Externship - DAY 28 - Check In and Make a Wish

Today I woke up at 5:30 am to meet a couple more students to help with check in for the 50 plus students and horses that were coming in for the fast track, a 4 week intense course for level 2 plus students with goals of completing levels 3 and 4 and going into professionals program. I took this course November of last year, it was great and so were the instructors! We had people coming in from all over the world, naming some such as Italy, Austria, France, England, Canada and more! It was interesting speaking to all the different cultures all in one day, it was a wonderful experience... I enjoyed it very much.

We ate some lunch and then went to take care of my horse, we then headed over to the Ocala Equestrian Complex for the competition fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation... what a WONDERFUL experience, such amazing horse trainers and riders in one place. Pat and David O'Connors team went for one of the highest bids. I am not sure who won at the end, I DO KNOW that I learned a lot and almost cried as I know this is exactly what I want to do! I am looking to work with the trainer that Pat recommends right after my externship, Marc De Champlain, for working cow horse training. I hope I will be able to do it, because I am beyond excited! So beyond excited!

It is very late, and it seems we have another busy day tomorrow. I am not sure exactly what we are going to do tomorrow, I do know we are to meet at 8:30 am with Berin at the Intern tack room to start the day. My parents should be meeting me at 7:00 am to say goodbye before they leave for North Carolina, I do not want them to leave but they will be back in a couple of more weeks. I have work to do here alone, and they have work to do at home. We should have mid-terms at the end of next week, I am excited to get a report on how I am doing an where I can improve. I just can't believe we are this close to the mid-mark... it's crazy!

Talk Soon,

Mariah Helms