Riding Rainbow Big Announcement

So! This has been in the works for a little while, but I hadn't nailed anything down for sure and I wanted to talk to some humans in person before I posted anything on the internet.

The short version of the story is, I'm not sure what's happening next in my life when I leave Ohio. I don't have a job lined up yet, and I haven't exactly been able to save enough money to live on for a long time, because it's hard to save when you have a horse and student loans. I know y'all feel me. I have to finish up my dissertation this summer, I have to find a way to pay Lex's board, I have to survive financially.

Enter the hero of the day: Mary Schwentker.

I've known Mary since I was 16, which is half my life. She's an event rider and a phenomenal horsewoman. I'd trust her with any horse. I'd let her ride Lex, and I don't want ANYONE else to ride Lex. So the fact that I'd let Mary ride her means a lot.

Mary is an Advanced eventer--she's ridden in Rolex twice and was short listed for the PanAm games in 1999. She was an A Pony Clubber and is now the co-DC for the Pony Club region I grew up in. Never one to let her considerable talents go to waste, she's got her USDF bronze and silver medals and has competed in dressage through Prix St. Georges.

So aside from being an awesome person and a seriously accomplished rider, how did Mary save the day? WELL! I am excited to announce that Camp Riding Rainbow is moving to Virginia for the summer. I'm going to be a working student! I'm so excited. Lex can live at Mary's barn, and I'll live at home with my parents and my dogs and Rocket! I'll get to see my amazing nephew more often, too (oh yeah, and his parents, my brother and sister-in-law). All around, this is a good thing.

No, I'm not switching to eventing. I love eventing in my heart, but I know it isn't for me anymore. I love the jumper ring and I want to do that. But Lex doesn't know how to jump yet, and I will always have much to learn. Mary can get us where we need to be in the next few months.

After the summer, who knows what will happen. But for now, it feels really good to have a plan.