Dressage Training in Germany with Lisa Wilcox and Ernst Hoyos
What promised to be a typical day began with a surprise. Before heading to the barn that morning for my usual routine of feeding the horses and cleaning stalls, I received a telephone call. I had no idea that this call would be one I would never forget. "Hello Suzanne. This is Lendon Gray."
In the back of my head, I was thinking this call might have something to do with an application I had sent in for a training scholarship with USET rider Lisa Wilcox. In January, I came across a small section in a local magazine with the heading "Training Opportunity in Germany." I am always applying for scholarship programs or training opportunities that I feel would be of help to me and to my horse. As I read on, I became excited because I thought that I might have a chance at this. My brother, Trae, was also interested in applying, so this project became something for us to work on together.
I was in shock as Ms. Gray was saying congratulations. My mom was standing beside me, curious to see who would be calling me so early in the morning. She later told me that she could tell from the look on my face the purpose of the call. She pinched me so that I would say something instead of simply standing there with my mouth open. I thanked Ms. Gray, who coordinated the application process for Lisa Wilcox, and hung the telephone up, then instantly picked it up again to call my trainer. After my very loud and early wake-up call, Bent Jensen was actually in a very good mood once hearing my news. I think my family and trainer were almost as excited as I was. When I finished calling everyone I could think of, I ran down to the barn to inform my partner Wittus of our new summer plans.
How I Won the Scholarship
Although I was not completely satisfied with my application video when I viewed it, an unedited 10-minute ride, I realized why Bent had waited until the deadline to make a video. My workouts had been going well, and I figured that my daily video sessions would just get better and better as we continued to practice.
After a few days, I realized Bent was not planning to bring the camera out any time soon. Weeks passed and still there was no hint of making a video. I was beginning to get worried that Bent and my mom had forgotten all about it. Bent and my mom had known that I would get very frustrated over being recorded each day if my 10-minute rides were not perfect. So, on the very last day to make the deadline, Trae and I mounted and rode out to the ring to see Bent there with his video camera and the "professional videographer"-my mom.
I tried to ride normally and ignore the billions of butterflies swirling in my stomach. Let me just say that I thought I would die when I finished my 10 minutes! Wittus was having a spooky day and was shying at everything from leaves blowing across the ring to the grass moving in the wrong direction. I had a few leaps in the flying changes as if he was trying to jump over the gusts of wind, and a few fast pirouettes that felt like a reining-horse spin. I was resigned to send in what I had after my trainer and mom told me it was better to illustrate a normal day where things were not perfect. Trae and I mailed our essays and videos to Ms. Lendon Gray.
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