Memoir

Christine Mikelson

The fall of 2010, my horse, Psych Clone and I were riding at the Minnesota 4H State Horse Show. We worked up to this point all summer showing at multiple horse shows around the area and finally earned a trip to State for the first time. But little did I know what I was getting myself into while preparing for the state competition. It was a show like none other that I had participated in. Contradictory to what I was expecting, it was a long grueling event that brought me a influential life experience that I will never forget..

The summer before the state show, Psych Clone and I were having a great season of showing. It was our second year together and our many hours of bonding brought us the beginning of our connection and relationship. Things were going well and I was learning more and more about my new horse and how he rides. I had bought him from another 4H family and his bloodlines proved excellency. We had accomplished a lot in a short time and felt prepared for the State horse show.

When we got to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, excitement was in the air. The atmosphere surrounding me was filled with anxiousness of other contestants awaiting the show just like I had been. Before I knew it, the time had come for my first event with Psych Clone- Western Pleasure. At the time, this was the class in which I felt most comfortable and confident in. Because of the huge amount of participants in the classes, I thought this class was the one I would have a chance to most likely place in. I also figured Psych Clone would do as well as he did in our past shows, but he had other plans.

I continually tried keeping my nerves down as I waited outside the colosseum in which we rode in. I stayed as calm as possible so that Psych Clone would be calm also. I lightly stoked his neck and spoke soft words of encouragement to him.

“Thats my good boy Psych Clone, you can do it.” I said reassuringly Finally the time to enter the arena came. I flashed a confident smile and trotted on in. Then Psych Clones eyes were opened to a large echoing arena lined with bright white, enclosing walls and then my ride of a lifetime began. He started off with a few hops and bucks which I managed to control at first. He became more overwhelmed by the many horses and strange, scary arena by the second.

When we were told to move into the lope the disaster grew. He pulled all sorts of moves that guaranteed no place in the top ten for me. I had never seen him freak out as badly as he did and I knew then that I had lost the class already, now my goal was just to stay on. The more I tried to correct him or sooth him, the worse he got. My trainer was standing by the railing above us and tried to help. She told me to switch to two hands on my Rommel reigns. This is a disqualifying move but I had nothing to loose and it would give me greater control over my horse.

I did all I could to not get thrown and to not be a danger to the other riders. The class seemed to last for hours but was really only a few minutes. Relief filled me when I finally heard the announcer tell us to line up in the middle of the arena to wait for the placings. Here Psych Clone started dancing in place, although I was offered to exit the arena early, I was determined to make him stand still and wait until we were dismissed. After some hard work he finally settled down. As I already knew I did not place in that class. Outside the coliseum, I hopped off Psych Clone and my legs quivered underneath me. They were exhausted from constantly gripping the saddle in order to stay on. The class was over, and I did it; I had stayed on and managed to stay safe.

I was then confronted by multiple different friends and strangers who commended me on my ability to hang on and push through tough rides.

“Your a good little rider with that horse of yours. You handled it very well.” one said.

“Most people would have just giving up right away with the way he was actin instead of making him do it. Good job!” another told me. So then I knew I had accomplished more than what was apparent, I knew I could do it now and it wasn't going to get much worse than that. I also was not mad at Psych Clone at all, because I love him unconditionally and was ready to rise up to the challenge as I still had three more classes ahead of me in the next few days.

So then it was time to work, Psych Clone was not going to get away with another ride like he had last time and he knew it. I woke up every morning for the next three days we were there, at 5 AM or before just to get in the the colosseum for the short hour it was open for anyone to ride in. I desperately needed to get him used to being in the horribly scary place for our next classes. It was packed inside that arena but each morning he gradually became more comfortable there. The rest of the day I was with my horse every second. Whether it was lunging in circles so long I nearly fell over from dizziness, riding in the warm up arena , cleaning him up for the show ring, or just sitting with him. I also just spent time in the saddle and prepared his mind by gently reminding him that there's no more messing around and that there's nothing to be afraid of, yet still allowing him enough time to rest and not get overworked.

Each of the last three classes got better and better and by the last class he did perfect! I can't begin to tell you how overwhelming the feeling of accomplishment was. All the hard work with little sleep, that left me so tired and weak that at times I could barely recollect what was happening around me, had definitely payed off. We also ended up placing very well in two of my hunt seat classes. Most of all I grew as a rider tremendously, now I have what it takes to endure anything Psych Clone throws at me. My horse also has a greater respect for me and has become even more of my best friend. We made it through a struggle together and it strengthen our relationship into the wonderful team we are today.