People say things always happen for a reason. Throughout the past few months I have had loads of change come my way and have learned to deal with things the way that they have presented themselves. This spring season has not been the best for Pop and me. He turned 14 this past January and has done more than I have ever thought he would. Many people told me he would never go preliminary and, for a while, I believed them. He was tough in the beginning and after the first few trainings he did I kept asking myself what I was doing with him. Over time we developed a great partnership and he taught me more than I ever thought was possible. I never in a million years would have thought that he would do two stars.

I had planned on trying to get him to NAYRC this summer for the 2*, but this spring he told me he wasn’t up for the job. My fantastic farrier Dave Richards, and the creator of Equicast, has worked so many miracles on this horse that I consider him a Saint. He has worked tireless hours trying to get everything right with Pop’s feet and Pop would not have anywhere near the record he has if it were not for the Equicasts. Drs. Mitch Byrd and Celeste Barker of Aiken Equine and Equine Veterinary Services of Southern Pines have been wonderful in keeping Pop sound and happy throughout the years. They know him very well and we’ve all come to the decision that his body and feet are happy but that he’s just not quite mentally up for the job. That decision was hard to come to terms with for the first few weeks, but I pulled his shoes off to give his feet a break and I gave him some down time. Considering all he has done for me, I really can’t complain. Hopefully I’ll still get to play around with him at the lower levels some because he certainly would like to. He has many years left in him, just not at the intermediate level.

Lizzie Snow and Pop Star at Chatahoochee Hills Last Fall (HoofClix Photo)

People also say that when one door closes, another door opens. This March I was given the opportunity to lease Coal Creek from Tim and Kathryn Sullivan of Oregon. I have known the Sullivans for a number of years now and they presented me with the opportunity to ride this amazing horse. Amy Tryon, in my opinion, is one of the best riders out there. Her horses are all true athletes with the best work ethics I have ever seen. She has made Devon into the most broke, well-trained horse I have ever sat on. I have undying respect for Amy as a person, horsewoman, and friend. She works so hard and has deserved every bit of her success. I can’t thank Tim and Kathryn enough for giving me the opportunity to ride Devon, and I can’t think of the right words to say to Amy for what an amazing horse he has become.

Since I’ve had Devon I’ve just been trying to figure him out and get to know him. We’ve been going on lots of trots and canters to get his fitness back to where it should be. Devon’s favorite spot to hack is going by Maya Studenmund’s place and talking over the fence at her new foal, Dragonfly. For some reason or another he seems to have taken a special liking to him. Along with every day work, I have been taking both jumping and flat lessons from Charlie Plumb who has been phenomenal with helping me figure out how to ride Devon. He’s a great teacher who has quickly helped me realize what I need to do to give Devon the best ride possible.

  

Coal Creek Checks Out the Neighborhood in Southern Pines (Lizzie Snow Photo)

While all of this has happened within the past 6 weeks or so, it’s hard to say what will become of the summer. I would love to get Devon qualified for Young Riders and take him to represent Area VII in the 2*. So far I have done two competitions with him – The Fork and Fair Hill. We ran the CIC 2* at Fair Hill and are headed to Chattahoochee in a couple weeks to run another CIC 2*. If that goes as planned we will be headed to Young Riders the last week in July, but if not, there are plenty of other things to do in the fall!

Again, I can’t thank the Sullivans enough and words cannot describe how thankful I am to be able to ride such a nice horse that Amy created. Without the group of supporters that I have behind me, I would not be able to do what I am doing. Special thanks to Dave, Mitch, Celeste, Charlie, my parents, and Gallops Saddlery for everything they have done and are still doing. I have an amazing group of people in Southern Pines and I couldn’t ask for anything better.