A Quick GMHA Recap & Other Fun Things

June 10, 2025

I am already behind on posts and we're not even halfway through the season - time flies when you're busy as hell!!! Here's a brief update on GMHA and other things happening in my horse world.

After Fair Hill, Sophie got a little bit of time off, and then I decided as we crept closer to leaving for Virginia Horse Center that she would be better off hanging out a little longer at home. I had done a practice dressage test at a CRDA show at home earlier in May, but she still wasn't going as consistently as I would want her to leading up to such a big trip. Instead of VA, I opted to enter GMHA June and thought we could get our Area 1 season started earlier than I had planned.

That turned out to be an idea better on paper, because day 1 of GMHA June came with absolutely monstrous rain that really screwed with my hopes of getting another good prelim MER under our belt! Sophie showed up to the dressage ring with her usual tenseness, but the poor weather, busy warm-up, and the essence of cows that were once present in the field across the street fogged her brain and we ended up with yet another poor score to our name. Luckily the judge, Mikki Kuchta, knows both of us fairly well and I think knows we actually are capable of much better - the day was just not ours to have.

I hemmed and hawed about show jump that afternoon, but decided we could at least give it a go as it is her favorite phase and I felt she was smart and athletic enough to get it done even in the slop. In hindsight, I should've just left her in the stall, but I am grateful my horse is smart and makes good decisions even when I am not riding my best.

Sophie captured by Starlit Images

She popped around the first half of the course well, aside from a few turns that we took a hair faster than I was comfortable with - but I also had a new bit in that gave me less immediate influence on her but also didn't pump the brakes so hard to allow the engine to keep running efficiently heading to the larger fences. At fence 7 we came to a relatively non-dramatic sliding stop, as both of us saw the pop chip but she couldn't get her back legs under her in the slop to take off safely. I gave her a pat to reassure her that she made a good choice, and then we subsequently came around, took the flier, and then bombed around the rest of the course like the ground wasn't soup. It was not my best piloting, but again I am so lucky to have the horse that I do. And even with all the craziness in the ring, she didn't drop any rails. Unreal to me.

Sophie and I were also quite lucky to be joined by Reese, one of the great barn kids, at GMHA. Reese came up with me to be my groom and also to use her camera skills to capture the best of the AKF team all weekend. Even though I ended up doing a lot less than I had hoped, Reese was an amazing help to allow me to easily focus on some coaching, riding, and getting to relax a little - which I am not used to at shows! For the first time in a while, my tack and tall boots came home clean! Very appreciative to Reese for her help and I am looking forward to watching her confidence with handling Sophie grow.

Rainy jump prep at home for GMHA, captured by Reese

The officials, staff and volunteers at GMHA did an amazing job of making the show work for the riders, and ended up pushing novice and below show jumping to Sunday. Most of our AKF crew was in the lower level divisions, so that worked in most of our team's favor. Julia and I opted early on to withdraw from cross country, and Julia withdrew from show jumping after watching our less than safe-looking go around that ring. Percy and Sophie move on to the next, unscathed.

The Sunday really lived up to its name, with the sun shining down to help dry up some of the footing for novice and below. Only a handful of adjustments needed to be made for the cross country courses, and the day ran so well. I helped Merritt warm up for her jumping phases, and she did a great job of working through a lively warm up for show jumping and contained most of Juliet's enthusiasm, which is always a win for that team. They then rocked around the cross country, coming in under time for the first time and not slowing down too much for all the water crossings. Very proud of how far that duo has come, and they brought home a lovely red ribbon to show for a good weekend!

Most of team AKF ended the weekend in the ribbons, which is so wonderful!! Despite not having a great show for myself, I had a wonderful time with our fun crew of people, and I always enjoy being surrounded by the people of Area 1 ♥️

I decided to reroute Sophie to New Jersey this coming weekend to hopefully take the place of what GMHA was supposed to be for us. We shall see 🤞

Aside from GMHA, Sophie and I have been putting in good flatwork, and I am looking forward to squeezing in a few virtual lessons soon with Jacqui when we can. I also have a few clinics I'm interested in participating in happening soon, so there's hopefully a few fun things on the horizon for us. After New Jersey we are aiming for Huntington and then Festival, if all goes well. I also have plans to coach and maybe get some volunteer hours in at a few events in between. I am looking forward to some more fun in Area 1, especially with the great group of people at AKF.

Sophie and I also have another exciting partnership happening with Starlit Images. Addie has been so lovely to work with, and as of right now we have had one portrait shoot and a super fun jumping shoot with Julia and Percy. I can't wait to see and share that content! Huge thank you to Starlit Images for their support of team Sophie 💚 If you are interested in learning about how to get in touch with Starlit Images, click here or visit my KMS Favorites tab.

Captured by Starlit Images

I will try to be a little quicker with the post-NJ update!!

Thank you for reading and for your continued support!

K