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Description

Riders Name + Age: Mickey O'Brennan, 13
Horse Name + Link: OM Glenveagh
Class Entering: Rome, Children on Horses, .80m-.85m
Entry Number: 11
Country + Stable Representing: USA, Oak and Myrtle Stables
Trying a new, out of my confort zone angle for the Junior Riders Global Tour. First stop, Rome!

Story:

First stop on Mickey's Tour was finally here. Hermes and Cecily were shipped to a farm just outside of Rome, and Cas was taken to the showgrounds. Mickey and John arrived by plane, pulling in to the show shortly. Mickey's eyes were wide, taking it all in. The kid may have been to a number of high-ranking horse shows and cool facilities, but he had never been part of those shows. John looked distinctly less settled, still unsure of all this for his son. Cas... didn't care. Definitely the most settled of the group, he walked straight in to his stall and munched hay, looking at the people outside his stall like "what's with you guys?" After unpacking tack and feed, Richie shuffled John and Mickey away to check in to their hotel.

Part of the reason John had agreed to this Tour was all the education that came with it. Mickey was thrust, more or less willingly, in to the Breed demonstration and Rider's Position Clinic before finally getting to bring Cas out for the ring familiarization. Cas... still didn't care. The big chestnut walked around the ring with ears flopping, dutifully toting his young, wide eyed rider on his back. Mickey had never ridden in a ring like this, one so large with VIP tents lining each side. He could see parts of ancient architecture past the modern structures, and suddenly wasn't so sure of his decision. He watched some of the other riders around him. So far, he was one of the younger riders. All of them looked so much more advanced than him. Maybe he wasn't ready for this. And then Cas came to a gentle stop, neck over the end of te ring's wall. Mickey had forgotten to steer, and walked the big horse straight in to the wall. Face burning, he turned Cas away and immediately trotted off. He needed to do better.

John wasn't doing much better. He watched his oldest child taking in the ring... and then walk in to the wall. Rubbing his forehead, he leaned against a table. "Why're we here?" he asked alloud. Not particularly to anyone, but Richie chose to respond anyway.

"Because its a great opportunity for Mickey. He'll learn a lot, and if this is what generates a real passion for Mickey, it was worth it." John just grunted his response. "And Cas will take care of him."

"I know I know. Its just..." John didn't finish and Richie didn't push. He was sure it was hard for John. He may have coached a number of riders to the top levels, he even was Jumping Director for FEI for a time, but he was sure it was different to have his own kid doing it. Mickey and all his siblings had ridden since they were little, but none of them had showed a huge desire to do this competitively, until now. John had never pushed them, honestly probably preferring to be their soccer coach to riding coach, so this was all a little jarring.

As Mickey and Cas continued around the ring, and Cas safely popped the young boy over a few jumps, John started to visibly relax. Deciding to treat this whole session like a riding session, he pulled Mickey off Cas, tossed the reins to David, and got father and son away from the show before either of them could revert back to nerves or bad throughts. Another good meal, a little sight seeing, then early to bed. The next day was going to be a big day.

Despite not showing until closer to mid day, everyone was at the show bright and early. The O'Brennan's both seemed like a tightly stretched bundle of nerves, and Richie was more or less questioning agreeing to take part in this endeavor. As everyone tried to choke down some breakfast and coffee, Cas watched them, munching his hay, looking like the only sane one of the group. John and Mickey left to course walk, so Richie took a few minutes to text Kate. After filling her in on their friends and her amazing horse, she just laughed. "Just wait until it's me in the ring."

Richie smiled at that, then walked with David and Cas to the warm up ring. John was looking more settled, leaning in to years of routine warming riders up for competition. Mickey had lost a little of the starry-eyed panic and, to his great credit, was listening to his father without argument. Cas dutifully went around the ring, barely paying attention to the other riders and horses. It was be quite the day when that horse was finally impressed by something. Then it was Mickey's turn in the ring. The small boy and large horse walked off, and Richie pulled John towards the VIP tent. A little wine wouldn't hurt with whatever was about to happen.

