Training Weekend of 1/30/10

Well, training this weekend will be called successful. Lot's of little things accomplished, big things to. Most importantly it was "fun with a challenge." The weather was nice, though almost every time we got on the horse it rained... That's ok, we're hard core, we vault anyways! Palatine has nice, floated teeth, and is all healthied up on his new vaccines. He was a little under the weather from the shot's but he is such a trooper, he did a great job carrying us. I love Palatine. He's an amazing horse.

This year I am feeling more and more fit by every practice. My energy, my flexibility, and my strength is lasting longer, and growing stronger. Im eating tons and tons of food to power me and drinking lot's of water. This weekend we emphasized running a little more - a good run to Woodside Rd on Saturday, and a run to Robert's Market on Sunday. Quite fun! This week I've got Monday off (although I do have a modern dance class) then team practice on Tuesday, individual practice on Wednesday, and team again Thursday through Sunday. What a life. Life without vaulting? I don't think so!

Im really excited for this year and I hope that you are excited for my team and I, to! I rode Okie around my neighborhood with 55 sponsor letters, potentially motivating people to help me out. Maybe you could help me out! You know, if you visit my website (there is a link located at the top of this blog site) you can make a donation to help me make it to the World Equestrian Games! And donation would be EXTREMELY appreciated!!!

1/24/10 - It's so odd to be writing "10" at the end of the date! But that's not the point... The point is looking at that date and realizing that this is the year of the World Equestrian Games, and that I am going to be a part of it. Wow!

Training has been going very well. I am vaulting 4 or 5 days a week right now, and soon to be more with Spring and Summer close ahead. I am working very as hard on my Silver Individual compulsories and freestyle, hoping to give the Silver vaulting level something new and beautiful. The rain has really been in the way of my horse time, blah..., but im really happy that I got a sliver of rainless time yesterday to work on Buddy. Yay!

Just a minor, but major, goal for this year is to become uberly flexible and I think im off to a good start. Needle, check. Over needle on both legs, working on it. Another goal is to create a magnificent vaulting horse out of Bosco, Bosco Allegro. We'll see what kind of weather this week brings, and what kind of vaulting "adventures" I will explore!

Horses and Dance.....

So, horses and dance. How do they possible fit together? It's called vaulting. This year, well, the end of 2009, I started modern dance. I love the movement and expression in dance, and I love to carry it to my vaulting. I've been wanting to dance for a long time and Im so happy to finally be doing it. I know that some of the people reading this are horsey people, and maybe even have some dressage experiance. This is another point where horses and dance truly combine.

Dressage is a combination of movements, flexibiliy, speeds, and turns for the horse. Hmmm, sounds kind of framiliar.... DANCE! Dressage is the horse's dance. I love the grace that flows into dressage, and the connection that makes the horse and rider one. When you pick up the piaffe and the rider simply floats on top of the horse, rather than bouncing, you see that the dance has started. And when the movement of the rider's hips create the fluttering tempi-changes, wow! Dressage and vaulting, the dance of the horse and rider - vaulting, the horse becomes the dancing partner. Dressage- the horse and rider become one dancer.

My goal in individual vaulting is to combine the dressage when I vault. To make the vaulter and the horse one partner, to flow, to connect, and to dance on the horse, but at the same with the horse. To introduce my vaulting horses to the music, and let them feel it as much as I do. This would truly be a beautiful thing, wouldn't it?

I love dressage, I love dance, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE vaulting!!!

Team training so far......

1/17/10 - Well, now that it's raining, I can have some relaxation time to write. This year, team training has gotten off to a good start. Our horse, Palatine, is learning how to carry our team freestyle very fast, as well as us learning to accomodate our performance to him. Palatine is such a good boy and we love him.

The FACE team is in the midst of the "almost never ending" creation process. The team's goal is to wow the audiance with more than just vaulting moves, but give them a performance that will drill right into their emotions and make them ooze for more. Not an easy process, but it is fun! With the music in our souls, we can work as hard as possible to express our unique vaulting skills into one dance on the horse.

One of the things I love most about the team is that we all get along so well. We love being with eachother, and love working together. Practices are full of laughter and good karma. Our team is like a family, which makes it all the more better to be a part of!

Go to my website! http://sites.google.com/site/facetheroadtoweg/ . About the F.A.C.E. team, biographies of me and my team mates, coach, and horse, competition information, "MAKE A DONATION" link, etc....

Thank you to all of the people who are following my blog and to the people who have made donations! Your donations are helping me and the FACE team get to the World Equestrian Games! Is anyone coming to Kentucky to watch? If you want to know more about the World Equestrian Games, you can go to - http://alltechfeigames.com. Maybe i'll see you there!

~Emily Hogye

The introduction to my blog

Hi, my name is Emily Hogye. I am 13 years old and I am an equestrian vaulter and a rider (I am the girl in the silver being held at the top in the picture.). I am at the silver level and on and "A" or "Senior" vaulting team. I was the flyer on The Dark Side of the Moon Team USA in 2007/ 2008 and I am again on the team, though now it is called F.A.C.E. Team USA. We will be training to qualify for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, Fall 2010.This blog is going to be about my team training, team competitions, adventures with the team, riding, and more! I hope that you will be interested in following me!

In 2008, The Dark Side of the Moon Team went to the World Vaulting Championships, Czech Republic, and won the bronze medal. During our 2 months in Europe, we competed in CVI*,** Krumke and won. My team also competed at the olympic qualificant Aachen CHIO*,** which we won the gold medal at. It was tons of fun! I love vaulting, team and individual. Go to my website!!! http://sites.google.com/site/facetheroadtoweg/. You'll find information about the horse, the team, the coaches, individual biographies of my team members and myself, the "MAKE A DONATION" link, competition information, etc...