Annies dressage debut ...

[NicoleS_007]

Well today, baby 4yr coloured beasty done her very first show Pony washed, rugged and bandaged over night to eliminate poopy stain syndrome Our times were 9.14 for Prelim and 9.49 for the nov, we stable at the yard so a nice late start at 6am for plaiting etc They changed the dressage into the spooky newer arena i had never used that warm up and only jumped in there once before and she spooked at everything and catapaulted me into the fence But i suppose that makes everything more exciting as I didnt know how she would react, like a proper show I was expecting her to be super fresh as she had yesterday off but she was infact super lazy!! Wasnt bothered by the numerous horses in the warm up either, shockingly as shes always spooky. So into Prelim 18 and she died a death!! Totally behind the leg and not really going anywere at all. During the serpentine we accidently stepped on one of the boards which put her off so ended in her grinding to a halt/walk as there was a women at the fence so she tippy toed past when we were suppose to be trotting And then I forgot the test lol I mixed it up with the Novice and walked when I was ment to canter at the end of the long side!! Dohhh!! We still have problems with getting the right leg in canter, hence the leg aid so far back so as not to confuse her. But pleased anyway that she didnt freak out We finished with 60% but we didnt come last Woooo!!! There was something like 45 in the class!! But comments pretty much as i thought; Lazy, needs to take contact down in free walk ... and thats all i can make out of the scrawly writing!!
Just plaited ...

And off we go ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOcL7QdJzKc
As you will see, i am nagging at her basically the whole way!! Blumin toad Oh why couldnt she have been like the nice bay next door doing the Novice

Onto the Nov 34 ... Warm up was bunged so we went into the jumping warm up as it was empty (were we ride most of the time) done lots of transitions etc to waken her up and get her off the leg. Seemed to work .... then she died again!! Turned into a lazy toad as soon as we entered for our test. So again nagging at her the whole way through the test. Tbh she was a bit out of her dept with the Nov but she was a lot more bendy, less spooky and listened to my canter aid alot better so we got the right leg everytime. She did have a bit of a spook on the right rein and dragged me down the long side when we were suppose to be doing a medium canter lol but hey ho. Um medium trot and canter was unexcistant basically. I dont know why she turned into a lazy toad in the ring as shes usually quite forward (like in the empty warm up), she was not at all tired but now at least we know what she will be like at comps so lots to improve on We scored a very crappy 54.17% and comments echoed the Prelim; Needs to react to rider aids, wandering along, needs more swing, nice balance but lacks impulsion, lazy. These were my first ventures into the dressage arena aswell so we werent very acurate either!! There were quite a few very established horses, so im guessing we were last out of the 18 Some were rather impressive ... and then theres pudgy Annie and me haha but everyone has to start somewere. Overall a productive day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cO8apcCr5c

After the tests

Off to the field she goes after a *hard* (haha yeah right!!) days work ... She perked up then, and the curly mane is cute!!

Woo thats long!! Any tips to improve very much welcome I think we'll stick to using the jumping saddle in future though as i really do hate thon wintec!! Makes my legs swing more than usual but the deep seat means easier to sit to spooks lol Choose this option for today as it matched bridle *disclaimer it does infact fit horse*

 

[only_me]

She looks very pretty! And not bad for a first debut! Was the judge IH in the prelim?

Any plans for the next outing?

PS. don't they always do the dressage in the new arena? There is dressage for all on the 26th june there afaik

 

[NicoleS_007]

Might be, cant make out signiture lol And nope I think the dressage is usually in the older one and it said on the board it was in there but then they changed it when setting up on Sat Hmmm I dont really know what we'll be doing now, would quite like to turn her away for a few weeks but thats not really possible :/ Most likely do some jumping now as she hasnt jumped in a few weeks, she loves it maybe thats why shes in slow mo mode

 

[only_me]

lol ah ok Ive only done dressage in the new arena

on the 26th they have showjumping as well, but the smallest could be 90cm, not sure, but there is schools jumping there on the 29th, but they have jumping open to all in the new arena?

Maybe she needs to go for a gallop

 

[Chermar]

Well done! Its all about experience, when our 4 yro does anything he has to be driven into it and looks like a plodder, then once he knows what its all about he is very much the opposite, expose her to as much as possible and she will be fine! She looks fab!

 

[Ilovefoals]

Awww, well done. And you have to excuse her really cos she's just too dam pretty!!!

 

[j1ffy]

She's stunning! I'm sure she'll get better with more practice - did you carry a schooling whip in the test? I'm impressed that you entered the novice too, I'm not brave enough to do it until we've nailed counter canter and medium trot at home!!

 

[rowy]

Well done! thats very good for a dressage debut and your very brave for doing the novice! Must have been something in the air for the 4 year olds cos on sat was my 4 year old dressage debut and he was just as dead when he is usually really forward!

 

[NicoleS_007]

Thanks everyone Only entered the Nov to see if she would improve from the first one, which she did. She felt alot more bendy and less spooky, and she actually went straight up the enter line instead of leftish like the Prelim lol

O_M - They have unregistered jumping on 18th, 22th and 25th in new arena except 22nd is old arena. I no nothing about the 29th Although there is an RDS qualifier this wed, so ya no we might do the 1.20s

RE the lazy pony i actually think theres something not quite right with her tbh. I never have to nag at her shes always really forward and she was really quite in the stable yeaterday and again today. She is usually quite vocal in the stable but has just stood at the back of the stable all morning an is eating very slowly compared to usual. She was also very quite to get shod this morning when shes usually spooky and snapping her legs back from farrier but non of that this morning :/