I am going to China.

To compete.

Holy Yikes!!!!!

I have worked so hard to finally be able to say those words. WOW!

And I am so excited. And I am so scared. And then the pendulum swings back to the excited side. Hold on Jill!

It started 4weeks ago, 6 weeks before the competition. I read about the opportunity offered by the China Institute of Horse Culture, Sports & Tourism, to pay for one rider from the USA to attend 2019 FITE TREC International Championship Equestrian Competition in Weifang, Shandong. on October 26,2019. All expenses paid minus airfare from the country of origin to China.

In the back of my head I had been thinking about trying out for the TREC-USA team that would go to the European Cup next year. While I have a strong background in dressage, eventing, teaching people, training horses, with the certifacates and ribbons to prove it, I do not have much experience with the TREC discipline. Since there have not been many opportunities in the States to gain this experience, it was easy to convinence my self it was it was probably another daydream..  Evasive, teasing, and fun, but still a dream. Like the one I once had about going to the Olympics in dressage…. or eventing. Seriously, not my financial reality.

Then this China opportunity blipped on my screen. And I thought, why not. No one needs to know. If the national organization doesn’t want me because I currently have no international experience, that’s OK. At least I will have taken the first step. I applied.

Three weeks ago. Five weeks before the competition.

At least 6 experienced people applied. The TREC-USA board announced that they would let us know their decision the 2nd of October (3 weeks out) and there was a lot to get in order for the person/people that were selected. They mentioned an official invitation from Chinese, plane tickets, a Chinese visa (requiring a minimum of four days if you took two days off of work or eight days with a visa company) and a commitment to the trip. TREC-USA also announced that they would like to send more than one rider and split the ‘free ride’ between them all.

One week ago. Three weeks before departure.

And I got it!!!! Mary Harcourt and Kim Harrison are also going. Our contingent. Sweet.

Purchase tickets. Travel agent or online. Contact a friend in the travel world. Line up help. Find the other credit card. Ask about sponsorship – not my strong point. Send info to TREC-USA. Decide on a travel agent. Get visa. Whoops, need the letter of invitation from the Chinese to get the visa. Request TREC-USA please forward letter of invite. Oh my, technical problems. Sigh. Get vaccines. Start firming up farm care and life care. Oh no… a mobile number is required to enter China. Seriously, I do not want a mobile number but the only form of communication in China that will be used by the competition is an app called WeChat. Google is not allowed. Period. A mobile number is required. (Thank you Sandy and Mike. So grateful for all you do for me from mobile number to life support. Xo).

15 days out. A Monday. TREC-USA sends the letter of invite. I work another job on Mondays and am not able to get the visa off to a visa company until Tuesday. That leaves two weeks.

That was yesterday.

13 days and counting.

I want this. I want to go to the European cup next year. And I want to be a top contender in the European cup for 2024.

Here is the first step of the rest of my life.

Thanks for your love and support in what ever fashion you give it.

I need it.

XO,

Jill

PS. More soon.  J

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