Gladstone Cup 2020

After a long hiatus from showing due to COVID-19, what better way to jump into horse shows than my first equitation final? All jokes aside, I was ecstatic to be able to compete in the Gladstone Cup this year and get my first equitation final under my belt. I was lucky to be able to continue riding through quarantine since I am an employee of Thumbs Up Farm so I felt fit and more than ready to get back in the ring. No doubt I was nervous about this show, I hadn’t shown in eight months, and this would be only my second time showing in California.

Nerves aside, I drove down to Sonoma with my mom on Wednesday to find our horses stabled in a quiet, shady corner of the showgrounds, perfect for the mid-day heat. I was intimidated at first by the size of the grounds but after the first few days of exploring, I became more comfortable and relaxed. This show was different than most not only because of the COVID protocol but also that there were only four horses so we were all able to get quality one-on-one time with our trainer. The warm-up days came and went and I did the two warm-up classes with Wesley to get into the Grand Prix ring before the Gladstone. Initially, I was worried about how spooky the jumps were and Wesley may hesitate at them but he proved me very wrong by confidently jumping everything without batting an eye. Him being so good and so ride-able gave me a boost of confidence going into the class on Friday.

Friday came, the big day of the class and I went middle of the order for the Gladstone, perfect. I was able to watch a handful of rounds and see how the course rode before getting on. I liked the course a lot, it was more of a hunter style course since this was a hunt-seat medal so there was nothing too tricky which I appreciate. I got on and could feel the nerves creeping in but I knew I had nothing to worry about, my horse was schooled and I was prepared for this class. We warmed up well, we didn’t need too many jumps before feeling ready to head in to the ring so off to the gate we went. At this point I was really feeling the nerves, I don’t know what it was, I am typically a confident rider but the combination of it being our first show back and an equitation final in California was getting to me.

We walked into the class and picked up our canter to the first jump, single oxer off the right lead, a weak spot for us. We found the jump well and continued the course, finding all of the jumps relatively well. I came out of the round relieved and happy with my round, my horse was awesome and I felt like I rode well. We made it into the handy round! The course for the handy round was a lot of fun and we walked in confidently, I was less nervous than before. The course went well, I was short out of one line, causing me to be long out of the next line but other than that I was happy. We didn’t get a ribbon but I was thrilled with how it went, Wesley was phenomenal and I couldn’t have asked better from him. We finished the weekend by doing the junior hunters since it was open to anyone this year. We had a whole lot of fun in Sonoma this weekend and I’m excited for the next week of showing!

Also a BIG shout out to barn-mate Emily Steckler! She was Overall Grand 3’3” Junior Hunter Champion and Older 3’3” Junior Hunter Champion with her mare Wonderland!! SO thrilled for you Emily! Thank you to everyone who made this weekend happen including Quinn Partridge, Efrain Gandara, John Turner, and my mom! Can’t wait for what’s to come!

Maclay Regionals

Wow! Where to start. Since this was my first Maclay regionals and both Wesley and I being in the big equitation for only five months, I didn’t expect to place very high, if at all, in the regionals. We’d been relatively consistent during the first days of showing, having minor errors here and there but no major standout mistakes. Being consistent and having no expectations helped me with my nerves going into Saturday, the day of the regional class. I haven’t been a nervous rider in the past, but the conditions of this class got to me a little bit. It also helped that I was doing the class with my friend and barn mate, Emily Steckler. She has done the equitation for a while, and her level headed attitude helped me to stay calm.

Emily and I walked the course with Quinn and John: right lead to the triple bar, bending 7, single oxer, two-step, bending 9 to an end jump, roll back to another end jump, rollback to the Swedish oxer, another rollback to another end fence, then finally a bending gallop to the final oxer.

I went second in the order, a position I was okay with since when I watch more riders, I tend to overthink the course, but I still have one person to watch before me. Our first round went well; we had a couple rubs at the end jumps, but other than that, I was pleased with how Wesley went and with how I rode. What made the round even better was the cheers from the Thumbs Up Farm ladies that came to support! With that, I still figured I wouldn’t be in the running for a top placing considering the quality of riders that were going after me.

Emily went two rounds after me, so I stuck around to watch her before taking Wesley back to the barn. She had a beautiful round, so everyone was happy. We took our horses back to the barn to wait for the flat phase and went back to watch the rest of the class.

Not too long after, it was time to get back on for the flat phase, our least favorite part. Jessica, one of the trainers at Thumbs Up and our main flat position trainer came to watch us in the flat phase, so the pressure’s on! I wanted to give it my all in this class, and that is what I did. I don’t think my thighs, back, and core have ever hurt so bad in a class! We flatted well, and everyone was getting anxious to hear the results as we exited from the ring.

I was halfway out of the loading paddock when I heard “further testing for riders,” and four numbers were announced. I didn’t know my number, and I didn’t think I was called in the top four, but then I heard “Heather! Grace! Ellie! Clara!” I didn’t have time to think, I got right back on and went to jump a warm-up jump.

The test: Walk-in, canter directly to 2 (End jump), rollback to a single oxer, two-step, halt, canter six and hand-gallop 10.

I tested second, the same position I was in for the first round, it was comfortable for me. I watched Grace go, and then it was my turn. Step in, left lead canter, breath. First end jump, got there nicely, look for the single oxer, stretch! It was a little long, and Wesley hit the back rail with his front legs, but it stays up. Two-step, we found the first jump in a little deep, but he covers well out of it. Our halt was the weakest part of our round, we pushed right and didn’t halt for long enough, my mind was going so fast I didn’t think to take a breath and chill for our halt. I knew I had to stand out in the test, after jumping 6 was the hand gallop jump, and I knew that was our place to show off if we could, be brilliant. So right after 6, we picked it up, and the distance was long, but we went for it, and it worked out just right for us. My heart was beating so fast as I walked out of the arena. I was so proud of Wesley for taking care of me and being the best I could ask for in both of our first regionals.

Then, I was standing in the paddock, watching the other two tests, and it hit me. Wesley and I made the test. We made the test! Both of us being unproven in the equitation ring, we worked so hard ever since he came to us in March, and it’s an indescribable feeling watching it all pay off. And then it all began, I started crying because of being so proud of my horse and myself. The amount of gratitude I feel for my trainers, parents, and supporters was so overwhelming. Jessica came over to talk to me, and I was crying and barely paying attention to what was happening in the test.

All of a sudden, “2nd place, Ellie Kurtz” come out of Mary’s radio, and I couldn’t contain myself. Never in my life have I been so proud of my horse and so gracious for everyone around me. Of course, the whole Thumbs Up Farm crew being there and supporting Emily and I just tipped me over the edge. I couldn’t be more grateful for the amount of support I’ve been lucky enough to receive, even in small acts such as coming to regionals to watch. So to all the amateurs, other juniors, and parents at Thumbs Up Farm and beyond, thank you. It means more than you will ever know. I still can’t believe it; this is how we start in our first five months. I can’t wait to see what else is to come.

The biggest thank you’s to my parents, Laura Peterson and Mark Kurtz, as well as my current trainers, John Turner, Quinn Partridge, Keri Bailey, and Jessica Friedman. Another thank you to my past trainers, who I wouldn’t be here without Ruel Johnson and Tara Devlin Johnson. I'd also like to give a huge congrats to the winner, Clara Mcdanniel! And a big congrats to Emily Steckler on her 6th place finish!

Photography Courtesy of Laura Peterson and Katrina J