Rideau Hall

• published: 07 Jan 2014
• views: 9

This past summer, the summer of 2013, I had the privilege of leasing Rideau Hall, better known as Rio. Rio was a 23 year old, 17+hh Hanoverian cross mare who belonged to my trainer Anecia. When Rio was younger, Anecia competed Rio up to fourth level. This summer, while I was home from college, I leased Rio so I could move up & compete at first level. Rio hadn't really been in much work for a while before I started leasing her. At school, I'm on a hunt seat riding team, so when I came home for the summer I was really out of practice in dressage. It was going to be a stretch for me to get to first level by the end of July when I got home mid-May. Rio was really difficult for me. Two-ish years prior to this past summer, Rio had sustained a minor fracture in her hip, so the fact alone that she had recovered & could be back in work was really something. As would be expected, this old injury made it hard for her to always really carry herself properly, & she had arthritis in her knees & hocks as an old horse, as well. It was hard for her to really come through from her hind end, & it was hard for me to help her get where she needed to be. She was semi-out of shape & preferred to carry herself more on her forehand, but as a schoolmaster & a really honest horse, Rio was going to do what I asked her to if I asked correctly. That was just the thing, though--she wasn't going to do it unless I asked her exactly correctly. This trait was the best possible thing for me as a rider--it taught me to ride technically correctly and to be patient--but god, did it ever frustrate me. In addition to her being a "tattle-tale," Rio could get really strung out & strong, which could be an issue for me as well. & then there was the lengthening. When we were trying to get her back into shape, Rio found it easier than sitting back & collecting to perform her (TO DIE FOR) lengthenings at both the trot & canter. Any time we trotted or cantered a long side or a diagonal, Rio thought it was time to lengthen. That mare had the most incredible lengthenings, but seriously, I wasn't asking for them. Just trot the long side. No need to overachieve. There was a time when I couldn't really even get her on the bit or get her around a 20 meter circle without her popping her shoulder out and trying to run through my leg. & you could forget about the leg yields. I felt totally incompetent as a rider--how could I not get this former-fourth level schoolmaster to do these basic things? I lessoned on her at least twice a week, did clinics, did schooling shows. & slowly, I figured her out (which I completely credit my trainers, Kathy & Anecia, for). As soon as I started asking her correctly and how she wanted to be asked, & as soon as she started getting in better shape, Rio was happy to cooperate & do what I wanted her to do. At the end of July, we went to Morven Park for the weekend for the show we'd been working towards all summer. In our first level division, we were division reserve high point horse & rider with a 64.655% & a part of the winning first level team (it was a team competition, so there were three others on my team). As frustrated as I had been in the beginning and often throughout the whole process, I had really grown to love Rio and we had really formed a bond. I owe that mare so much and think the world of her. This past September, less than two months after the show at Morven, my sweet Rio girl passed away. She lived such a great life, & I was so fortunate to have been able to ride her & learn from her this summer. I know I wasn't with her long, but with her, I had formed so many great memories and had learned so much. I miss you, big girl. Rest easy, & I can't thank you enough for everything.