SHOWING AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

Thanks so much for your continued support and confidence in this blog!

Recently, someone who saw me working at the Lake Placid horse show, asked how much showing I was doing as a young professional. As it is with many other careers, a professional rider must earn the confidence of an owner, sponsor or benefactor and, or their boss, in order to be asked to show a horse. When you are starting out, like I am now, you are competing for rides with other professionals who have many years of experience and with those who have vast achievements and accomplishments. Your new peer group is quite different from your peers in the junior ranks. Of course, I am not saying that there weren't fierce competitors in the junior ranks, but that the opportunity to ride and show as a young professional is diminished by the new peer group, in particular. So you might wonder how I am thinking about this, right?

So far, this year I have been very fortunate to have shown more than a half dozen pre-green hunters, a six and a seven year old jumper in the young jumper division and, at Lake Placid, I was given the opportunity to show a horse in the 1.35m and 1.40m classes. In addition to the rides that I have just mentioned, I have schooled hunters, jumpers and equitation horses in and out of the show ring. I am taking a long-term view about trying to get the best riding/showing opportunities possible and, in the process, I want to enhance and further develop my riding skills. I am committed to continue to work as hard as I can to attain my goals. So far, the experience has been great!

Catch up with me next time when I answer another one of your questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub

CATCH RIDING OPPORTUNITIES

Hi, everyone, thanks for your continued support and for sharing your thoughts, feelings and questions about riding, competing and horses!

Today, I thought I would share some of my own personal experiences with catch riding and hope that what I experienced may answer some of your questions about it. When I started riding with Beacon Hill Show Stables in December of 2000, I was very lucky that my parents could afford to lease a very nice, experienced, older equitation horse named, Archie, who helped me learn the basics. My trainers and some of the customers at the barn, gave me the chance to flat and, even have some lessons, on many of the horses at the barn and this was an valuable opportunity.

After indoors in 2001, my family could no longer afford to lease another horse, and with knowing that family finances were tight, my trainers helped find sale horses for me to show and my parents paid some or all of the expenses on quite a few of those horses. I was just trying to get my feet wet and to earn my stripes and I was unbelievably passionate about the sport and thankful for whatever chances to ride came my way. What I did not realize or understand was how subsequent events would and or could transpire and/or unfold but, I did recognize that I had the support of my trainers, my parents and many of the customers. I loved to ride and be around horses and tried to help out at the barn whenever I could.

With the resolve to continue riding and with the never ending support and encouragement of my trainers and my parents, I spent the next two years riding mostly sale horses, and some of them belonged to customers at the barn. When the barn traveled to Wellington in 2001 and 2002 for the winter, I visited Florida for a weekend but had the fortunate opportunity to ride and lesson on the horses that stayed in New Jersey. Looking back on the years when I spent the winters in New Jersey, I realize they were building block years that helped prepare me for what was around the next corner.

In 2003, thanks to my parents financial support, I went south to Wellington, Florida, for over a month, and with the help of my trainers, got some catch rides. As it was in previous years, some of those catch rides were owned by customers at the barn. During the last week of the circuit, my trainers arranged a catch ride on a young, large, attractive equitation horse that was for sale and stabled with a New York and Wellington based trainer, David Raposa. I schooled the horse before the show during the week and was very excited about the chance to show a horse of great quality. That weekend, after winning the USET class, I got my first chance to ride and participate in the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship. That particular weekend at WEF was truly an exciting one for me!

In the late spring of 2003, several special opportunities came my way and yet, again, I must say that I had no idea what they would mean to me in the future. One catch ride that stands out in my mind started at the Old Salem A show, just before Devon in May of 2003. My trainers had secured some catch rides for me with, Sam Edelman, of S & L Farms, one of which was a handsome and talented gelding that had done the jumpers and was being marketed as an eq horse. His name was S & L Whimsey. I showed Whimsey in the Maclay class and we were called back on top! Later that summer, Whimsey came to Beacon Hill to be sold and I was so fortunate to get to show him again. At the USEF Medal finals in Harrisburg that fall, I was awarded 8Th place riding Whimsey! Subsequently, luck was with me again, and a benefactor (who chooses to remain anonymous) offered to purchase half ownership of Whimsey, and with their help and the help of my parents, I was given the wonderful opportunity to own my own horse. Unfortunately, Whimsey was injured at Capital Challenge in 2004, but my prior experiences catch riding helped my trainers to continue to secure additional catch rides for me. Without the help and support of my trainers and my parents, I would not have had so many special experiences catch riding.

