披荊斬棘

馬術障礙賽總是充滿著起伏和未知的，而讓一切都完美結合需要一些運氣，也正是這份運氣造就了成功和勝利。作為騎手的我們總是在尋求與馬兒達到一種平衡，這是為了確保馬兒能夠在競爭中發(fā)揮出最好的水平，為了避免馬匹受傷，甚至也是為了讓馬兒快樂。但是，事情常常會脫離我們的掌控。這時我們只能盡力保持樂觀積極的態(tài)度專注地進行比賽。

為準備奧林匹克賽，我們整個夏天都在訓練。開始我與兩匹非常棒的馬進行配合，這兩匹馬都已經(jīng)準備好要參加這次比賽，同時為參加 Rio 2016 比賽作鋪墊。但是非常不幸的是，我親愛的未來之星在出色地完成德國的哈根斯坦大獎賽后，她在回家的途中發(fā)生了意外。之后我們得知：她的后腿肌腱受了很重的傷，而她因此至少六個月不能參賽。所以現(xiàn)在，我的身邊只剩下一匹馬了。

我抱著剩下的希望做了一個新的安排。整個夏天我們一直在訓練和表演，于是在比賽來臨之際，我的馬兒已經(jīng)蓄勢待發(fā)。比賽那天，德國刮了一次大風暴。我第一輪熱身剛進行一半，就下了大雨，比賽也就因此暫停了。非常幸運的是，我們第一輪一個障礙桿都沒有碰掉。想贏比賽的我們開始了第二輪比賽。第二輪剛開始，我覺得一切都很完美，我和馬比這個夏天任何時候都更有默契。但幸運又一次遠離了我們，我的馬踏入了水障礙中。一直以來，我的馬出色得令人驚嘆，他自從參賽以來從未踏入過水障礙中，然而這次他卻這么做了。開始，這一切對我來說都是那么的不真實，我以前從未見過這種情況。賽事過后，我意識到了水障礙的失誤使我輸了這場比賽，也讓我們隊失去了奧林匹克賽的唯一參賽名額。說我沒有覺得極度地失望是不可能的，去奧林匹克比賽的機會曾近在咫尺，然而最終我們與其失之交臂。

這就是比賽，但是你可以選擇是否讓失望的情緒繼續(xù)影響你，我不會讓它阻礙我做我喜歡的事情。相反，我會讓這份失望激勵我去實現(xiàn)我的目標。這周，我決定進軍中國錦標賽，希望這次我能夠發(fā)揮出最好的水平。所以，我感謝這一切——無論是起還是伏，無論是祝福、教訓、挫折、愛護，甚至是厭惡，都會讓你變得更加出色強壯，從而使你成為你所能變成的最好的騎手。

The sport of showjumping is always full of ups, downs, and unknowns. There has to be a certain amount of luck for everything to fall together perfectly. But that’s also what makes each success and victory so meaningful. We, as riders, are always trying to maintain a balance in our system with the horses. To make sure they can compete at the best of their abilities, to keep them sound, and even to keep them happy. But every so often, things happen that are outside of our control, and we just have to be able to stay positive and focused.

This summer has been a long journey of training and preparing for the Olympic Qualifications. I started with 2 incredible horses that were both ready to step into the ring and pave their way to Rio 2016. But unfortunately, the up and coming star of mine didn’t have that in her plans. In July, she had a very big accident in the transport on the way home after jumping spectacularly in the grand prix of Steinhagen, Germany. We learned shortly after that she had suffered a great trauma to a very important tendon in her hind leg, which will put her out of the sport for a minimum of 6 months. So, having just one horse left, I created a program for my remaining hope.

We kept training and showing throughout the summer and by the time the qualifications came, he was more than ready…we had a real chance. The day of the competition, there was a very large storm going through Germany…and halfway through the warmup before my first round, the rain came down hard and the class had to be put on hold. Luckily we made it through the first round without a single rail, and were heading into the second with our eyes on the prize. As we came through the second round, everything felt perfect…we were more in sync than we had been that whole summer. But yet again, luck was not on our side. My amazing horse, who has never in his career stepped in the open water, did exactly that. It seemed unreal at first, something I never saw coming. Once the class was over, I realized that the water fault had cost me the win and the only seat for our group to the Olympics. It was hard not to have an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Our chance was now gone, even though we almost had it.

But thats just the reality of this sport. You have a choice on how this type of disappointment affects you. I won’t let it stop me from doing something I love. Instead, I will let it drive me harder to achieve my goals no matter what. This week, I head into the Chinese Championships with the same determination, and to ride to the best of my abilities. So be thankful for it all…the highs, the lows, the blessings, the lessons, the setbacks, the comebacks, the love, and even the hate. They are all there to shape you into a better and stronger version of yourself, and to make you become the best rider you can be.