PrintCayla Kitayama had come to the conclusion that she and Docksider would never be competitive at the upper levels of eventing. Due to some physical limitations--kissing spine and TMJ (discomfort in the temporo-mandibular joint, or the jaw)--the 13-year-old Thoroughbred has troubles with dressage work.
"It's difficult for him," said Kitayama. "Every day is a struggle."
But he's never had problems jumping, and that paid off for him at the MCTA Horse Trials, May 5-7 in Cockeysville, Md. Kitayama, 20, rose from 12th after dressage to score her first advanced win over David O'Connor's inaugural advanced course at Shawan Downs.
"I'm so excited about it," she said. "I'm ecstatic. It's incredible--I'm still in a daze about it."
Originally from Orinda, Calif., Kitayama moved east two years ago to attend Villanova University (Pa.) and train with Phillip Dutton.
"The level of competition is very different," she said. "The atmosphere of Olympic-level people makes a huge difference. California is like a big family, and when I came out here I felt like a little fish in a really big pond."
MCTA was Kitayama's final run before the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.), so she was especially nervous over a bigger-than-expected course. "It took us back how technical it was," she said, citing a table with a turn to a corner and turn to a second corner, severe angled brush fences, two water complexes and a challenging coffin.
Only eight riders completed the eventin each of the two advanced divisions--in Kitayama's division, three scratched and four retired on course. And before cross-country, the show jumping had already taken its toll, with only one clear round in the division.
"The show jumping ground was tough," said Kitayama. "Two rails is unusual for my horse this season, but they went a bit differently on the hill."
Docksider completed last fall's Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.) and took Kitayama to the North American Young Riders Championships in 2004, where they won a team gold medal with Area VI.
"He'll never do wrong by you; he will always try," Kitayama said. "He's built up a disdain for the flat, but he's the best horse you could ask for to teach me to go up the levels."
In addition to working with Dutton, Kitayama said Heidi White has helped her to get the most out of "Hogan" on the flat. "It's made a huge difference," said Kitayama. "And my experience with Phillip has been priceless. I don't think I'd be nearly where I am if I hadn't been here. I keep trying to get my friends from California to come out here."
For Kitayama, the hour daily drive to True Prospect Farm, where she keeps Hogan and her preliminary winner, Felix, is well worth the effort. "I sacrifice a lot of sleep, but I like how it's turning out," she said. "I think you can do whatever you want; you just have to make it work."
And she gives her biggest thanks to Hogan. "He's been with me from the West Coast to the East, from high school to college--he's my pet, my friend, and the most incredible horse I could ask for," she said. "He owes me absolutely nothing, and I'm extremely lucky to have found him."
Kitayama, who has had Hogan since he was 13, couldn't celebrate her win for long--she had an accounting final at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Working Mom
"It's difficult for him," said Kitayama. "Every day is a struggle."
But he's never had problems jumping, and that paid off for him at the MCTA Horse Trials, May 5-7 in Cockeysville, Md. Kitayama, 20, rose from 12th after dressage to score her first advanced win over David O'Connor's inaugural advanced course at Shawan Downs.
"I'm so excited about it," she said. "I'm ecstatic. It's incredible--I'm still in a daze about it."
Originally from Orinda, Calif., Kitayama moved east two years ago to attend Villanova University (Pa.) and train with Phillip Dutton.
"The level of competition is very different," she said. "The atmosphere of Olympic-level people makes a huge difference. California is like a big family, and when I came out here I felt like a little fish in a really big pond."
MCTA was Kitayama's final run before the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.), so she was especially nervous over a bigger-than-expected course. "It took us back how technical it was," she said, citing a table with a turn to a corner and turn to a second corner, severe angled brush fences, two water complexes and a challenging coffin.
Only eight riders completed the eventin each of the two advanced divisions--in Kitayama's division, three scratched and four retired on course. And before cross-country, the show jumping had already taken its toll, with only one clear round in the division.
"The show jumping ground was tough," said Kitayama. "Two rails is unusual for my horse this season, but they went a bit differently on the hill."
Docksider completed last fall's Fair Hill CCI*** (Md.) and took Kitayama to the North American Young Riders Championships in 2004, where they won a team gold medal with Area VI.
"He'll never do wrong by you; he will always try," Kitayama said. "He's built up a disdain for the flat, but he's the best horse you could ask for to teach me to go up the levels."
In addition to working with Dutton, Kitayama said Heidi White has helped her to get the most out of "Hogan" on the flat. "It's made a huge difference," said Kitayama. "And my experience with Phillip has been priceless. I don't think I'd be nearly where I am if I hadn't been here. I keep trying to get my friends from California to come out here."
For Kitayama, the hour daily drive to True Prospect Farm, where she keeps Hogan and her preliminary winner, Felix, is well worth the effort. "I sacrifice a lot of sleep, but I like how it's turning out," she said. "I think you can do whatever you want; you just have to make it work."
And she gives her biggest thanks to Hogan. "He's been with me from the West Coast to the East, from high school to college--he's my pet, my friend, and the most incredible horse I could ask for," she said. "He owes me absolutely nothing, and I'm extremely lucky to have found him."
Kitayama, who has had Hogan since he was 13, couldn't celebrate her win for long--she had an accounting final at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Working Mom
