It’s hard to believe it’s been almost eighteen years since I first showed at the U.S. Nationals. I never had the chance to compete at that level as a youth rider, so it wasn’t until I turned 21 that I found myself trotting into the iconic Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico — heart pounding and probably forgetting how to breathe.
And honestly? I don’t remember much of it.
I think I was so overwhelmed and nervous that the entire experience felt like a dream I wasn’t entirely awake for. My mom tells a story of the one time she showed, and she still swears it was an out-of-body experience. She can’t recall a second of her class. So I guess the apple doesn’t fall far.
But I do remember a few things. I remember some of my practice rides. I remember looking around the warm-up arena and spotting famous trainers riding alongside me — names I’d only read in programs or seen in magazines. I remember seeing legendary, multi-national champion horses in the flesh for the first time and feeling awestruck that I was even in the same ring.
As for the actual class? I think it went well. I’m pretty sure I made a card — maybe even two? That felt monumental at the time, like I had just landed on the moon.
Back then, there were no Select Rider classes at Nationals. And let me tell you — I was select as could be! I still laugh (and wince) a little that I never got to ride in a Select class at Regionals or Nationals. It just wasn’t in the cards, thanks to ever-evolving criteria that never quite matched my path. That ship has definitely sailed, but I can still wish I had the chance to wave it off from the deck.
These days, it’s different. I still get those nervous butterflies on the day I show at Nationals, but they’re not overwhelming. Once I’m on my horse, things settle. To be fair, I’m always a little anxious, but it’s the good kind now. The kind that comes from caring (too) deeply, not from feeling out of place or unprepared.
I do wish I remembered that first class better. But I’ve been lucky enough to return to Nationals many times, with that same horse and others, and collect more memories (and yes, better recollections!) along the way.
🌟 Final Thought: It’s Okay if the Moment Is a Blur
Not every show will be crystal clear. Sometimes the biggest rides in our lives are too big to take in all at once. But the feelings? The pride, the nerves, the awe — those stick.
And after eighteen years, I’ve learned that it’s not about remembering every detail. It’s about knowing you were there, you earned your spot, and you soaked in the magic the best you could at the time.
The journey continues, and I’m so glad I stuck around for the ride.
Silhouette Arabians 