Northwest Autumn Classic 2020

This show is not only special because it hosts the Maclay Regionals, but also because it is the first show that I officially own Wesley! I was so excited coming into this show, excited for Maclay Regionals and excited to be back at Meadow Wood. Warm-up days went well doing the 1.10s and the much anticipated Regional class was coming closer and closer. On Friday, Wesley and I won both of the equitation classes, which was a big confidence boost for the weekend. Also on Friday, the smoke from the wildfires started coming in which was concerning with the air quality getting worse for Saturday. My horse always comes first and if I ever felt like his health was being compromised then I would scratch without hesitation.

Saturday morning was filled with damp air and fog, we would have to wait for the fog the lift before being able to truly assess the air quality. Through the entire day Wesley was in his tent stall with a fan over him and access to water at all times. His breathing was never abnormal, he never coughed or sneezed and his nose never ran with any discharge. We continued to monitor the air throughout the day and when the time of the class came we felt that the horses were comfortable and healthy. We did a short warm-up and went into the Special Equitation class before the regional with confidence. Wesley felt amazing and we won the class, another great confidence boost. Another quick and easy warm-up and we went into the regional class. The course really complimented my horse. There were three left rollbacks which are a strong point for my horse and only on bending line off the right lead, our weak point. I went third so I was able to watch two rounds before mine to see how everything rode and I felt like it gave me an advantage because I was able to watch a couple rounds to watch the course but not watch too many to get nervous.

We went in for our round and it started with a left lead rollback, we nailed it and then came the one right lead bending line which was what I was most worried about. I structured the bending line into two parts, five strides each and it ended up working out beautifully. After nailing the bending line I was confident and the rest of the round came up in stride. I was thrilled with the round and ready for the flat phase. The flat came around and I could feel Wesley getting jazzed and he was a bit more up in the flat than in the class itself. He was strong through the class but it was manageable and I was able to hide it well. We lined up after the flat and they announced no further testing. This was nerve-wracking since then they go right into announcing the results. Going from last place to first, riders got excused one by one until it was only Wesley and I standing in the center. I was thrilled, what a great way to end the regular season! I can’t thank my trainers John Turner, Quinn Partridge, and Gillian Baird for all they have done this year to help us get to this point. Another special shout out to barn-mate Emily Steckler for placing third in the regional!

Looking ahead to the future, I don’t plan on going back East for Medal Finals since it is a weird year with COVID and we can only afford to go back East one year. Fingers crossed for next year! After this show and this class, Wesley will have some time off due to the poor air quality and will resume slowly coming back to work once the air clears. Hoping everyone stays healthy during these times, horse and human. Thank you to my mom for making this show possible and for everyone who has helped me along the way! Can’t wait to see what the future has to hold!

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