Team #560 Sanfra Bunke and Layla Jag

Team #560: Sanfra Bunke and Layla Jag
From: Montgomery, Alabama
Ages: 73 & 29
Combined Age: 102
Test: Training Level Test 2
Date: May 14, 2022

I have been in love with horses forever. I crawled on any horse at any time since I was a tot. Eventing was my discipline of choice in the 80s, but now I focus on dressage. Layla came into my life as an unbroke 10-year-old. Now she will do whatever she thinks I am asking her for, even if I may give her confusing signals at times. We even placed third in our breed's year-end Training Level awards. I love learning all I can about dressage, horse care, and hoof care. Layla is still going strong with the help of acupuncture, chiro, and physical therapy exercises.

Getting ready for “the show” is always nerve-racking. There is schooling for the test, strategizing techniques, and an equipment checklist. The thing Charlotte Dujardin said when asked about riding in the 2012 Olympics struck a chord with me. She said that she just thought of it as any other schooling ride. I said to myself, "That is what I am going to do for my Century Club ride." I had to overcome the stressors of showing by planning ahead. When putting everything together, I couldn’t find my show helmet or Layla’s show bridle. I had to put together alternatives and pack the trailer. (P.S. both were found later hiding in plain sight.)

Show day focused on Layla’s comfort and state of mind. After a brief warmup, the bell rang and we entered the ring to ride. Layla gave it her all. We received our best score yet and won first place in both the Training Level Test 2 and Training Level Test 3 classes. I was over the moon!

Click here to watch a video of our ride!