Carrie's Rolex Experience - What It's All About...

Really, what IS Rolex all about?

Is it about coming away with the coveted Rolex watch mid way through Sunday afternoon?  Is it about finishing on your dressage score?  Is it about having a completion?  Is it about making the right decision(s) for your horse and putting his welfare before any pipe dreams that you have?  Putting it into perspective, I think every rider over the Rolex Weekend would answer that question differently. 

I think about Mary King.  Did she go into it thinking she was going to finish 1-2?  I would bet probably not.  But she did.  She is incredible...the smile on her face was contagious. 

I think about Peter Barry.  He and his horse Kilrodan Abbot are a pair I have been rooting for for over a year.  They are the true definition of  'Adult Amateur'.  At 54 years young, Mr. Barry just completed his first 4*.  While I do not know Peter from a hole in the ground, I could not be more happy for him.  He is probably on Cloud 9...and he has every right to feel that way. Way to go Peter!!  I want to be you....badly.

I think about Clayton Fredericks' mount 'Be My Guest'...that pair was instantly one of my favourites when they started warming up in dressage...big floppy ears and all. (The horse's ears, not Clayton's.)  I mean, how could you NOT love a horse with big floppy donkey ears?!

I think about Jessica Phoenix - (who not only is a genuinely lovely individual), who had nothing but praise for Exponential after their brilliant xc round.  Not to mention her evident emotion when she literally flung her arms around his neck after their show jumping round on Sunday.  That gave me goosebumps.

I think about Diana Burnett - who has a machine of an xc horse, but who chose to withdraw before xc because something 'wasn't quite right with him'.  That made me respect her.  A lot.  You bet your ass I'll be cheering for them at Burghley from across the pond. 

I think about the man I was standing beside on Friday morning watching Susan Beebee's test on Prowler.  He was giving the play by play to whomever he was speaking to on the other end of his iPhone and the excitement he had in his voice as they cantered down the centre line for the 2nd time.  I felt his excitement!



Sinead and Tate over the Hammock



I think about Sinead Halpin and her weekend of a lifetime.  I could only imagine getting so close to coming to Rolex in 2010, having it go 'poof'' right in front of your eyes, then coming the year after..and finishing 3rd at your first 4*.  The emotion was evident after her clear SJ round as she covered her face to attempt and stop the tears.  I don't think it worked.  The crowd roared...and I am sure that didn't help her any either.  I think she had the biggest cheer...more then anyone else.  We were sitting in the South grandstand - and I think each and every person rode each and every stride of that SJ course with her.  I love it when the riders cry.  Sinead - you just allowed a lot of little girls out there to live out their dreams through you with the weekend you had.  Congratulations and I am so so so happy for you. 



I think about my goals as a rider.  Yes, I think the riders at that level are absolutely bonkers...That trakehner is the scariest thing I have ever seen...that said, it makes me want to achieve that level.  Badly.  Standing in front of that trakehner, I pictured myself galloping up to it, clearing it and then taking off for the next fence.  I now have absolutely zero reason to stand in front of any other xc jump on any of the xc courses I walk from now on and think to myself  'wow, that is BIG'...until we get to Rolex of course. 

I think about all the little girls and boys who got to meet their eventing idols (and yes, I include myself in that 'little girl' category when I met Peter Atkins), get an autograph and get a word in to their heros. 

I think about the majority of the people who I met in Kentucky - the riders, Patricia, Glenn the Geek and Jennifer from HRN, Bobbi the jump judge from Cincinnati who has been jump judging at Rolex since 1978, people from all over the World (I met someone from Germany on Saturday afternoon), the other ammie bloggers, the vendors in the trade fair who are all so passionate about their products, the volunteers...I have nothing to say but 'wow'...and thank you for all that you do, etc etc etc. So, whether it be your goal to win Rolex, ride at Rolex, better yourself as a rider because of Rolex, be part of the support crew for those riders at Rolex or be a part of the cheering crowd on Saturday...we all come together from very different walks of life for one very same common reason: we love the horses and the evident joy they bring to those around them.  To me, THAT, is what Rolex is all about.

Thank you Patricia and Ecogold for giving me a Rolex experience like no other and which will be hard to duplicate.  It was an incredible 3 days and I can't WAIT to get to the Horse Park again in 2012.

