#teamcaf

July 18th 2020: Shane and I are back in action after 4 months off because of COVID!Riding again felt amazing! It was a pretty great ride all things considered! I’ve lost some of my core and I started leaning back in the saddle because of fatigue again. I’m a little frustrated because of it but I know I’m going to work back up to where I was. We just focused on transitioning from walk to halt and getting him to walk with intention, and then went on a short trail ride around property. Shane was a good boy even though getting him to walk on in the heat took a lot of my energy. I’m really proud of Shaners for listening so well and I gave him lots of pats. ♥️😊🐴. . #horse #horses #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #paradressagerider #therapeuticriding #equineassistedtherapy #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #usef #adultamateur #adultammy #teamcaf #grade1paraequestrian #shane #goodboy #americanpainthorse #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #workinghard #chasingdreams #strongereveryday #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally #breakingbarriers (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyoihiHblr/?igshid=1fm09ngu9jfrs

Hey guys! I’m really excited to share that I’ve finally started my lease horse hunt again! This little cutie is Emmaline, a four year old rescue mare owned by Jane Whitehurst of Nosara Farms. My parents took me out to see her on Thursday. She was previously feral so we don’t know what breed she is but she has a beautiful flaxen chestnut coat, a star on her forehead, and white socks on her back legs. She has been schooling training and introductory level dressage. When she met me, it was the first time she had ever seen a wheelchair, but she wasn’t bothered by it at all. Nothing seemed to phase her, even if I approached her from behind at a distance. She was super loving and gentle, and even let me lead her with no problems. Being with Emmaline felt like a dream. I have to wait for my barn to reopen again before I can try riding her because Jane doesn’t have a way of getting me on at her stable as of yet, but I really hope we mesh well together because it feels like a match made in heaven. Maybe I can go see her again soon. I’m really excited about the future that I might have with Emmaline and Jane❤️🐴. . #horse #horses #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #paradressagerider #usef #adultammy #teamcaf #grade1 #leasehorse #emmaline #flaxenchestnut #goodgirl #dressagehorse #thefutureisbright #chasingdreams #strongereveryday #postivevibes #bigthingsarehappening #excitingnews #exciting #excitingthingstocome #lookingforward #disabledathlete #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Nosara Farms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBqJ5_wH65h/?igshid=1ovga67dx2o6x

Look everyone! My show outfit is complete! Never thought I’d be able to say those words. I’m feeling so over the moon right now! Can’t wait to wear it on Friday as I perform the Grade 1 team test during my lesson! I’m hopefully going to enter some virtual shows in the near future, so it will get a lot of use! I feel so close to my dreams right now it’s unreal. My passion for horses and dressage is so deep that I don’t even have to be around horses to get excited and feel complete. This is a huge deal for me and another one of my small goals I can cross off the list 😊❤️🐴🇺🇸 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #usef #adultamateur #adultammy #teamcaf #dressage #paradressage #paradressagerider #goals #horseshow #showoutfit #showing #dressageshow #thefutureisbright #strongereveryday #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #aspiringparalympian #hardwork #dothework #cp #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0rz5JnzG7/?igshid=17pp0eg0qiv0q

Oct 10th 2020: Griffin did a great job practicing the dressage test I’ve been working on today. Mrs Edie said he licked and chewed every time we halted on centerline which I think is just adorable. I didn’t get any video of us riding the test but there’s a short video me taking him back to the ramp to dismount. This was only my second time riding him and I’m so happy with how we are working together! I still have some things to work on with my seat and hands but I feel like I’m getting better all the time 😊❤️🐴 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equne #equines #equestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #therapeuticriding #equineassistedtherapy #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #griffin #quarterhorsecross #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #strongereveryday #strongertogether #aspiringparalympian #cp #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGK9KnUHHqX/?igshid=150ovk8zesouj

Oct 15 2020: Shaners and I did an interview and filming yesterday for Fox Channel 13 News! One of the reporters read my story in US Equestrian and wanted to learn more about me and help me get my goals and vision out there! Shaners and I are honored that we had this opportunity! Thank you Cynthia Smoot for wanting to feature us and for taking time out of your day to do this story ♥️🐴😊 I am very motivated to reach all of my goals and I know I can do it with my friends, family, and all of you behind me! . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #news #foxnews #fox13tampabay #usequestrian #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #strongereveryday #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #doingthework #hardwork #lovewhatyoudo #besteam #aspiringparalympian #cp #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGa7kopnqIX/?igshid=1ogtd7poah93z

July 24th 2020: “You are half of our gifts. I the other. Together we make a whole. Together we are much more powerful.”- Joss Stirling. These are professional photos from my lesson last Friday. I was going to work on a dressage test but my usual instructor, Ashley, couldn’t come so Shane and I just had another relaxing lesson. Jane, the instructor that owns Emmaline, the mare I was thinking about leasing, came to watch me ride! Shane was so distracted by the camera and kept stopping whenever he saw it 😂 He still did really well though, and I’m happy with what we did that day. Love you Shaners 😊❤️🐴. . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #shane #americanpainthorse #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #strongereveryday #aspiringparalympian #breakingbarriers #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDROxh1nog6/?igshid=fbi53u4ds2y5

Sept 4 2020: Shaners and I had a great lesson on Friday in a freshly dragged arena with no obstacles 😊 We had a shorter lesson because of the heat and we practiced circles and diagonals again, and I think I’m getting better at eyeballing 20 meter circles. I did my very best to keep Shane moving by tapping him and kissing at him, but getting him to keep a steady pace is still difficult for me as it takes a lot of energy. I also need to remember to keep thinking about my hands because if I lift them too high he thinks I want him to stop. Also, at the end of our lesson we did something VERY exciting! I got to try ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE BIT THROUGH MY HANDS for the first time! Scroll to the last video to see! I was on the lead as Ashley wanted me to adjust to holding the correct position with a greater amount of weight in my hands. I think I did great for my first time and I looked and felt fancy as heck! I’m so proud of everything Shaners and I are able to do in spite of our struggles. Thank you for always giving as much as you can buddy! ❤️😊🐴 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #shane #goodboy #americanpainthorse #thefutureisbright #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #progressnotperfection #strongereveryday #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally #aspiringparalympian (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEzBQNRHhEE/?igshid=1gkgtw8842hm2

Oct 8th, 2020: Hey everyone! I had a great ride with Shane today where I really worked on my body position and finding my seat! Mrs Jenna helped me keep Shane walking so I could focus more on asking Shane for things clearly and where i was going in the arena. He responded so well and was such a good boy and got so many pats! Ashley said my back is getting stronger and I was able to sit without loosing my balance when Shane swung his hind end out! Here’s a cute picture of Shane and I before I left, and scroll to see videos! What do you think of my riding position? 😊❤️🐴 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #kerritseq #ariat #troxelhelmets #aspiringparalympian #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #shane #americanpainthorse #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #breakingbarriers #chasingdreams #cerebralpalsy #cp #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGNzHRnayU/?igshid=1p4ks5zy2rsyx