08/15/2026
Let’s talk bloopers
This morning, I shipped in and worked off the trailer for an 8 am open prix. I did everything right- my prep started with 3:30 AM Gastrogard, given an hour out in front of hay, and then his breakfast. He got a bath and the Bemer while I shined my boots. We hit the road at 5:30 for a 7 am arrival, everything was running smoothly. He felt refreshed even in this SC heat all week and he felt forward and focused in the warm up. In the ring we go…. Jumps the standards on the first jump, is cruising around, and I get the buzzer late on the course. “Off course” What?! Surely not me. It must be someone in the other (non existent) jumper ring going…?! We were winning at the last show and the last time I went off course was some 15 years ago... but alas, I did a pretty lead change and cantered right past fence 8. I could make excuses it was the early start to the day, or the casual nature of shipping in. I could be frustrated because here I am getting out of bed before 3 am and it was “all for nothing.” I could over analyze my lapse in focus. I could start the “what if spiral.” Or I could just accept that today wasn’t my day. The first round was 7ab - 8 - 9, the jump off was 7ab - 9… I got ahead of myself. No one wakes up today and thinks “today’s the day I’m a loser. Today’s the day I get it all wrong.” Instead of getting down on yourself when you had an off day, accept that the past has passed and motivate towards next time- next round, day, show. We create mental blocks by putting pressure on avoiding past mistakes. Pursue your best rather than fearing your worst. And double check your courses 😉