Skip to main content

Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the

Riding with Lendon!!!

So, one of my dreams has always been to take lessons with Lendon Gray. I completely adore her. She is one of the only BNT/BNR that I actually think really highly of. OK, well, her and the O'Connors. I applied to take a lesson with her through the NEDA Flextime program , which I talked about here

If I had been smarter, I would have become a working student with Lendon back when I was in college or right afterward. Oh well, too late now. :p

So I wrote to her recently, saying that while I may not have received a Flextime lesson with her, I was still interested in possibly coming down to take lessons over a weekend. I had no idea if this was even something she would consider, seeing as I am sure she has plenty of local clients already and having me come down would probably be a pain in the butt.

I was pleasantly surprised to get an email the other day, saying:


Elizabeth, I would love to have you come. Lessons are $110. Stabling is about $35 per night although a new person will be running the stable this summer. There is a motel in Mt. Kisco and Armonk -- closest -- less expensive ones in Brewster, Danbury, CT and maybe Stamford, CT.
Lendon

Umm, wait. Did Lendon Gray REALLY just say she would love to have me come for a weekend of lessons???????? Two lessons and overnight stabling for two nights would be $290. The round trip is approximately 600 miles, and if I pretend the price of gas might be $3.00 this summer (crossing fingers), then I am looking at $150 in gas. And a hotel and food? Well I could do this for $550 or so. But an opportunity to ride twice with Lendon and then hang around all day at her farm to watch her teach others and such????

PRICELESS.

(OK, I know that is a corny MasterCard commercial, but hey, it works.)

Of course, I might just be being outrageous here and there is no way this would work. But what the hell......I can save money. I sent myself to Nationals in NJ last year, paying my own way, WITHOUT a job! I can do anything, man. (And it does seem that I have a few generous sponsors too.) ;-)

Comments

  1. you just need to say "Thank You Mom and Dad" so your sponsors know you appreciate them! It is pricey, but I will be honest...around here a lesson with a grand prix trainer is easily $125 so it is almost like getting your stabling for free. And I am a total dork that listens to NPR and with the economy being the way it is they don't think gas is going to break $2 a gallon for a while yet. I say go for it! It would be so much fun! And she is great to ride with!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment!