Becki's Wobbleberry Challenge
Willberry spoke to Becki at the beginnning of the year about the Wobbleberry Challenge she completed last year. He was blown away by her outstanding story and is so glad she's managed to keep on kicking.
"Last year I was lucky enough to complete my challenge at the Hannah Francis one day event on my very own wonder pony Ardent Buck
I only brought him in May and we spent the first couple of months getting to know each other....this wasn't all plain sailing as I have to say I was a total novice and 100% massive wimp.
Our first attempt at showjumping was at a clinic where I got off about 10 minutes in tears as I had 0 control and couldn't even make it from fence one to two.
I only brought him in May and we spent the first couple of months getting to know each other....this wasn't all plain sailing as I have to say I was a total novice and 100% massive wimp.
Our first attempt at showjumping was at a clinic where I got off about 10 minutes in tears as I had 0 control and couldn't even make it from fence one to two.
Being used to my nappy mare it took time to get used to a very fast thoroughbred who loved to jump (sometimes loving it too much), heading towards fences at 100 miles an hour was terrifying but it was nice to actually make it over them together instead of taking flying lessons solo (well most if the time anyway)
We headed to our first unaffiliated event in June where I was so unprepared, stupidly I walked the xc on the day and then spent 20 minutes sat in the back of my car with my head between my knees trying not to pass out, however buck truly showed me what he was made of that day and we managed to come a very surprising 5th
I had always wanted to complete at the Hannah Francis one day event but we were not sure if this was realistic having only brought him a couple of months prior but after finishing at Solihull in one piece and still on the horse, caution was thrown to the wind and I booked on.
Doing this was massive to me as not only do I have bipolar disorder but I also have aspergers, these combined make it so hard to do anything out of routine or travel far from home but I can honestly say this challenge has changed my life. my drive to complete and meet the wonderful people I've met online made me determined we would travel the 3 hour to the event and stay over night
I can honestly say this was the best decision I ever made, it was the friendliest, most supportive event I've ever been to and I made some amazing friends for life that day! Everyone was in the same boat and there was always someone in each warm up who looked just as green and terrified as I was.
Despite the crippling heat we managaed our best dressage score to date with 28.3% followed by a cracking clear showjumping and then flew round the cross country like we had been a partnership forever, with my amazing wobbleberry support crew screaming encouragement at every turn.
I finished that day second in my section and was the highest placed wobbleberry as well.
What can I say this day lit a fire inside me and I have never ever looked back.
I've gone from a very depressed, lonely person with very unhealthy coping mechanisms to a bubbly, driven, crazy EVENTER.....yes I can honestly call myself an eventer now!
I went on last year to do my first BE80, and then moved up to affiliated 90s for the rest of the season! I may have thrown up 4 times before the cross country at frickley, oh yes and projectile vomited across the car park at eland lodge but WE DID IT!
Buck and I now have some very big dreams and we have been working our butts off through the winter so far honing our dressage and showjumping skills ready for our first full affiliated season this year with the aim to move up to 100
I went into this challenge just to do my 80 but I've found that I absolutely adore eventing, the sport, the people everything about it is just amazing.
No one that knew me before I took on the wobbleberry challenge can believe the change in my, my mental health is the best it's ever been, I have the most AMAZING friends (mostly all have been met through the challenge at some point) and I have my wonder pony by my side!
I just want to say a huge huge thank you to Hannah for creating this amazing legacy as if it wasn't for her I'd never have even thought about eventing and I'd probably still be sat at home every weekend with no plans for the future.
Hopefully buck and I will be able to continue climbing slowly up the levels showing what us wobbleberries are made of
If you would like to follow us and watch us try to make our crazy dreams happen we are on Facebook by clicking here."
#inspiredbyHannah