No matter what anyone says, no matter what advice you get, no matter how much packing and planning and plotting you may do, nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING prepares you for your first week as a working student.
I arrived in Wellington, like many other first time working students, bright eyed, bushy tailed, and feeling like I was ready to rule the world. Well, it's been a little over a week and currently I am exhausted, not wearing makeup, still in riding clothes, craving coffee and a real meal, mustering the energy to walk alllllllll the way to the shower (which is 10ft away from me in my little apartment), and staring at the pile of laundry that still needs to be addressed. Long story short, I feel like I got slammed with a pile of bricks.
After a very successful year: competing at NAJYRC, winning the Region 8 Junior Championships, etc. I felt like a huge hotshot and I knew everything. Ha! WRONG! After two days of being a working student for Pam Goodrich it felt as though I knew close to nothing. Apparently I was leading, mounting, longing, and sitting on the horse all wrong. The. Whole. Time. Yikes!
However, one week later most of those things have been corrected, my position and seat is an ongoing battle. Pam is a phenomenal teacher and my time here, although tiring, has been amazing. Largo and I have settled in well and love our new home. He is happy and healthy, knock on wood. The lion and monkey preserves adjacent to White Fences provide a lovely morning chorus every day.
Along with six rides a week, Pam takes the time to further her working students knowledge beyond the dressage arena. This Wednesday and Thursday the members of the barn, Pam, and I spectated at the Festival of Champions at Global Dressage Showgrounds. Seeing riders like Laura Graves, Shelly Francis, and Steffen Peters up close was incredible. We are viewing the Grand Prix Freestyles tomorrow evening.
To be continued...
-Eliza
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