It’s almost hard to believe that we are heading into the final three weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla.
Such a long stretch of showing can turn into a bit of a whirlwind after awhile, but I feel like I’m in a relatively nice spot right now. The schedule that I set in the beginning of the winter, with plenty of built-in “off weeks” seems to be working nicely and the horses are still happy and fresh. As much as I, as a rider, would love to show every week, I know that balancing the horses’ schedule is vital to their longevity, not only over the course of the circuit but even more so when considering the show year as a whole.
We’ve had enough time down here in Florida to touch on many of the goals I set, and yet still enough time left to continue working on details and fine-tune things further.
The main goals I had in mind for my top horse Poker Face during the first half of circuit were to move up to the high performance division, as well as to compete in the WCHR Hunter Spectacular during WCHR week. We moved up in stages, spending some time jumping 3’9” in the regular conformation during the first few weeks to make sure that he was feeling confident and also physically fit enough for the 4’.
Pokey is such a special combination of scopey and brave but also very careful, and so I always make an effort to present new things in a gradual, organized way. We have found success in the high performance, winning some classes and taking home the reserve championship one week. But it has definitely been a transition. I think that he is learning to trust his scope and not over-try, and similarly I am seeking that fine line of carrying pace and power without pushing him past his comfort zone.
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We both have to just get a little more comfortable and make the new height as smooth as the 3’6” or 3’9”. It is new territory for both of us, but a challenge and an opportunity that I am embracing. I feel so grateful to have a horse that I have quite literally been able to climb the ranks with and to take this next step with.
This circuit is intense, both from a scheduling and a competition standpoint. I find it almost harder than a venue like Devon or indoors at times, because there is such quality and quantity for so many consecutive weeks. You’re not trying to peak for one or two shows, but rather keep up to the highest standard for a long period of time.
The competition is so fierce each and every week. An 87 might win one week, but I have also had that same score be a sixth place on another day. I aim to stay very level and simply focus on my group of horses going their best. Some days I excel at this mindset better than others. It’s a mental balance for me; appreciating that the bar is set so high and striving to be right up there with the best horses and riders while not getting discouraged that I am not going to win every week. I just don’t have the depth in my string or the elite experience that I need quite yet, but it is something that I am working toward every day.
I’ve been keeping busy with my group of younger horses as well. I’m proud that both of the pre-green horses I brought along last year have nicely stepped up to the first years. One of them, Cooperstown, got sold just after the halfway point in the circuit. Selling horses is a part of the business that I enjoy and financially rely on, and yet there is definitely still an emotional element to it for me.
I have such a small group of horses that they really do become like family. I love being a part of the process with these young hunters and I am excited when they embark on a career with a new owner. But it always feels bittersweet—that balance between real life realities and show ring dreams. As a rider it means starting over a bit.
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In this case, Cooper’s sale gave me room to take on a recently imported 4-year-old, owned by a fellow professional and possessing great quality, but much greener. I’ve also been doing a fair amount of catch-riding, which has been a really fun addition to my schedule this winter.
Sometimes it is refreshing to just get on and ride the horse underneath you, without worrying about the day to day managing, the baggage of past problems, the pressure of future agendas. I love the challenge of figuring out new horses, kind of trying to get inside their heads and get the most out of them on a given day, as well as building relationships with their owners and trainers.
The last part of the circuit, for me, is going to be about gearing Pokey and my first year horse Sugarman toward two USHJA International Hunter Derbies, one at The Ridge and one at WEF during the final week. It will be a culmination of what we have been working on all winter, before the horses get a well-deserved rest. Here’s to a strong finish to a good circuit!
Jennifer Bliss had a very successful junior career, which included achievements such as earning USEF Pony Finals championships and national year-end championships in the pony and junior hunter divisions, as well as top 15 placings in all the major equitation finals. A professional rider and trainer whose focus is on the hunter ring, she began her own business, Harris Hill Farm, in 2008.
Last year Jennifer was the WCHR Developing Professional National Champion and earned a top-10 finish in the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. She especially loves developing special young hunters, and teaching junior and amateur clients.
