As you have probably noticed from Facebook/Twitter updates, Wanda and I have returned from Aiken to my parents’ home in Fairfax Station, VA. There is a point in time when being a working student starts to wear on you both mentally and physically, and I think ending things was the best option. PD and I are going to continue working together in PA, as I am planning to drive up for lessons when he is in the area. True Prospect is definitely a bustling place to be. I kind of wish I had started my working student career in a smaller operation, because sometimes I felt sort of like a number in that busy place. Since I started working there with an unsuitable horse and am now beginning again at novice with a new horse, I was never able to get the attention of an upper-level rider, and was therefore destined to remain a “backdoor” working student.  I did learn a TON about the eventing world, and hope to return to the craziness once Wanda is ready. Emma is an amazing groom, and I wish her and the rest of the TPF team good luck in the coming years. They definitely have their hands full with everything going on there. I’m just glad I got to be a part of it when I did!

As for me, I am doing well back home with Wanda and Keana 🙂 Dad’s not too thrilled about having another dog in the house, but since she’s the most well-behaved it helps my case! Hopefully I will be able to find a place of my own soon. Wanda and I had our first real dressage lesson with Patrick Thursday, and he was really excited for us. Patrick wants me to train her up as a dressage horse, but I couldn’t do that. I’m a cross-country junkie!! Yesterday mom helped me jump school Wanda over a single fence, and it was incredible how relaxed and easy it was. I guess I get really stressed out when I have a lesson with PD, and so it makes her stressed as well. Lately she has been rushing the fences and making me nervous about a potential “Sully” situation, so it was nice to be able to get her back so easily. As for Sully, he is currently awaiting a vetting at Phyllis Dawson’s Windchase Farm. I sent him there for the winter to get some training and be sold, as I couldn’t afford to take him with me to Aiken, and mom had her hands full with all the snow!! Fingers crossed he passes the vetting and gets sold this week!

Hope everyone has a great Easter!!

-Brittanie