Each day, I still say to myself that I am just getting my feet wet, earning my stripes and that I want to achieve my personal best. All of my experiences as a junior rider have taught me to be grateful and to look ahead positively because you really might be very surprised about what is around the next corner.

Catch up with me next time with another answer to one of your questions.
Talk to you later!

Maria Schaub

DEVON 2008 - A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL'S PERSPECTIVE

Hi, everyone, thank you for your continued support!

In an attempt to answer a recent question about what a work day was like, I thought I would talk about my experience at the Devon Horse Show this year. Before going into the details about my day, I thought I would tell you more about one of the oldest horse shows in the United States. For those who are not familiar with the show, the Devon Horse Show, circa 1896, is held in late May for a week and a half and participants qualify for many of the classes; the junior equitation classes are an exception to the qualifying rule. For seventy five years, the show proceeds go to the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation which benefits the institution. This year, there were a reported three thousand volunteers planning year round to make the show a special event. The show grounds include beautiful landscaping and, for the children and family, alike, an old fashioned country fair with cotton candy, rides for those who are game, wonderful shops and a food court.

So, now that you have some background information on the show, I will tell you about one of my days working. I was at the barn by five fifteen in the morning, and exercised a horse or two so they could adjust and acclimate to the new setting. Afterwards, I assisted the trainers in every way I could and I helped the riders prepare for their classes. Throughout the day. I spoke with the trainers and remained on a designated schedule. Along with the trainers, I assisted at the warm up ring and at the ingate, and was involved in the feedback after a rider's round was completed. When the classes were finished, I helped clean up and set up for the next day. The days were quite long, so when the work day was over, I ate and went to bed early so I could be rested for work the following day.

I am hoping that next year or the year after, I will be showing in a class or two with other professionals.

Catch up with me next time, when I answer another one of your questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub

Garden State Horse Show 2008

Hi, everyone! Thanks for your continued support!

This past week, I worked with Frank Madden Show Stable and assisted some other professionals at the Garden State Horse Show which was held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in northern New Jersey. Since 1999, I have been attending the show but this year, being my first year as a young professional, I gained a rather different perspective. Although I rode and competed earlier in the week, my main objective was to train and assist the clients I was helping. The cold rainy weather on Friday proved to be a bit of a challenge but by Saturday, the skies were more agreeable for the competitors and spectators, alike. I finished up the weekend with a great sense of accomplishment and a resolve to get some rest for the new work week ahead of me.

One of the highlights of the show was watching the 50,000 Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon. The Saturday afternoon turnout for the Grand Prix was rather sizable and the spectators were lucky enough to watch Beezie Madden and Mclain Ward, two of the members of our 2008 Olympic team, compete. Watching riders of their caliber is great experience! Laura Chapot, Ken Berkeley and Michelle Spadone, as well as some other local riders and professionals rounded out the rooster of twenty eight entries. In the first round, the course proved to have a challenging triple combination that became the determining line for more than half of the horse-rider combinations. Ten horse-rider combinations returned for the jump-off. Not surprisingly, of course, the Grand Prix was won by Beezie Madden and McClain Ward, took a close second.

Catch up with me next week for another update.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub

WHERE DOES ONE FIND HORSES COMPARABLE TO THE HORSES SEEN AT DEVON OR HARRISBURG?

Hi, everyone, thanks for your continued support!

Recently, someone asked where to find a horse similar to those that compete at Devon and Harrisburg. For the hunter and jumper divisions at Devon and Harrisburg, the horse must qualify to enter. Therefore, when you are watching the rounds at either show, keep in mind that the horses have been campaigned all year during the qualifying period and have done well enough to participate. If you want to purchase a horse like those seen at Devon and Harrisburg, the price of the horse will be at the high end, particularly because of its show record. If you do not have a trainer or equestrian professional to work with, you can contact the USEF or AHJA and obtain the names of some professionals in your area or ask someone in your area to give you a referral to a local professional.