Carrie's Rolex Experience - And Then I Got To Thinking...

When I woke up this morning and looked out my window – I saw grey skies and wind and just pure, grossness.  Then, I checked out weathernetwork.com and looked up the weather in Lexington, Kentucky.  Currently, it is 5 degrees Celsius and a balmy 15 is expected for their high today!!! And, in completely getting ahead of myself, I checked the weather for SEVEN DAYS FROM NOW!!!  Humm – they are looking at anywhere from 10 – 15, give or take.

And then I got to thinking: Packing for Rolex, is going to be a lot like packing for a horse show. When you THINK you have everything you need, make sure you bring an extra…As a chronic over-packer, I am going to attempt to make a list of things to bring.  And then add in Rain gear and a winter-ish jacked and shorts and sunscreen…all in the same bag.  I think that will have me covered. 

Having never been to that part of the US (my dad is American, I have dual citizenship, and have traveled a little up and down both US Coasts), I am really looking forward to seeing the part of the Country that is so rich in Horse!  I also couldn’t think of better people to be coming with me!  My coach, my eventing partner and her sister are making up the ‘Cobourg Crew’, and other then Patricia; I believe I am the blogger that is coming from farthest away!!! I mean, who doesn’t like a road trip based around Rolex right? 
UPDATE: As it turns out, there are a couple people coming from a litttlllleee farther East then I am...but, I will let them tell you about it!!

Chester says: Noooo, don't leave me Mommy!!

And then I got to thinking: What is the best way to get from Cobourg, Ontario, Canada to Lexington, Kentucky, US.  And, NO, I do not have a GPS that speaks to me in a very sexy foreign accent.  So, Mapquest it is!  We are looking at – give or take – a 1,037.18 km drive, which will take 11 hours and 35 minutes…but, I’ll bet, we do it in about 10 and a half.  I-75 South: Here. We. Come. (Although, I have been warned by numerous sources that Highway Patrol does not like foreigners speeding on 'their' highways...well, hopefully, a car full of women, driving down a highway at 4 in the morning will give us the advantage when if we get pulled over.) I am actually impressed with Mapquest at the moment. NOT because they map the gas stations, motels etc along the route. Reason being: They map the BARS along the route!!! They must know we are coming.  We are going to leave around 7 or 8 pm – after rush-hour Toronto Traffic has ended – and arrive bright eyed and bushy tailed (hahahaha) around 6 a.m

This is our route: http://www.mapquest.com/?version=1.0&hk=4-StEedzol

And then I got to thinking: This trip is going to remind me a lot of my Annual Girls Trips To Vegas Weekend. A LOT of cool stuff to do.  A LOT of cool people to meet.  A LOT of cool things going on all at the same time – sensory overload.  A LOT of booze to be consumed (can we bring beer in our backpack on xc day?!). A LOT of incredible horses and horse people to watch (although the horses aren’t really around in Vegas). NOT a lot of sleep.  And well, the way I see it, I have less of a chance of getting arrested in Lexington then I do in Vegas (unless of course I attempt to run around the xc track at 3:30 in the morning, which I haven’t completely ruled out yet), so, that is a good thing.

And then I got to thinking:  I wonder if there is Wi-Fi in the middle of the xc course…because I will have a laptop, a wicked-ass camera, a USB Port AND a video camera along with me for the entire time I am there.  So, let’s go with, “YES, there IS Wi-Fi in the middle of the xc course.”

And then I got to thinking: This whole experience really is going to be geared towards all us Ammies out here.  So – all you Ammies out there – WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO FIND OUT FOR YOU??!! Because, I’ll bet you, I’ll be able to get to the bottom of it!!  If there is something specific you are interested in, let me know and I will see what I can do. (And NO, I will not ask Boyd or WFP to marry you...I know for a fact, both are happily married.)

And then I got to thinking: I can’t wait to meet the other Ammie Bloggers (and Patricia), that are all part of this experience!! I am looking forward to that almost as much as I am everything else that is going to be related to this trip to Kentucky.

And then I got to thinking: If you ARE going to be at Rolex - come and find me! I would love to meet you!!

And then I got to thinking: Everything is better with Bourbon…right?

See you in Kentucky!!