Where... Part 2

I feel that my previous post explaining where I was a couple of years ago needs a follow up of where I am now. I ended it with my final big outing of 2011, Hickstead CDI in July. But since, a lot has changed!
As a lot of you know, the time between August and January is usually the time that things settle down and you rest the horses. That did happen of course, but a lot of adjustments were made during that time. Always an Aussie girl at heart, I have an obsession with my horses being able to go in the field. As it was coming in to winter, I had to act fast to make sure I had the horses at a yard where all-weather turnout was possible.

Julius enjoying the last of summer days at Cheltenham Dressage...
No, we never jumped those XC jumps :P

So in August 2011 after the big competition season was over and during my summer break at college, I moved the boys to Cheltenham Dressage in Newent, Gloucestershire. Having done many riding exams (BHS and German FN) and taken in many expert training theologies, I am also aware of the benefits of cross-training (jumping, hills, hacking, poles) and really wanted to integrate that into Seb and Julius's training programme over winter. Six more months of indoor school training would have driven all of us crazy! Cheltenham Dressage had a great outdoor jumping arena, some big hills to canter up, and miles of hacking to enjoy.
However, the downside to all these great new facilities was that the dressage school was also outdoor - no luxury of having an indoor! For those who knew my routine in 2011, I would be riding until 8-9pm because of lectures at college during the day. It soon became obvious as the days got shorter and the weather got colder, that it wouldn't be possible to ride at my usual time whilst going to college.

Pointless biology practicals in my
kitchen... hours spent on experiements
that NEVER worked!!

So, I did what any career-driven, horse-obsessed rider would do. I gave up school. Well, not entirely... As I do consider myself quite academic, I kept going with A-level biology and studied it by distance learning. This only worked out for a little bit, as even as a distance learner I was expected to do 6 hours of study a day, and had hardly any support. Also, what on earth was I going to do with biology???
I'll tell you what I have done with biology actually - breezed through my BHS Stage 3, and now finding the anatomy and physiology section of my new equine course very simple to understand! Which brings me on to my current situation....

My new college folder :D

Still needing to be engaging my brain in something else other than riding and furthering my career, I enrolled myself in a BTEC Higher National Certificate in Equine Business Management at The Open College of Equine Studies, which is by distance learning. I've just recieved my course folder and it looks really interesting, got my teeth sunk into it yesterday and realised all the things I learnt about cells, respiration, haemoglobin and enzymes at Hartpury were actually extremely useful. I covered most of this scientific stuff in my BHS Stage 3 as well, so thankfully its all a bit of revision, but made interesting because I'm relating everything to horses!
On the riding side of things, with the competition season approaching I needed to find myself a trainer, and quick! This was quite a stressful time for me, as any competition rider who is on squads and gets funding really should have a trainer by their side! I was lucky that the horses were having an easy time, but especially with making the move up to Young Riders and into Prix St Georges and Inter I, the game had to be upped very soon. I was looking around a lot and had a few in mind, and then I went to a Young Rider squad training session in January which had Sandy Phillips as the judge and trainer for the day. I thought she was amazing, and managed to have a few lessons with her over the next couple of weeks. After Seb changed into a different horse after only three lessons, I knew that her yard at Aston Farm was the place for me to be. Luckily they could free up two stables for Julius and Seb, and I've been there for about a month now and enjoying every second of it! They also have amazing facilities, which have been described in my most recent posts, and most importantly and excitingly - HOT WATER!!! I feel like I have finally found my place, and having learnt from previous yards what I do and don't want, the move has gone perfectly smoothly and the boys are super happy in their supersized bedrooms!

Getting settled in our new lodgings at Aston Farm :)

So summary of where all this whole journey stands at the moment:
Trainer: Sandy Phillips
Yard: Aston Farm
Education: BTEC Higher National Certificate in Equine Business Management at The Open College of Equine Studies.
Horses: Seigneur (Seb), Julius, Chad
Supporting squads/teams/programmes: GBR Young Rider Prime Squad, Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, BEF Excel Talent Programme.
Sure, it's frustrating and stressful having so many things change in such a short period of time, but one of the rules I live by is "why do anything if it doesn't bring you any benefit or enjoyment". I don't believe in silent suffering, if something isn't working for me, it goes out the window. Whimsical, yes, but I wouldn't be where I am now if I didn't have that mentality. When I was little, I found out that my name, "Casey" meant "brave". Ever since, I have been living up to that definition, adding a bit of faith-leaping and risk-taking to it. However, there has definitely been a fair share of heartache and wild emotions in that mix. But a little more of that in my next post....
So keep an eye out for my next part... WHO am I? This one is going to be a little more personal than usual, so a rare edition of the Teen Dressage Dream! ;) Always feel free to leave comments, I love reading them and recieving feedback - I always answer! :)

Seb having a good old gallop at Aston Farm :)