Tr0uble
Well-Known Member
What a day!
I've been a little down about dressage lately, feeling like I'm not good enough, and Rhythm has gone between struggling with stamina, and being a little GIT!
So I went with low expectations and I was very nervous. Rhythm was a superstar right from the off, he was chilled out at the lorry despite it being rammed and crowded (Trailblazers 2nd rounds!) and went into the warm up like he owned the place.
The warm up is tiny at this venue, so we always struggle a bit, but I just concentrated on getting him soft and supple and off my leg. I was really happy With the warm up, and for the first time in ages he carried that in to the test arena, and tried his heart out for me!
First test was Novice 27, and apart from the 10m half circles being a bit crap, it went well....thrilled to find we had come 1st on 66.07%!!
By the second test...the Trailblazer qualifier test, he was running out of juice and I could tell he was trying his hardest, but was getting heavier and lower in his frame. Despite this the test went smoothly, but I knew it wouldn't score as well as the first....the judge very fairly scored us 63.75%, and then I had the agonising wait while the rest of the class went...being a TB second round it was a big class...but I'm delighted to say we clung on to 5th place in the class...4th out of the TB section, so we are through! Off the Stonleigh Park we go!
I was so, so pleased with his attitude today, I'm still buzzing!
No pics, I'm afraid...we got video on OHs phone but can't get it off there to use :-( pro pics should be up in 48 hours.
I've been a little down about dressage lately, feeling like I'm not good enough, and Rhythm has gone between struggling with stamina, and being a little GIT!
So I went with low expectations and I was very nervous. Rhythm was a superstar right from the off, he was chilled out at the lorry despite it being rammed and crowded (Trailblazers 2nd rounds!) and went into the warm up like he owned the place.
The warm up is tiny at this venue, so we always struggle a bit, but I just concentrated on getting him soft and supple and off my leg. I was really happy With the warm up, and for the first time in ages he carried that in to the test arena, and tried his heart out for me!
First test was Novice 27, and apart from the 10m half circles being a bit crap, it went well....thrilled to find we had come 1st on 66.07%!!
By the second test...the Trailblazer qualifier test, he was running out of juice and I could tell he was trying his hardest, but was getting heavier and lower in his frame. Despite this the test went smoothly, but I knew it wouldn't score as well as the first....the judge very fairly scored us 63.75%, and then I had the agonising wait while the rest of the class went...being a TB second round it was a big class...but I'm delighted to say we clung on to 5th place in the class...4th out of the TB section, so we are through! Off the Stonleigh Park we go!
I was so, so pleased with his attitude today, I'm still buzzing!
No pics, I'm afraid...we got video on OHs phone but can't get it off there to use :-( pro pics should be up in 48 hours.
