After giving the mare some downtime, Tamie will bring
Rory back into training and will likely move her up to the three-star level next year. She said she plans on starting the season with some jumper shows to tune up all of her event horses.
Bigger Horizons Tamie says the trip to Europe broadened her horizons both as a rider and as a person. “I had a great time and I learned so much, had so many great experiences and met so many people,” she continues. “I learned about the different cultures in France, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, too. We all have horses in common but so many people are raised differently—it was fun to be there and experi- ence getting to know so many people.”
felt comfortable competing and enjoy the pressure situ- ation. I was a working student for my trainer growing up, but I never went to the O’Connors to train, or anything like that. As an older professional I’ve had to develop my own system. I’ve ridden with David [O’Connor] and Phillip [Dutton] a bunch, but I think being part of a program is beneficial, and I never did that.” Before she became
The last phase of the competition, showjumping, where they landed in 24th place out of 59 starters.
She also believes that her age was to her advantage.
“In my twenties, I wouldn’t have been able to absorb the same lessons I learned,” she says. “I feel like I learned how to compete here and I had a sensible approach. I’ve always
Young Event Horses: a Donor’s Perspective
I
an event rider, Tamie competed only in dres- sage, then strictly in show jumping. “While I got a lot of riding and competing experience, my goal was to fill in the holes in my cross- country riding. I felt like my dressage and show jump- ing were really solid—I’m always learning but I felt like I was missing a few
pieces in cross-country, particularly because I had some diffi- culties with Twizted Syster. Learning to ride a strong horse, I can vouch for the fact that you can’t substitute experience. Even if someone had explained it to me, it took firsthand experience.”
By Tim Holekamp
have been involved in the Young Event Horse program from early on, first as a successful owner/exhibitor and then as a YEH Task Force member, eventually being appointed to
co-chair the advisory group with Marilyn Payne. About four years ago, the USEA leadership elevated the program from task force to standing committee status, as it became clear that the YEH series had matured. We had thought a lot about how best to continue the
‘upward pathway’ for our young horses beyond age five. We talked about it for years but nothing ever seemed to materialize. We knew about the Mondial du Lion, i.e. the FEI’s world champi- onship for six- and seven-year-old event horses, but it seemed pretty remote, mainly for Europe-based horsemen. The few U.S. entries had not had much impact on the competition or on our reputation for producing good young horses. Then as more riders were receiving USET training travel
grants to Europe and making good use of them, the idea of shipping a horse to France for this contest gradually made more sense. A quick calculation in 2012 yielded an approximate cost of horse and rider travel, a little under $20,000. To USEA leadership I mentioned the idea of raising enough money to
26 January/February 2017
Just after cross country, Rory’s support group poses for a photo. L to R: Rory’s groom Shannon McCormick, Rory’s owner Judith Mc Swain, Tim Holekamp and Tamie Smith.
fund a four or five year ‘pilot program’ to see if this concept would bear fruit. At that same time I heard that a California rider/trainer came up with a similar general idea, so I contacted her, explained my calculations and idea for a limited-time fund- ing, with a target amount to raise. She agreed to raise half if I did, but in the end her planned donor demurred, which left me sort of holding the bag.
Cheryl Holekamp
Libby Law Photography
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100