The Green Horseman

Suzanne and Tiger (R Tom Cat) have been a team for just over two years now. It was love at first ride for both of them. When you watch them you see it, the harmony and the mutual adoration.

In 2022 we competed mainly at schooling shows, her with Tiger and me with Nahe. We cleaned up in most shows. Last year as I tackled the adventure of restarting my first OTTB Suzanne began the next step with Tiger. They competed in recognized events at Beginner Novice. They competed at Larkin Hill and at Town Hill in Connecticut. They did great…and qualified themselves for regional (Area 1) Championships. The show year is still young, however, so we set our sights on National Championships…AECs. This year the championships are being held at Kentucky Horse Park, next year it will be in California, so by our reasoning, it’s now or never.

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Suzanne has been riding with our dressage trainer for years but recently began working with an eventing trainer for her jump training. As we welcomed June we traveled to Vermont for GMHA’s June Horse Trials as a team. It felt nice to have people to connect with and I was happy that Suaznne had Kristal for guidance. GMHA is a multi-day show which was important for us to consider since we intend to take Tiger to Kentucky.

Suzanne put a beautiful test down earning a 29.6. With their hard work, they went double clear in showjumping. Tiger was nice and tired by Saturday night so we rested easy in our wonderful AirB&B. Suzanne didn’t know it yet but she was ending the day in 2nd place. Going into cross country day we arrived early to check in on Tiger. All the horses that morning were perturbed by something, something must have happened overnight.

He calmed down with his walk but snubbed half of his breakfast. Truly he just needed to get out and do his job. Once he was tacked up he resumed his normal composure. Though she was nervous I was able to rest easy knowing that her trainer, Kristal, had it under control. I made my way out to the cross-country field and excitedly watched the pair approach, cross the water, soar down the hill over the rolltop, and make their way out to the backfield. They easily took the big scary brush out in the distance and disappeared into another field through another water crossing. Before too long Suzanne and Tiger reappeared, crossed some more water, jumped a log, bent around to a chevron, and cleared the GMHA table. They traveled towards home through more water. For the first time since my injury I jogged back to the barn (and it didn’t hurt).

They went double clear again and secured a 2nd place finish. When the entirety of the beginner novice rides had concluded we we excited to learn that Tiger and Suzanne took home yet another TIP High Point award (this is their third).

By completing three competitions and placing second in both Larkin Hill and GMHA they have both qualified for the American Eventing Championships in Lexington, Kentucky at the end of August. Our hotel is already booked so we are excited!

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At GMHA we were with a team of people from Kristal Clear Eventing. Including Tiger, they brought 4 horses. Everyone had excellent rides, Crystal bringing home a win in her division, Kristal going 8th, and Mia bringing in 13th.

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It felt so wonderful to have the camaraderie and company of everyone. I’m normally a very shy person so feeling like a part of the group was magical.