Preparing for a major equestrian event like The Run For A Million (TRFAM) is a complex undertaking, especially when balancing it with other commitments. Robyn Schiller, wife of renowned horse trainer Warwick Schiller, shares her candid experience leading up to this prestigious competition. Her journey highlights the intricate decisions involved in training, logistics, and mental preparation, offering a unique insight into the life of a professional rider and trainer’s spouse. This narrative delves into the challenges and triumphs of getting her horse, Oscar, show-ready while managing personal retreats and travel.
The Balancing Act: Retreats, Clinics, and Show Preparations
As the date for TRFAM approached, Robyn faced a scheduling conflict. An invitation to co-facilitate a women’s retreat in August landed on the same weekend she was due to leave for the Vegas event. This presented a significant logistical puzzle, with Warwick also preparing for his England clinic tour. Robyn considered several options: foregoing the retreat to ride Oscar early each morning, taking Oscar to the retreat venue for alternative activities like trail riding and meditation, or leaving Oscar with Warwick for preparation, despite his limited experience with the horse. Ultimately, she chose to bring Oscar to the retreat, integrating his training with activities like QiGong, meditation, and trail rides through vineyards. This decision, she felt, left her feeling mentally and physically rejuvenated, a feeling she believed Oscar shared.
Oscar’s Training Evolution: From Teacher to Competitor
Robyn’s experience with Oscar marked a shift in her approach to horse training. While she had maintained already-trained reining horses like Sherlock and Petey, Oscar, a fully trained horse himself, became her teacher. Initially, the plan was to avoid altering his established methods. However, as Robyn set her sights on him being her WEG (World Equestrian Games) horse, she, with Warwick’s guidance, began incorporating dressage-style exercises. These exercises significantly changed how Oscar carried himself, a change even Warwick noticed. Despite initial challenges and occasional missteps in executing the new maneuvers, Robyn persevered, ultimately refining Oscar’s way of going. This hands-on experience in adapting and refining a horse’s training regimen underscored her growing expertise.
The Journey to Vegas and Initial Impressions
The journey to Las Vegas involved meticulous planning, including arranging for a housesitter and packing for herself, her two dogs, and Oscar. The drive, approximately 9 to 9.5 hours, was managed with the ease of towing a horse trailer, allowing for frequent stops. Robyn’s arrival in Vegas coincided with her participation in a “Paid Warm-Up” session. This session, where riders pay for exclusive arena time, provided an opportunity to practice the show’s Pattern 12, which included a challenging “run-in” maneuver and lead changes from a slow circle – elements that were not Oscar’s strongest points. The venue itself, the South Point Casino & Hotel, offered a unique, self-contained environment where the equestrian facilities were integrated with the hotel and casino. Sharing a tack room due to the high cost of individual stalls, Robyn settled Oscar in, noting the significant expense of the event.
Navigating the Show Pen: Challenges and Adaptations
The main show arena presented its own set of challenges. The presence of draped far ends, potential tractor parking, and a newly erected stage created an intimidating atmosphere for horses. During her Paid Warm-Up, Robyn decided to practice the “run-in” and stopping maneuver. Reflecting in hindsight, she felt this choice, combined with Oscar’s unfamiliarity with the arena, contributed to his anxiety. She spent the remainder of her allotted time trying to calm him by loping quiet circles, positioning herself away from the arena’s more daunting features.
Therapeutic Support and Pre-Competition Routines
Adding to the pre-competition preparations, Greg and Jill from Therasage EMC offered their therapeutic services for Oscar. Their sessions included hands-on massage, cold laser therapy, and PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy, along with Physio Tape application. Robyn also discreetly brought her dogs to their hotel room, a “covert operation” that became routine. The hotel’s switch to wood floors, likely due to the prevalence of horse show debris, proved convenient for her canine companions.
The days leading up to the main competition involved consistent practice. Robyn worked on mastering the “run-in” maneuver in the arena, celebrating their success. However, she also focused on Oscar’s behavior outside the arena, specifically in the “chute” area, where his eagerness to please sometimes led to anticipation and worry. She dedicated time to having him simply stand outside the gate, a deviation from her usual practice of making the gate attractive to the horse, to help him feel more secure.
The Atmosphere and Wellness Focus
Robyn observed a distinct atmosphere at this particular venue compared to others. While typically bustling and competitive, this event felt more social, with fewer horses and a more relaxed energy among the riders, even those considered “million-dollar riders.” This shift may have contributed to a less intense competitive pressure. To further enhance Oscar’s well-being, Robyn scheduled him for a session at a Cold Salt Water therapy unit, known for its benefits to horses’ legs. Despite Oscar’s initial apprehension towards the “spa,” he settled in, and the treatment left his legs feeling refreshed.
The Final Countdown: Observations and Unexpected Opportunities
The day before her competition, Robyn continued with Oscar’s warm-up routine, focusing on controlled entries and exits from the arena. Minor changes in the arena setup, such as elevated judges’ chairs and stage enhancements, seemed to go largely unnoticed by Oscar. The $100K Open Shoot Out class took place that day, an event that unexpectedly revealed a pathway to the 2020 Run For A Million competition for the top five finishers. Robyn watched this class with her best friend, Liz, who had traveled from Texas to offer support. Liz’s presence proved invaluable, providing emotional backing in Warwick’s absence. Their evening included further observation of the 100K class, some light gambling at the casino where Liz had a notable win, and attending the draw party before heading to bed, dogs in tow. The routine of sneaking the dogs into the room had become so normalized that it no longer drew attention.
The narrative concludes with a note indicating the continuation of Robyn’s story in Part 2, leaving readers anticipating the details of the main competition.
