Of spurs, silver saddles and intense amounts of hairspray. We’re the girls waking up at 4am on a Sunday, the ones you see in Lucchese boots in the warm up arena. Perfectly made up, the picture of focus and concentration, we’re the top twenty in the world.

Now here’s your look behind the scenes into this world.

I don’t have the Big Name Trainer (BNT), the horse with 5 world championships and I’m not the rider whose continuing a legacy. My parents aren’t trainers, don’t own half of a large US city and my horse lives at home.

What I do have is dedication, hard work and a support team whose incredible. I have a mare who tries her heart out every day. I have the scars, bruises and memories of banding at midnight, riding at 4am, and long nights without sleep.

I’ve always considered myself mediocre. I live in a small state where national points are incredibly hard to accumulate (a one point youth class around here is a big deal), and so come the world show, it’s like going from neighborhood little league to the world series. I can hold my own, but this year I’ve decided I don’t want to be mediocre anymore. I’m going to put in the extra hours, go the extra mile and go big in 2009.

I’m Holly, the horse is Lucy and this is our journey to the World Championships.
Let’s bring home a buckle baby.