If you are adventurous and game, those great, qualified horses started somewhere and you could consider purchasing a younger horse and training it yourself. Some people believe that the risk involved while trying to bring up a young horse outweighs the benefits. Time, money and consistency are necessary components in a young horse's successful development. It is skill, usually developed over time, to be masterful at selecting a quality horse from young stock and bringing it along successfully to maturity. Many variables go into the overall decision making process when choosing a young horse such as it's breeding, conformation, temperament, and it's veterinarian evaluation. If you are considering taking on a project of such magnitude, make sure you have someone with experience to help you. With a young horse, you can easily teach any behavior, good or bad, and there are specific principles that guide their instruction which are similar to the techniques your teacher used to help you to learn in school. I have met professionals who concentrate on developing young horses and you might want to locate such a person in your area and work with them.

Good luck with your search for a horse!
Catch up with me next week when I answer another one of your questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub

THE END OF MY FIRST WINTER CIRCUIT AS A PROFESSIONAL

I was really happy with how my first winter circuit as a new professional ended.
Just like my days as a junior catch rider, many mornings started before six a.m. and ended quite late in the evening. Yet, the days had a new and an additional aspect to them, I was responsible for helping other riders and customers, and assisting my superiors, in and out of the show ring as part of a management team.

The last four weeks of the the circuit, I was privileged to show a young gelding, named Countdown, in the six year old young jumper division. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the owners and professionals who asked me to ride their horses during the circuit. Looking back on my first WEF as a young professional, I was very lucky to have supportive family, friends, coworkers, trainers and superiors.

I will be staying in Wellington for three more weeks, working at the Equestrian Sport Productions, 2008 Spring Circuit (formerly Littlewood). Then, I will return to the Northeast, and the Garden State Horse Show, Sussex, NJ, will be our first show back at home.

Recently, someone asked when I was planning to start college. I will begin attending Rutgers University this fall and will continue to work while in school.

Thank you for all your comments and continued support.
Talk to you soon!
Maria Schaub

BATES EQUITATION COMPUTER LIST - AGING OF POINTS

Thank you for your continued support and interest!

Recently, someone asked about the aging of points for the Bates Equitation Computer List. Before I explain the system for aging points, I will talk about the purpose and the rules of the ranking for those who may not be familiar with it. The Bates Equitation Computer List was an idea developed by John Madden, equestrian trainer, chairman of the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament and husband of Olympian, Beezie Madden.

Initiated in May of 2003, the purpose of the ranking system is to give junior equitation riders, twenty-one and under, a chance to earn points on a national basis using a format that is similiar to the USET Computer list for Show Jumping riders. Points are accumulated each week from a maximum of three equitation classes entered by an individual rider. The classes included in the ranking are the USEF Medal, ASPCA Maclay, USET Talent Search, Tad Coffin WIHS Equitation-overall and other special classes approved by the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Organizing Committee. A Class Value Factor uses a multiplier for the number of riders in a given equitation class and a Ranking Value uses a point value for each riders preceeding week's standing on the computer list.

All points accumulated by a rider retain their full value for 52 weeks. At the end of the 52nd week, the points for that week are eliminated and receive a point value of 0. If a rider is still eligible to participate in the junior equitation classes, then the rider can earn additional points for the new year. The only points that receive a value of 0 are for a given week, and an individual rider does not start at 0 every year.

For additonal information about the ranking, please log onto www.ryegate.com and/or www.batesequitationranking.com.

The Bates Equitation Computer List was started while I was still riding as a junior, so by going through my scrap books, (thanks, mom, for those great scrap books), I can share with you, who was ranked in the top five at year end from 2003-2007.

November 14, 2003, Bates Equitation Computer List rankings
1- Courtney McKay, 2- Brianne Goutal, 3- Sophie Coppedge, 4- Addison Phillips, and 5- Charlie Jayne

November 2004, Bates Equitation Computer List Year End Awards
1- Brianne Goutal, 2- Maria Schaub, 3- Sloane Coles, 4- Megan Young, and 5- Haylie Jayne

November 2005, Bates Equitation Computer List Year End Awards
1- Julie Welles, 2- Maria Schaub, 3- Sloane Coles, 4- Blythe Marano, and 5- Brianne Goutal

November 2006, Bates Equitation Computer List Year End Awards
1- Sloane Coles, 2- Maggie McAlary, 3- Maria Schaub, 4- Haylie Jayne, and 5- Hardin Towell

November 2007, Bates Equitation Computer List Year End Awards
1- Kmberly Mc Cormick, 2- Maria Schaub, 3- Jen Waxman, 4- Carolyn Curcio,and 5- Brittney Hurst

Good luck to all the junior equitation riders competing in 2008!

Catch up with me next week when I answer another one of your recent questions.
Talk to you later!
Maria Schaub