We arrived at the venue today! Our horses had already arrived, so we dove into our first day at the Kentucky Horse Park! We arranged team shirts, walked out our horses, and began organizing for the race this Friday. It was hard work, since we had just come back into the humidity, and I’d done a 120 kilometer race two days before, not to mention the jet lag! But the trip with the United States Endurance Team for the Trial Run of the Endurance World Championship was worth it! I ended up in first place in the YR CEI 2 Star, which was a thrilling experience. The horse I rode, Mayday, was a really fun ride, and Beccy Broughton, the lady I leased him from, was kind, knowledgeable, and helped me though every step in the way. The course was challenging and a bit technical, but we managed to make it though with only a little drama coming from Mayday tightening up in the rear (the muscles in his butt were cramping from powering through the sand) at the last vet check, but during the last loop he worked himself out of it and finished so strongly he almost knocked me over trotting out for the vets! Heather Remolds, riding a leased horse (Opium Lord) won the open CEI 2 Star, so U.S.A. took both 2 Star gold medals! I got to ride with a ton of people from different countries, Saudi Arabian riders, riders from Malaysia, England, and the U.A.E.. Though it made my muscles in “recovery mode”, and thoroughly jet lagged me for the Young Rider competition, it was 100% worth it!

Now, we are setting up our crew stations, taking our horses on their final jogs, and trying to stay out of the intense heat! The heat index here is in the 100’s all the time, and hydration is a huge issue. I actually mixed up Gatorade for Sam today to entice him into drinking! Opening ceremonies came and went without a hitch, the horses are restless with energy, and everyone is feeling competitive (when in the shade). We have a full day tomorrow, starting with our final exercise ride, a few pre-race meetings, and the preliminary veterinary inspection-not to mention getting everything we need for the ride set up! Young Riders England was a blast-but now my life is moving at a full gallop toward the North American Young Rider Endurance Championship!

Picture 1: Mayday and I ready to go at the start of the Young Rider 2 Star in England.

Picture 2: The U.S.A. Endurance Team, from left to right: Cheryl Van Deusen, Me, Heather Renalds, Becky Heart