You Can't Steal Second and Keep Your Foot On First by Lauren Lambert

Barn at Greenhill Farm

Like a plot to any great story, there's an exciting stage of rising action that leads to a climatic event. But after the climax, things begin to get back to normal and life goes on.  Florida was an epic adventure, and the climax was followed by a huge falling action.  In fact, it felt like running full speed into a brick wall upon returning home. I wasn't sure what my plan was, or really even my purpose- the dream situation didn't pan out, and plan B hadn't been thought through.  It drove me to actually take a few days off, a type of mental health leave.  A day or two after being home, I called up Mom and expressed my feelings- and just like any good Mom, she knew what I was going on when I couldn't begin to explain.  "Post-travel Depression" she explained in only a way Martha could, yet she was uncharacteristically  sympathetic, and brought a smile to my face.  "Just wait until you complete your first 4*, or worse, have a baby!".  It was a relieving conversation, and I got a grasp on myself and began to make something happen.     
Slowly, it seems, over the past month things have started to fall into place- I have rented my own barn just next door to my mother's operation in Goshen, Kentucky to provide some space for growth of a seedling business, L.M. Lambert Equestrian, LLC.  Welcome to sleepless nights filled with conflicts of the mind firing ideas, concerns, questioning every little thing, and did I mention financial worries?  But as Frederick B. Wilcox said, "Progress always involves risks.  You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."

So I've taken a whopping $1,500 (from a timely insurance claim check) and thrown it whole-heartedly into my own business.  I believe I can make it, and the good news, there are some really special people around me who want to see me succeed.  Without the guidance and support of a very close group of people like my mother and father, Sally Abell, Ann Banks, Alex Gerding and the best boyfriend, Drew, all of this would not be possible.  And to a great group of sponsors Hallway Feeds, Equithrive,  D.A. Stubbs Woodcrafting- I am very thankful for your support.

While the business side of things are rolling, there is something very interesting that is going on on the riding side; After working for show jumper Derek Braun for a year and spending some quality time in David O'Connor's arena this winter, a rider has been brought out in me that actually surprises me at times!  It's great to feel confident on any shape, size and sensitivity level, and to get on and jump anything and feel confident, ride accurately, and be sure about my riding is a very amazing feeling.  I'm certainly not perfect by any means!  But it feels so good to be on the right track.  Years of learning and dedication... and many years of learning and experience yet to come.  


We will begin the summer show season in Kentucky with Maze Daze at the Kentucky Horse Park the end of this month.  It has been a month since our last competition (which was necessary to allow some regrouping time!) but I am chomping at the bit, and looking forward to taking Sally Abell's Honour Mission up to Preliminary.  This horse has been a tough egg to crack, but things really clicked by our last outing at Chatt Hills and a bond has formed.  Lil' Birnie will be prepping for his novice debut, and I am excited to be helping a friend, Callie Linden, keep her horse, Hickory Smoke, going while she finishes up med. school at the University of Louisville.  My favorite little Opera Ghost sustained an injury in Florida.  He is recovering nicely and I cannot wait to have his mischievous little butt back in my barn!   The action is beginning to rise here as the summer creeps in...  Here's to a great last chapter, and high hopes that the next one's even better!

My Old Kentucky Home by Lauren Lambert

Back to the Bluegrass and home again.  I broke up the trip home from Florida with a stop at Chattahoochee Hills.  With all the buzz happening at The Fork, it did feel mildly disappointing not being in North Carolina... Until I pulled into that heavenly property in Georgia.  It turned out to be a great weekend, but a big whoulda coulda shoulda.  Fine With Me ran his third preliminary and won the dressage, then went out on XC feeling great.  I crossed the finish line with a big smile until it was announced I sadly left out jump # 13, a jump on top of the hill before the water.  This horse has been amazing all winter, with a 1st, 2nd and now a TE at his first three attempts at prelim.  I brought him out Sunday and he jumped around the show jumping like a dream.  Marc Donovan set up a really fun track which started with a triple bar to get the horses going and a course that encouraged forward riding.  It was definitely the funnest track I have ridden in a while, and I think the horses enjoyed it too.  It has been an honor and joy competing 'Frank' this winter, but his owner and my Aunt Margie will be taking back the reins now with goals to begin competing him in her first season at the preliminary level. 

