Achievement Unlocked: Valerie Pride Reflects on Blenheim Palace

This has by far been the hardest memoir to write. I want to get it so right! Somehow it feels like everything happened so quickly forever ago and then other times I’m slowly daydreaming about my rides and it feels like it was just this morning.

Leading up to the event, my mental toughness was most certainly challenged. At first there were rumors that it would be canceled altogether for the Queen’s funeral. A compromise was made of continuing the competition as a mournful one. No parties, no palace receptions, everything shut down by 9 p.m. every evening. We wore armbands when we rode to honor HM and every day at noon there was a two minute silence. On Sunday, they asked all riders to enter the main arena dressed and the silence was broken by this completely bedazzled angel singing God Save the King. It has taken a little getting used to!

Please click here to read the rest of the article as it appears on the Eventing Nation website.

Article written by Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride