One Month Away.
- Emily Miller
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
The first show of the season is a month away.
At this point in the year, everything starts to shift. The pressure is not overwhelming yet, but it is there in the background—quiet, steady, and impossible to ignore. The work becomes a little more intentional. The details matter a little more. Every ride begins to feel like it is leading somewhere.
For me, this time is less about pushing and more about refining. It is easy to think preparation means doing more, riding harder, or asking for bigger moments. In reality, it is usually the opposite. The focus turns to consistency. To making sure the simple things are truly solid. Straightness, balance, connection- things that are not always flashy, but are what everything else is built on.
D'Vinci knows the routine and dance by now. There is a familiarity in the process that comes with time together. He knows when we are just riding, and he knows when something is expected of him. My job is to keep that line clear, to ask for enough without taking too much. The goal is to have him confident when we walk into that environment, not just prepared.
This stage of the season is also where trust shows up the most. Not just trust in the horse, but trust in the program, in the training, and in the people behind it. There is always a temptation to question everything as a show approaches- to tweak, to adjust, to chase something that feels just out of reach. Learning when not to do that is part of the process too.
There are still pieces to put together over the next few weeks. Small adjustments, fine-tuning, making sure everything feels settled and intentional. Nothing dramatic. Just steady work that builds on what is already there.
As the first show approaches, staying calm becomes just as important as being prepared. I emphasizes that composure is not something that suddenly appears on show day; it is built in the weeks leading up to it. Keeping routines consistent, both in and out of the saddle, creates a sense of familiarity that carries into the competition environment. She also focuses on narrowing her attention to what is within her control: the quality of the ride, the connection with the horse, and the execution of the basics. Everything else—scores, surroundings, external pressure—becomes background.
There is also value in perspective. The first show of the season is not meant to be perfect. It is part of a longer progression. Approaching it as an opportunity to assess, adjust, and move forward helps remove unnecessary pressure and allows both horse and rider to perform more freely.
By the time we get to the show, the goal is simple. To walk down centerline knowing the work has been done, and to let the ride reflect that.
For now, it is one ride at a time.
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