Honour Mission also went to Chatt Hills, competing at training level.  This was his best outing to date, and less a rail at the very last jump, he would have returned home with a win... And that's how this sport always leaves us wanting more!  Honour's future isn't clear yet, as his owner has yet to decide if she wants to continue riding or let me continue campaigning him.  Either way, this winter is now history, and I feel great about the job I have done with all the horses.  I put my heart into each one of them, and I must give praise to the great feeding program Hallway Feeds has provided the horses.  

Now that I am home, I will admit I am feeling very unsure about how the rest of the year will go (I need to remind myself as I write this I have not even been home for 24 hours!). Loosing the ride on Frank is tough.  I am in turmoil considering relieving Baba Creek from his duties at upper level eventing. This horse has been an amazing XC horse and has given me so much confidence in that phase, but I don't know if I can continue to ask so much of him.  After riding these other horses this winter that have so much jump, I am in complete awe of what Miles has done for me considering the lack of scope he has.  Thoroughbreds have so much heart.  

At this point, I am looking for somewhere to rent so I can accommodate more horses because my mother simply doesn't have any free stalls.  With a very promising farm falling through, I feel very down, but the universe works in strange ways and I have faith everything will work itself out.  I hope to find a place where I can establish myself and begin to set a foundation from which I can build a business and take in some sale horses and horses in training for clients.  In the mean time, I feel lucky to be back in Kentucky where some of the greatest horse sporting events in the world are hosted each and every spring!  Hope everyone can make it to Kentucky to get the full experience!


Photo cred- xpress foto
Margie Darling's Fine With Me @ Rocking Horse

The Rolex Experience By Lauren Lambert

It always interests me how seemingly normal people find their way into the horse world, and even more so the event world.  Usually it has something to do with a childhood fascination with the horses down the street, or that first Rolex experience that had them hooked.   I was on a horse before I was born, but there was one special Rolex that made me decide my future was with horses.


When I was a kid, Mom had an incredible horse named Over The Limit.  'Jake', as we called him, was my horse (at least mom told me so).  He was an OTTB whom Mom trained from the ground up.  The two of them were on the campaign trail to Rolex and this horse had it all.  Then, at North Georgia Horse Trails Mom informed us she was scratching from the competition, selling the horse, and building a house.  Soon after, Jimmy sent a quiet young woman named Kim Vinoski to try Jake.  It was meant to be.  Her friend Mrs. Wachmeister sent a check and Jake was gone. 

Jake returned to Kentucky the following year,  and this time he was there to compete- there to dominate.  Sunday of Rolex 1999 was a nerve racking, heart pounding, aw-inspiring day for this 10 year old girl... MY horse won!! And I wanted to do that.

Thirteen years later, the Rolex dream still lives on.  After watching Jake and Kim win, the decision to take all the opportunities the horse world had to offer has become an amazing journey.  This winter has been full of new experiences. My advanced horse is doing well in his recovery and is back jumping, but not having another upper level horse means being out of the action at big shows like Red Hills.  I have two lovely client horses to ride and train this winter, and it's been great experience getting to know such different horses.  Aunt Margie's horse has been a pretty consistent player, finishing 1st and 2nd in his first two preliminary level events.  My favorite redhead Lil' Birnie (who ironically is not so little) completed his first event at Rocking Horse and was a CHAMP!  It was great to feel him gaining confidence in every phase.  Sally Abell's Honour Mission is continuing to develop nicely.  David has been instrumental is helping me figure out the pieces of the puzzle with Honour.  His lessons are challenging, but clear and simple.  He has very high expectations about the smallest attention to detail, which if not addressed in the beginning, will be called out in the end!  It has been eye opening getting help from David, and also very motivating.

Things in Ocala are beginning to wind down and we are all pretty excited to head back to Kentucky soon.  It's an exciting year for eventing as superstar horse and rider combinations are coming out to play and prove they deserve a ticket to London.  Sunday at Rolex Kentucky is going to be another nail-biting, heart-pounding experience... And while the crowd is going crazy applauding their new champion, there will be a little girl in the crowd, with a dream of doing THAT.


Lauren makes her home in Goshen, KY at Lands End Farm. Photo provided by Lauren Lambert.

