We had Selection Trials at the Paxton Farm CDI in Batavia, Ohio, in May. I had been fourth-ranked before trials, and moved up to third during trials, but was named alternate for the team of four. In June, Lynn’s horse pulled a hind suspensory, and Lynn was off the team. She still needed to compete, though, to get her FEI Certificate of Capability. Any rider who wishes to compete in next year’s Hong Kong Paralympics needs this. Keith, Barb, Becca, and I had gotten ours last year, at either Vancouver CPEDI*** (Keith and Barb) or the CPEDI**** in Belgium (Becca and me).

Lynn had not competed Magnum Gold last year at any CPEDI, and she still needed that certificate. This year’s World Championships is the last chance for any rider to get their certificate. Lynn can earn it on a borrowed horse; the certificate goes with the rider, not the horse/rider pair.

I got the call June 11th, and I have been working furiously since then to get the logistics done. My horse, Richmond (Rocky) had to be vaccinated for EEE/WEE less than six months and more than thirty days prior to entrance into the European community, and it was now less than thirty days before he had to leave. Fortunately, his spring shots were done on February 21, so he squeaked in on the six-month deadline.

I had to have blood work done to test for piroplasmosis, dourine, glanders, vesicular stomatitis, and equine infectious anemia. The first three diseases are not present in the US, and any horse who tests positive can’t enter the country, so the shipper wants to know before he sends them over that they will be allowed to return.

The US High Performance ParaEquestrian riders had all decided on a conference call to split the USET grant four ways, to partially fund four Team riders, rather than fully funding only three, a short team. This means that we will each have to pay around $6000 out of pocket to cover the shortfall in expenses. I had three weeks to raise the money, and I was only partially successful. I’m going, though!

I had already entered Rocky, and my young horse Radetzky (called Sasha, a 2001 Trakehner gelding), in two shows after I was called up for the Team. Suddenly, these two shows were far less important than they had been when I entered! I took Rocky in his first Grand Prix classes at both shows, with scores up to 63%, and Sasha continued showing at Training Level, where he was High Score with 76% in the first show, and had scores from 68%-71% in the second show. It was a good final preparation for England for me.

I drove Rocky to Blue Hill Farm in Unionville PA, on Monday, July 9. Missy Ransehausen is our Team Coach; this year she is assisted by Sharon Schneidman. It was a blistering hot and humid day for a long drive, but Rocky arrived in good condition. Missy wanted me to ride right away, so I got Rocky saddled and took him into the indoor for Missy’s evaluation. She had not seen him since Paxton. He had improved his strength since then, but I had not ridden him since Thursday, because I had been teaching a clinic in Chicago. Rocky was good on Monday, though, even with his long trip and three days off.

The other Team horses were already in residence at Blue Hill. Barb had flown Mibis East before Paxton, and she had stayed to train with Missy for the duration. Keith kept his horse with Missy all the time. Becca had brought Pippin here from Erie several weeks ago. I was the last to arrive.

There was also one of the Irish riders here; James Dwyer worked for Jessica and Missy and kept his horse, Orlando (Ben) in training there. He had already flown home to Ireland, and he would meet Ben in England later this week. James and John Stevenson, who was also going to be helping us in England, were taking care of local supplies, getting buckets and mucking equipment for the horses. John lived in England, but he often helped us US riders at competitions like this. He had gone to Sydney with the team, and had been at Paxton for trials as well.

Missy reported that Lynn has found a horse that she is happy with. That’s good news. She will be competing as an individual. I had lessons with Missy both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Rocky was going well. His tests in England will be easy for him, about Third Level. I practiced much simpler things than we had been working on, simple changes, shallower half passes, ten-meter circles, walk pirouettes. Rocky was quite content to focus on these topics. I was less concerned about his training than with making sure the logistics were under control.

Missy wanted Becca, Keith, and me to consolidate our trunks so that we did not take duplicates of things when one would do for all of us. We spent much of Tuesday afternoon, in 100-degree heat, doing this, and whittled down our stuff to one trunk and a saddle bag apiece. We were bringing most of their feed; Rocky eats more than the other horses so I am planning to get him more feed there rather than bringing so much weight in feed.

We are using Mersant as the shipper. Paul Weygand has worked with all of our horses before, and we are all comfortable with Paul as well. His van arrived Wednesday morning around ten to pack up our stuff, including James’ stuff, and the five horses. I had a moment of panic; I had noticed that Becca had not packed Pippin’s Smartpaks. I asked if she wanted them packed.

She said that Pippin’s Cosequin was not legal because it contains MSM. I was unsure whether Rocky’s Smartpaks, with his Conquer, were legal either, so I quickly took them out of my trunk. I had given him Legend earlier in the week, and I had packed Cortaflx for him, so he would be covered without his Conquer.

I spent most of the day at my sister’s, reading and looking online. The weather in England was cool and rainy, as it has been for the past three weeks. I was glad of raincoats and Polarfleece, but it was hard to think about being cold since it was so hot here now.

My parents, Jim and Cynthia Miller, live in nearby Wilmington, Delaware, and they came up for dinner. It was good to include a visit with family into this trip. We had a good visit. My father planned to take me to the airport tomorrow afternoon. My husband Bill called to wish me well, and he reminded me, for the fourth time, that if my plane to Dulles was late tomorrow, I could simply drive to Washington. I thanked him for that information.

I was ready to go now!