Description

Riders Name + Age: Mickey O'Brennan, 13
Horse Name + Link: OM Glenveagh
Class Entering: Rome, Children on Horses, .80m-.85m
Entry Number: 11
Country + Stable Representing: USA, Oak and Myrtle Stables
Trying a new, out of my confort zone angle for the Junior Riders Global Tour. First stop, Rome!

Story:

First stop on Mickey's Tour was finally here. Hermes and Cecily were shipped to a farm just outside of Rome, and Cas was taken to the showgrounds. Mickey and John arrived by plane, pulling in to the show shortly. Mickey's eyes were wide, taking it all in. The kid may have been to a number of high-ranking horse shows and cool facilities, but he had never been part of those shows. John looked distinctly less settled, still unsure of all this for his son. Cas... didn't care. Definitely the most settled of the group, he walked straight in to his stall and munched hay, looking at the people outside his stall like "what's with you guys?" After unpacking tack and feed, Richie shuffled John and Mickey away to check in to their hotel.

Part of the reason John had agreed to this Tour was all the education that came with it. Mickey was thrust, more or less willingly, in to the Breed demonstration and Rider's Position Clinic before finally getting to bring Cas out for the ring familiarization. Cas... still didn't care. The big chestnut walked around the ring with ears flopping, dutifully toting his young, wide eyed rider on his back. Mickey had never ridden in a ring like this, one so large with VIP tents lining each side. He could see parts of ancient architecture past the modern structures, and suddenly wasn't so sure of his decision. He watched some of the other riders around him. So far, he was one of the younger riders. All of them looked so much more advanced than him. Maybe he wasn't ready for this. And then Cas came to a gentle stop, neck over the end of te ring's wall. Mickey had forgotten to steer, and walked the big horse straight in to the wall. Face burning, he turned Cas away and immediately trotted off. He needed to do better.

John wasn't doing much better. He watched his oldest child taking in the ring... and then walk in to the wall. Rubbing his forehead, he leaned against a table. "Why're we here?" he asked alloud. Not particularly to anyone, but Richie chose to respond anyway.

"Because its a great opportunity for Mickey. He'll learn a lot, and if this is what generates a real passion for Mickey, it was worth it." John just grunted his response. "And Cas will take care of him."

"I know I know. Its just..." John didn't finish and Richie didn't push. He was sure it was hard for John. He may have coached a number of riders to the top levels, he even was Jumping Director for FEI for a time, but he was sure it was different to have his own kid doing it. Mickey and all his siblings had ridden since they were little, but none of them had showed a huge desire to do this competitively, until now. John had never pushed them, honestly probably preferring to be their soccer coach to riding coach, so this was all a little jarring.

As Mickey and Cas continued around the ring, and Cas safely popped the young boy over a few jumps, John started to visibly relax. Deciding to treat this whole session like a riding session, he pulled Mickey off Cas, tossed the reins to David, and got father and son away from the show before either of them could revert back to nerves or bad throughts. Another good meal, a little sight seeing, then early to bed. The next day was going to be a big day.

Despite not showing until closer to mid day, everyone was at the show bright and early. The O'Brennan's both seemed like a tightly stretched bundle of nerves, and Richie was more or less questioning agreeing to take part in this endeavor. As everyone tried to choke down some breakfast and coffee, Cas watched them, munching his hay, looking like the only sane one of the group. John and Mickey left to course walk, so Richie took a few minutes to text Kate. After filling her in on their friends and her amazing horse, she just laughed. "Just wait until it's me in the ring."

Richie smiled at that, then walked with David and Cas to the warm up ring. John was looking more settled, leaning in to years of routine warming riders up for competition. Mickey had lost a little of the starry-eyed panic and, to his great credit, was listening to his father without argument. Cas dutifully went around the ring, barely paying attention to the other riders and horses. It was be quite the day when that horse was finally impressed by something. Then it was Mickey's turn in the ring. The small boy and large horse walked off, and Richie pulled John towards the VIP tent. A little wine wouldn't hurt with whatever was about to happen.