Robin Brueckmann's Road to Belgium

Friday, September 29, 2006 - Anxiety

We riders did not have to go in early today. I went down to breakfast to meet Laura and Denise, at seven. They were going to the barn, but I was going later with the other riders.

I headed back to my room, and worked on my computer. At ten, Nora called me to go to the stables, and I met the rest of the crew downstairs. Missy was gone to Holland to look at horses for Keith Newerla; as of last night she had not found anything suitable. She had stayed overnight. She was planning to return around lunchtime.

Bob drove us out to the barn. He was very lame; his ankle had swollen up in the night. He said he did not remember doing anything to injure it, but he could barely walk.

It was still too early to get the horses ready. I watched some of the Grade I and II riders. I saw Lee Pearson, the world’s best Grade I rider, on his buckskin Hanoverian/pony cross, Blue Circle Boy. Yesterday, they had won their Team test with 78%. Today’s test had some tension, but it was likely to win again today. There were some fantastic rides in both Grade I and II, although of course there were also some lesser-quality rides.

Hope Hand and I sat down to lunch at 11:30. It took forever to get any service, and it was over an hour before we had eaten. By then, Barb and Becca had joined us. The Grade II awards ceremony was in the indoor around 12:30, and we went out to watch. Today, it was mounted, with much more pomp than yesterday. There was a loudspeaker system in place now, which made it much easier to follow along. Angelika Trabert had placed fourth; I had not seen her ride. Another German rider on a gray horse had put in a lovely ride, which I did get to see, and she was second. A British rider won it. It was nice to have the British Lottery to fund sports!

Bob had been marooned at the stalls, with his ankle on ice. He refused togo see a doctor. There was not any apparent medical service on the premises, which seemed odd to me.

After lunch, I got Rocky braided. I watched Denise put in Mibis’ wig; it was quite the project. Although I boarded at a Western barn, where all the Quarter horses sported wigs at shows, I had no experience with putting them in.

I went to the indoor to watch the first Grade IV rider, Ann Katrin Lubbe. She was riding the same Knabstrupper stallion that I had seen her on before. He was a white horse with a few black spots, like a few-spot Appaloosa. It was a Danish breed, fairly rare. This one was not particularly pretty; he had a big head and a thick neck. He won, though; he and Ann Katrin had gotten 72% yesterday to win the Grade IV Team Test.

Barb was the first rider today, at 2:50. She got on Mibis and took her to the outdoor warm-up. I went to the stands to watch and videotape. Denise and I sat together. We watched Hannelore Bremmer, a German Grade III rider, put in a spectacularly good ride. She was the rider that Barb had to follow.

Barb came around the outside of the arena. Both Barb and I had gotten our names truncated on the announcer’s list; she was Bar Grassmyer, and I was Ro Brueckmann. At least Becca’s name was entire.

The judge at C rang her bell, and Barb rode her test. She was much steadier and more forward today, and it was a good ride. This test, the Individual Grade III test, was more interesting and it seemed to flow a bit better than the Team test.

We all trooped back to the barn. It was getting closer to the time to get Rocky ready. Becca and I went within fifteen minutes of each other. Denise got permission for me to warm up in the Grade III area, so that Missy could help us both.

Becca and I got on, and went to the outdoor warm-up. The smallest area was available for us, and the two of us went there. That way at least we were not going to be run over by all the other riders. None of the warm-up areas were actually big enough, and the indoor was sometimes dangerously crowded. I was glad to be riding out here now.

Rocky felt good today. I wanted to get him uphill and active, and he was agreeable. I did not practice transitions, just forward and supple and active was all I wanted. I rode some lateral work, although there was not much room in this small area.

At ten minutes before my ride time, I went to the indoor warm-up area. There were only two other riders in it, but it still felt crowded. I was able to practice some center lines, without halts, and our lateral work sequences. That was enough. I put my coat on. It was my turn. I went around the arena, and I stopped by each judge to give my number. I had planned to trot completely around again, but the C judge rang her bell too fast for me to do that. I entered to begin my test.

Rocky was very good in the trot work. He was definitely more uphill and active today. I let him speed up a little in the medium trots, for more expression.

I set up the halt and rein-back. When I went to square up the halt, Rocky offered to lift his left front leg for Spanish walk. I had him put it right back down, and the rein-back was good. The pirouettes were good. I went into canter. I was very careful to keep my legs on Rocky for all thecanter work; I did not want a repeat of yesterday’s croup-high incident. The first simple change was good, but he had other ideas for the second one, and he trotted instead of walking.

Overall, it was a much better test, smoother and more energetic. I was pleased; I realized the two glitches but I thought that it would come out better in the end. My goal was to get placed higher, to make the final for the freestyle tomorrow.

I went back to the barn. I got Rocky unsaddled and washed off before Becca returned. It started to rain and hail, but it did not last long.

Becca returned. She said that today had gone better for her, too. We were all pleased with our rides today, and so was Missy. Denise was already satisfied that all three of us had made our requirements for qualifying for Hong Kong. We had done that yesterday.

After some time, Missy was able to ascertain that Becca was standing sixth, and Barb eighth, for the Grade III class. I was thirteenth, a very disappointing placement. We did not have any scores.

Meanwhile, word got back to us in the stables that Bob had passed out. Nora took him to a doctor, who did not speak any English. Eventually, it was decided that Bob’s blood pressure had gotten too low. There was no diagnosis on what was wrong with his foot. He got prescriptions for medications, and went back to sit down in the bar.

Barb and Becca were in the awards ceremony. We all pitched in to get the polos on the horses and get them saddled again. Barb and Becca got on, and the rest of us went to the outdoor to watch the awards.

Five horses, out of the eight placing riders, were there. Missy and Denise did not know where Barb and Becca were, and they went to find them. The awards ceremony had already started; Great Britain had won it, with Simon Laurens’ 69.677%. Becca ended up seventh, and Barb eighth, and finally they arrived at the ring to receive their awards.

There was no pomp and circumstance to this awards; after the British anthem, the riders walked out of the ring. Simon walked around once by himself. That was it. It was very anticlimactic.

It was six now. Denise took our CD’s to go the sound check. Time passed. Bob and Nora had rejoined us. Bob was ready to go back to the hotel, and I was too. I did not want to wait an hour or so for Weiner schnitzel. Missy took Bob, Nora, Barb, and me back to the hotel, and we ate in the hotel restaurant. We were all exhausted, mostly from anxiety.

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