Riding the Parkmore Rollercoaster to AECs

If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that sometimes you just have to hang on tight and ride the rollercoaster.

Before I headed to Florida, there was a mountain of work going on behind the scenes at Parkmore, not least getting everything ready for Amazon. While I was away, Deanna and Claryce kept that moving, and when I got back to Kentucky we had a couple of fairly frantic days together getting the final pieces finished.

Meanwhile, Laurie, Deanna and Claryce have been holding down the fort while I’ve been bouncing around the country — and then out of it entirely.

Because next stop was Ireland.

This trip home was primarily about something far more important than business: spending time with Mam and Dad and helping take care of her. But, as anyone who knows me knows, apparently I’m incapable of going anywhere without horses becoming involved.

So, naturally, there was the Dublin Horse Show.

There really is nowhere quite like it. Old friends, new conversations, incredible horses and that unmistakable atmosphere that reminds me every time why the horse world has been such a huge part of my life.

Then it was back on a plane to the States.

Home. Grab the kids. Load the truck.

And off we went again.

This time to Michigan for three days of coaching.

A huge thank you to Courtney, Heather and Ginger for putting everything together and keeping things running. And an even bigger well done to all of the riders. There was some fantastic progress over those three days, and watching riders and horses figure things out together is still one of my absolute favorite parts of what I do.

Then it was back to Kentucky.

Unpack.

Reorganize.

Catch up.

Reload.

And go like hell getting everything ready for the next adventure.

Because tomorrow we start setting up for the American Eventing Championships.

AECs is always a special week. Some of the best horses and riders in their divisions in the country will be descending on the Kentucky Horse Park, and Parkmore will be right there amongst it all.

To everyone competing this week: the very best of luck.

Enjoy your horses. Enjoy the moment. Remember how much work it took just to get there, and whatever happens when you leave that start box, be proud that you made it.

And I have to give a special shout-out to Parkmore Affiliate Elliott Timmons as she heads into her own AEC week. We’ll be cheering you on.

As for me?

I’ll be doing what I seem to do best.

Loading, unloading, talking horses, solving problems, meeting people, probably drinking far too much coffee and wondering occasionally which bloody state — or country — I woke up in.

But I wouldn't change it.

Parkmore has never been built standing still. It has been built on horses, people, relationships, conversations, hard work and a team willing to keep things moving even when I’m halfway across the world.

So tomorrow morning, we climb aboard again.

Next stop: AECs.

Come find us. Come say hello. Tell us about your horse. And if you've got a problem you've been struggling to solve, you already know what we like to do.

We’re Parkmore. We are the Fixers.

Until next time, be kind.
Be the person you needed starting out.