2022 Karen Skvarla Fund Grant Recipient: Shari Wolke Masi (MI)
I wrote in my application to the Karen Skvarla Fund for Young Professionals that I would like to achieve the five scores of 65 percent or higher at Prix St. Georges or higher to move on in my judging career to go through the ‘r’ program, but that I also “understand that I might be looking into going into 2023 to achieve this high bar.” The summer’s showing and training goals exceeded my [realistic] expectations, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of additional lessons with my instructor, Maryal Barnett, funded through the generosity of the Karen Skvarla Fund.
My show season started out in April when I competed at a relatively new venue in our Region, Albion College Equestrian Center. After only a few lessons with Maryal, we entered a Prix St. Georges test for both days of the show and on the first day, I earned my USDF silver medal, one of our many goals for the season! On the second day, I earned my first score of 65 percent to go toward the five scores I needed. The season was off to a great start!
The first Waterloo show in June was another successful outing. I chose, instead of continuing in the Prix St. Georges classes, to move up to Intermediate 1. Vinni had shown the I-1 before, and I had learned through the winter how to ride the movements and had begun to learn that what Vinni needed the most from me (to not let him take over the ride- in June he certainly thought HE was in charge of our rides). Maryal helped me begin to refine the collection in all the movements at I-1, and I started to be able to pilot him with the true collection and suppleness needed. The big change from the riding I had done in the past and this, the TRUE FEI work, is the reaction times needed to create this sort of collection while still maintaining the suppleness. It’s so fast, it’s a wonder our brains can even react and process what needs to be done. I started to have some of the muscle memory needed but also realized it was going to take the most intense concentration I’d ever used in my riding career. We came away from this first June show with two scores at Intermediate 1 above 60 percent - the first two scores of my gold medal! I was thrilled and so grateful for these opportunities that had been sent my way.
At the second June Waterloo show, I received another 65 percent from one judge at Prix St. Georges (two down!) and one of my lowest scores with Vinni to date at the Prix St. Georges (58) in what I thought was a better test. I reminded myself that it was about the training, and I took what I could from that judge’s comments, which were mostly about collection. Getting a horse strong enough for a solid FEI test takes a long time and he was still building muscle in June.
The July show was another opportunity, just a few short weeks later, and we walked away from that show with our third score of 65%+ from one of my absolute dressage idols, Gary Rockwell. I could have stopped riding at that point and been satisfied! A 65 from Gary Rockwell! We still had two scores to go, though, and I knew I had a horse who was capable, so we pressed on.
The first August Waterloo show was one of the most disappointing shows of the summer. After losing the 4-tempis, momentarily, as Vinni decided it was easier to only do 2-tempis and 3-tempis, we moved back up to the Intermediate 1. We earned a 64.265 in Intermediate 1 at that show, from another very respected judge, Mike Osinski. If only he could have known that one point on one movement would have meant everything! But I walked away from that show with a renewed determination that I would not let Vinni take over one second of the ride, which he had gotten into a habit of doing.
It was around this time that I began working with Maryal on really forcing myself to INSIST (INSIST!) that he keep the collection in just the way that I asked for it and continue using his hind end to the best of his ability. I finally got to feel what true FEI collection feels like and began insisting on it every stride. If I’m honest, I think that I had in the back of my mind that Vinni had “retired” from FEI competition in 2019 because of a left front suspensory partial tear and I was trying not to push him too much. I was incredibly fearful he’d reinjure this sensitive spot and tear the fragile scar tissue. What Maryal reminded me, though, was that the only way I could protect him from this fate was to get him sitting more through all the work and using his hind end more effectively. This would avoid a load on the front legs and therefore help avoid a re-tear. So, I moved forward with a continued focus on the collection.
At the next show, Vinni clearly showed an improvement in the collection and in scores. We went back to the Prix St. Georges after getting the 4’s back and earned scores of 64.559, 66.912, and our highest score to date at the PSG, 68.235. We did it!! We earned the five scores needed for the ‘r’ program! The relief I felt was immense! And, as any good dressage rider, I immediately set out onto the next goal.
Regional Championships for Region 2 were at our home show facility, Waterloo Hunt Club, and even though in the past I’d qualified, I had never been to Regionals. With renewed confidence in our partnership, I signed up for both the Intermediate 1 and Prix St. George championships. There was an open show associated with Regionals, so with three weeks until the show, I thought, why not do a freestyle? I contacted Lynette Wadsworth of Gold Bar Freestyles, and she quickly choreographed and edited the music for a freestyle for me. Just a few short weeks later, we debuted the freestyle and earned a respectable 64 percent! The open tests went well but weren’t sufficient to place (I didn’t expect to), and were a solid wrap-up to the season.
I could not have had the season I had (clearly the best show season of my life) without the extra training time and instruction with Maryal and without the help of the Karen Skvarla Fund. I am thankful for the support of TDF and am looking forward to continuing the solid foundation we have built with Vinni!
