I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. When I was five Santa brought me a dappled gray Shetland pony named Gypsy.
The author, shown with curly brown hair, pets her new pony, Gypsy, on Christmas Eve
My father put me on her with just a bridle to cling to. Gypsy took off galloping, tearing across the neighbor’s property lines; I was instantly hooked.
When I outgrew Gypsy my father bought me Nehi a strawberry roan aptly named after the popular 1970’s soda. Many of the girls in our neighborhood had horses, too. We kept them in our backyards with open sheds as stalls.
Given the mild weather, that’s all they needed. Our summers, weekends and time after school were spent riding bareback in the woods, along the bay, and through the orange groves.
Life was good.
Sadly, though, it was not meant to last. Due to a series of unforeseen events, I found myself on my own at the young age of 16. Thrown into the rigorous demands of life, I was not to ride again for 30 years.
Fast forward to 2007: I now have two children. My 6 year old daughter has caught the horse bug and has been riding since the age of four.
My daughter Nicole had to stop riding for a few years
This year, however, I have to put her lessons on hold. I started a new business and didn’t have the time to drive her to the riding stable, as it was too far away to fit into my busy schedule. This was heartbreaking to me as I had been vicariously living my dream of riding through her.
So although Nicole didn’t seem to mind her break from riding so much, it bums me out big time.
This led me to put out a call to the Universe. “Universe,” I say, “can you bring a stable closer to me so I can put my daughter back into a riding program? Please?!”
So there it was, asked.
I continued to move about my life, launched my business to some early success and, before long, a few years had flown by.
But the Universe had not forgotten about me or my request, for the next thing I know a stable was being built right down the street from my home. A trainer and his family purchased an old farm and VOILA! I had my riding stable.
Thank you, Universe!
Given that it was so close, I took this as an added sign that now was the time to start riding again, too.
No excuses.
So I jumped into a program, right alongside my daughter. It really was a dream come true.
Not long thereafter, I was encouraged to go to the Fidelity Classic in New Hampshire. Now this was not just any horse show, it had a Grand Prix competition. This sounded like fun, so my daughter and I made the hour trip to the show, singing along to Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift the whole way.
Once there, watching the riders catapult over those enormous jumps made me, for some totally inexplicable reason, say to myself, “I want to do ‘that’ too!”
My new ride, Jaliska
So there you have it. The Prix is my goal and this blog details my journey in getting there.
I hope you will join me in my Quest and that mine will inspire you to begin your own.
Quest for the Prix is dedicated to all the riders out there young and old with a dream, and to my horse, Jaliksa, and two children Nicole (12) and Bobby (14).
You can accomplish anything if you believe.
Please send your comments and advice to: vwaters@questfortheprix.com or call 617.306.9637.
Riders are encouraged to post their riding dreams and share their photos and videos at: www.Facebook.com/questfortheprix or www.questfortheprix.com.
About Quest for the Prix
Victoria Waters’ blog chronicles her trials and tribulations, the good the bad and the very ugly, in learning how to ride and compete at the top level of show jumping – a Grand Prix competition, as a middle-aged novice to the sport. Follow her Quest for the Prix at www.facebook.com/questfortheprix or contact her at vwaters@questfortheprix.com or 617 306 9637.
About the Author
Victoria Waters, CEO of Green Education Foundation (GEF), a non-profit organization, is committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides free curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging them to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions.
GEF Institute was established to meet the increasing market demand for sustainability education and training. The Institute offers courses in sustainability to educators, employees and professionals. Visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org or www.gefinstitute.org to learn more. Join the sustainability education conversation by following GEF on Twitter @greenedufdn and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greenedufoundation.