A Transition from Young Rider to Professional by Lauren Lambert

August 2011, a turning point- I rang up my boss on the way to an event and told him it was time for me to make my way home and get back into eventing full force.  I was done being a working student, it was time for me to go my own way.

The previous year, as I was grinding away at the show jumping in Derek and Gwen Braun's pristine arena in Lexington, getting Baba Creek ready for the Young Riders Championship, he asked me for a third time what I did in the winter.  He finally got to the point and asked if I would be willing to take a riding/working student position with them in Wellington for the winter.  They would be leaving the end of November.  I told him I would think about it, and asked him to email details.

Well, Young Riders came, and going into show jumping in 1st and finishing in 6th pushed me over the edge-I replied to the email as soon as I was back to the barns and told Derek I would take the position.  I did my time as a young rider, working for many great top professionals in eventing, and ten months in a show barn.  Being in Wellington, I was quite isolated from the eventing world, (besides discovering Marcia Kulak at the opposite end of my street!), but it couldn't have come at a better time- the year I would transition from young rider to an adult.   I was in a different world, having a the chance to polish my riding and improve my weakest links.  Watching the best every day at WEF on all types of horse flesh, walking courses, riding all types of warmbloods everyday; learning how the best ride a show jumping track.  Thinking back, Kent Farrington is probably the rider I learned the most from by simply observing the way he operates. He has a plan, he goes into that arena with such focus he nearly looks possessed, and he executes his plan to a T.  I wouldn't trade my experiences working in a hunter/ jumper barn for anything, but quite frankly, it only made me love and appreciate eventing all the more.  Eventers may be a bit rough around the edges, but it's so awe-inspiring to see the relationship event riders have with their horses, they are more than just a commodity to us, they are our partners and our comrades.

September 1st of 2011, I returned to my family farm in the beautiful Goshen, KY to begin planning a big winter in business with Mother Martha.  It is finally time for me to step away from the working student roll, and begin to fill the shoes of 'professional rider'.  We arrived in Ocala December 31st.  I have five amazing horses to compete this winter, and staying true to my roots, all five are Kentucky bred Thoroughbreds which Mom, or I, have developed from scrappy race horses to eventing machines!  There's Sally Abell's Honour Mission, who's tricky on the flat and one freak of a good jumper- this horse has all the talent and scope I could ask for in a Thoroughbred.  Then there's Fine With Me, affectionately known as Frank, who belongs to my Aunt, Margie Darling.  Margie rode Frank with Buck in a clinic last fall, and if Buck told me once, he told me a million times to be very nice to my Aunt Margie.... Love you Auntie!!  I have a redhead named Lil' Birnie,  whom Mom found in a field in Lexington over the summer.  When I returned home in September and sat on the horse, I informed her we wouldn't be selling him any time soon, as he has some serious raw talent and is one good looking beast.  Then there's the snarky little Opera Ghost, who came from my good friend and amazing horsewoman, Ann Banks, as a three year old.   He is finally 6 and ready to play like a big boy.  This little thing is so much fun!  He won the Blue and a lovely exotic African bull's foot trophy at the inaugural Longwood Horse Trials (seriously great show!).  And finally, the cross-country maniac, Baba Creek (Miles), had a minor injury last fall.  He's down here getting back into the swing. This horse is such a ball of nerves he's really a nightmare to get going every year, but that's Miles.  We've been together since I was 15, and a horse that takes a young rider around three CCI ***'s without a single xc penalty (and always very quick), all I can do is accept and love him for who he is.  This horse owes me nothing, he has given me a taste of the big time, and has kept me safe through it all.  I'll have him back in action this spring, and we'll see what he wants to do- it's quite likely he will just want to run and jump.  Perhaps I'll be able to coax him into doing the other two ' things'  respectfully.

So, I'm feeling pretty lucky to be down here in sunny Florida with horses I love, and involved with the people who love these horses.  Walking back to the trailer after the first competition of the year, a friendly stranger informed me how happy I looked.  I replied 'I am happy, I am in the sunshine riding and competing these amazing horses, and it's my job!'.  Even when things get rough, it's the horses that keep us going, and the drive to be better riders and horsemen which keeps us coming back day after day.  

I am excited and honored to be doing this blog through the Profressional Riders Organization, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more throughout the year!

Photo credit: Allie Conrad