’s the point?” So yes, I’m serious and I get all worked up sometimes, I make mistakes, and I sometimes forget things.  But then I remember what Pat Duncan told me after I had a bad trip – “Get over it! You’re just jumping horses over sticks. It’s not the end of the world!” He got that right for sure. See ya’ll at the next show.