Emma Smith, a 25-year-old USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist and USDF-certified instructor based in Delano, Minnesota, has chronicled her trip to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions this week, where she competed in the Brentina Cup U25 Grand Prix with Stedemann, a 19-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Stedinger—SPS Weissendra, Hardenberg Donnerschwee) donated to her through the nonprofit Dressage4Kids. (Get to know Smith and Stedemann here.)

Here, she takes us through their final freestyle and the trip safely home, reflecting on all there is to appreciate even when a competition doesn’t go quite the way one envisioned.