22 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
My Line
Indoors Are (Almost) Here…
By Sarah Ward
We’ve worked tirelessly throughout the year, chasing
points and dreams. Now we are at the fnal countdown
to the all-consuming, all-important Indoors – The Capital
Challenge Horse Show, the Pennsylvania National Horse
Show, The Washington International Horse Show, and the
National Horse Show! If we are lucky enough to make
the cut, we will live a gypsy existence for four weeks. We
happily pack up our bags and hit the road for the rewarding,
exhilarating, and yes, even exhausting competitions.
Hopefully our horses, and our minds, are in great shape
and in the right place, ready to take on the fnal year-end
challenge.
Right now I’m not sure if I’ve qualifed for all of Indoors;
I missed half of the season because of my knee injury
and the list has not been set yet, it’s too early. My goal,
if all goes to plan, is that my hunters Onassis and Voltaire
and my jumper Ludwig Storgaard all qualify… “
If wishes
were horses…”
Well, here’s to good old fashioned English
proverbs and wishing we make the cut!
Hopes and Dreams
Nothing compares to the feeling you get when you step
into the ring at any of these shows. Twelve months worth
of hopes and dreams, not to mention time, hard work and
money, will come down to just a few minutes of actual show
time. Capital Challenge’s Facebook page reads,
“Where
Champions Rise to the
Challenge”
. It is only when
you fnally arrive that you
realize that you have made
it! As long as it doesn’t pour
down with rain, I’m happy!
I have toadmit thatHarrisburg
(PNHS) is my favorite, and
not just because it’s where
I’ve put in some of my most
winning rides. It was named
“Horse Show of the Year”,
so I guess I am not alone on
this! I like to sit high up in
the stands, where I usually
freeze. I watch everything
from Team Penning to the
Hunt Night Championships.
Washington has a
completely different feel. I
like to try to sneak in a visit
to some of the museums
and historical landmarks,
but there isn’t much time
and I don’t like to miss any
of the action in the show
ring. The museums are
fun, but so are the competitions, like the costume class and the
Puissance. Each year, riders try
to beat Anthony D’Ambrosio’s
record set on Sweet N’ Low
back in 1983… Don’t think it’s
going to happen in my lifetime,
but I love to watch them try!
If I qualify for the National, it will
be my second, and the horse
show’s 128th time! Although it
has been around since 1883,
this will be my frst time doing
the Jumpers there, and it is new
to Kentucky, so I’m sure it will be
new to everyone!
I think that anyone who
makes it to Indoors feels the
same way! Thrilled, nervous,
anxious, pleased, and maybe
by the end, more than a little bit
tired! Remember, we’ll actually
only have a few minutes in the
show ring…the rest of the time
will include hours of travel, living
from a suitcase, rising before
the sun, dining on fast food, and
catching cat naps on tack trunks
in between classes…Now that
is what I call livin’! I’m super
excited and crossing my fngers
about Indoors! Hope to see you
there! SW
sunlight saddle club, llc
stuart, florida
772.781.5429 • www.SunlightRanch.com
Helen Varble - Director of Equestrian Facility
Claudia Roland - Barn/Show Manager, “R” Judge
Joie Woodstock - Riding School /Instructor
Judy Streiber - Oce/Secretary
S D
October 8 & 9, 2011
November 12 & 13, 2011
December 10 & 11, 2011
January 14 & 15, 2012
February 11 & 12, 2012
March 10 & 11, 2012
Schooling on Saturdays and Shows on Sundays
• Full Service Facility Offering Training
• Sales • Lessons
• Afer-School Programs • Camps
• Showing at Local-Rated Shows &WEF
2011 - 2012 Sunlight Horse Show Series
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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.