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Frodo and I went to Hunters Equestrian at Cirencester today for my little ex-racing pony's second attempt at dressage - what a fabulous venue and such lovely welcoming owners 
The weather was just revolting unfortunately,although the rain did slacken off slightly whilst I was in the warm up - we didn't get out of walk due to tension, and I really wasn't sure we would get into the arena! First test was in the lovely indoor arena which we walked into without batting an eyelid (yay!) and although perhaps it wasn't a test to write home about, combined with a judge who was quite robust in her marking too (which I never mind), I was really pleased We managed to walk this time (in our first competition Frodo jogged all through the walk sections) and got a 6 from the robust judge for our free walk I managed to go wrong in a walk and trot test (don't ask me how...) which lost us a couple of marks 
Then we had to go and lurk in the car park in the pouring rain between our first and second tests, I didn't dare go into the warm up again as there were already 6 in there & I really didn't want F to upset anyone else's horse. The second test was outside in an arena parallel to the warm up, in torrential rain. F was so busy gawping at the horses in the warm up that he didn't really achieve a single decent movement It was character building, even though the judge was more generous and we achieved 2% more than the first test!
Quickly put F back on the lorry and tucked him up with his hay net, then went to get my test sheets - and I was astonished to see we had won the first class!!!! A beautiful red rosette adorned our test sheet, you could have knocked me down with a feather....
Well OK, I have to admit it
, the only other horse in the class went HC 
Gave me a good giggle at the time though, and ironically I am very happy with today as we achieved my objectives - go to a new venue without a stress explosion, and actually walk in a test instead of jogging! I am easily pleased.....
The weather was just revolting unfortunately,although the rain did slacken off slightly whilst I was in the warm up - we didn't get out of walk due to tension, and I really wasn't sure we would get into the arena! First test was in the lovely indoor arena which we walked into without batting an eyelid (yay!) and although perhaps it wasn't a test to write home about, combined with a judge who was quite robust in her marking too (which I never mind), I was really pleased
We managed to walk this time (in our first competition Frodo jogged all through the walk sections) and got a 6 from the robust judge for our free walk I managed to go wrong in a walk and trot test (don't ask me how...) which lost us a couple of marks Then we had to go and lurk in the car park in the pouring rain between our first and second tests, I didn't dare go into the warm up again as there were already 6 in there & I really didn't want F to upset anyone else's horse. The second test was outside in an arena parallel to the warm up, in torrential rain. F was so busy gawping at the horses in the warm up that he didn't really achieve a single decent movement
It was character building, even though the judge was more generous and we achieved 2% more than the first test!Quickly put F back on the lorry and tucked him up with his hay net, then went to get my test sheets - and I was astonished to see we had won the first class!!!! A beautiful red rosette adorned our test sheet, you could have knocked me down with a feather....
Well OK, I have to admit it
, the only other horse in the class went HC Gave me a good giggle at the time though, and ironically I am very happy with today as we achieved my objectives - go to a new venue without a stress explosion, and actually walk in a test instead of jogging! I am easily pleased..... 
. Plus I'm very jealous it's only taken you two outings to get a calmer, explosive free day, think it took Topaz about 2 years and she is a pretend carriage horse not even a ex-racer 
