trendybraincell
Well-Known Member
The Little Donkey and I have been merrily chugging along at Elementary for a while now, I was quite happy to call it as our limit but trainer 1 & 2 feel a bit different and have been slowly pressing me to try more. So I'd put my brave pants on and decided I'd give a Medium a try at the end of the month
I searched for a show with 61 to ease me into things, everything was set and then I had a message from trainer 2 asking if I'd like to do a couple of Mediums at a venue today for some judges training, they basically needed more riders downside being it was M69 and M75 ah well I thought, I have no intention of selling Shadow so it doesn't matter if he has some blimps on his record
Now Shadow does not do heat, so with the temps rocketing up I was really starting to doubt our chances of getting round 2 tests thankfully when I called up for my times I was told it was just one test (phew!) but that it was M75 so my first Medium was going to be 75
We trundled off with a lorry stock piled with H2O to Hunters and arrived with plenty of time...just how I like it. Que some time to faff about, ensure I knew my test and get ready. I went in the warm up and the moment we set off I knew it was going to be tough going, so I did a lot of stretchy bendy walk to start then little bursts of trot, canter and lateral work but just enough to ensure I would be able to get him sideways when I needed
I hope photobucket has accepted I've resized them!!
I was hardcore and donned my jacket and headed off for the test
I was hoping the daft grin on my face as I cantered into the arena would be enough for the judge to want to give me 10's all round
Any way I'll save giving you a run down of the test and let you watch it instead. There are a lot of green mistakes, theres loads of room for improvement BUT I don't think we embarrassed ourselves (much) had there not been the funny moment into the 2nd walk piri and if I'd managed to keep the canter after the extended diagonal I think we'd have been +60% mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EJovdHB-iU
As it was we came away with 58.64% (4th and last in restricted) which I am really pleased with. It was a seriously big ask of the little donkey today, he hates this heat and yet he really did try his little heart out I feel with a bit more practice we might not be too bad.
All I can offer is a liquified Galaxy Ripple and a carton of warm ribena
I searched for a show with 61 to ease me into things, everything was set and then I had a message from trainer 2 asking if I'd like to do a couple of Mediums at a venue today for some judges training, they basically needed more riders downside being it was M69 and M75 ah well I thought, I have no intention of selling Shadow so it doesn't matter if he has some blimps on his record
Now Shadow does not do heat, so with the temps rocketing up I was really starting to doubt our chances of getting round 2 tests thankfully when I called up for my times I was told it was just one test (phew!) but that it was M75 so my first Medium was going to be 75
We trundled off with a lorry stock piled with H2O to Hunters and arrived with plenty of time...just how I like it. Que some time to faff about, ensure I knew my test and get ready. I went in the warm up and the moment we set off I knew it was going to be tough going, so I did a lot of stretchy bendy walk to start then little bursts of trot, canter and lateral work but just enough to ensure I would be able to get him sideways when I needed
I hope photobucket has accepted I've resized them!!
I was hardcore and donned my jacket and headed off for the test
I was hoping the daft grin on my face as I cantered into the arena would be enough for the judge to want to give me 10's all round
Any way I'll save giving you a run down of the test and let you watch it instead. There are a lot of green mistakes, theres loads of room for improvement BUT I don't think we embarrassed ourselves (much) had there not been the funny moment into the 2nd walk piri and if I'd managed to keep the canter after the extended diagonal I think we'd have been +60% mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EJovdHB-iU
As it was we came away with 58.64% (4th and last in restricted) which I am really pleased with. It was a seriously big ask of the little donkey today, he hates this heat and yet he really did try his little heart out I feel with a bit more practice we might not be too bad.
All I can offer is a liquified Galaxy Ripple and a carton of warm ribena