PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
So, after waiting for what seemed like ages, we finally made our BD debut. We've not been out anywhere, not even Unaff since the beginning of June. However, I decided to wait til our closest venue was having a show and dutifully signed up. As I'm restricted by being foreign in to having to be in rider group 3 (bah!) I'm unable to go in at a lower level to get some confidence. And as it's been a while and don't have facilities to practice long arena stuff,felt it more prudent to push ourselves at Nov / Elem rather than two Nov and forget where the markers are on the L/A tests.
Anyway, some personal stuff cropping up meant very little time to prepare. As bad luck would have it, friends who'd offered to come support and help me on the day had backed out or couldn't make it- and so the day before the show I had convinced myself I could *not* possibly make it on a debut on my ownsome. Then I got a kick up backside from trainer who offered to chum me - and that was what I needed.
Nice late times - 3.30 and 4 pm meant it wasn't a mad rush to get pony ready. Had a reasonable amount of time to bathe, plait and prepare lorry. Trainer turned up bang on time and off we went. Got there exaclty on time, very well organised. Got in to warm up and my boy warmed up so sweetly - and he was grinning from head to hoof to be out to a party again. Did our Nov test to what I FELT was a reasonable standard: he was soft, forward and on the aids, very obedient and the test was mostly accurate - only one small error when on the second simple change across the diagnol he picked up the wrong leg (pilot err) and then swiftly corrected. His first med trot was a bit stuffy/runny but the second was definitely better.
The Ele test I knew better, but still managed to forget to GR the rein on one canter circle (despite it being read to me!) and the whole test was not terribly accurate...more pilot error! Horse went and tried his very bestest. His medium trots were much better and his med canter was good. Even managed the LY and the simple changes on 10m 1/2 circles wihtout too much issue.
So the scores were pretty so-so. The Novice we got 58.62 and the Ele 53.somethingorother. The Ele score was totally justified, and perhaps the Nov was too - but I felt really deflated by the lack of any positive comments. The best comment was one which was "better". Better than what? But even the comments in the collectives were a bit "meh".
Despite the lack of encouraging comments, I still really enjoyed my boy and our day out. Lack of mental preparation definitely kicked our butts. Confidence has deffo taken a dent. Ho hum. And boo, not even a photo momento as trainer was busy reading my tests so couldn't take any pics/vid.
Big glass o' red for reading!
Anyway, some personal stuff cropping up meant very little time to prepare. As bad luck would have it, friends who'd offered to come support and help me on the day had backed out or couldn't make it- and so the day before the show I had convinced myself I could *not* possibly make it on a debut on my ownsome. Then I got a kick up backside from trainer who offered to chum me - and that was what I needed.
Nice late times - 3.30 and 4 pm meant it wasn't a mad rush to get pony ready. Had a reasonable amount of time to bathe, plait and prepare lorry. Trainer turned up bang on time and off we went. Got there exaclty on time, very well organised. Got in to warm up and my boy warmed up so sweetly - and he was grinning from head to hoof to be out to a party again. Did our Nov test to what I FELT was a reasonable standard: he was soft, forward and on the aids, very obedient and the test was mostly accurate - only one small error when on the second simple change across the diagnol he picked up the wrong leg (pilot err) and then swiftly corrected. His first med trot was a bit stuffy/runny but the second was definitely better.
The Ele test I knew better, but still managed to forget to GR the rein on one canter circle (despite it being read to me!) and the whole test was not terribly accurate...more pilot error! Horse went and tried his very bestest. His medium trots were much better and his med canter was good. Even managed the LY and the simple changes on 10m 1/2 circles wihtout too much issue.
So the scores were pretty so-so. The Novice we got 58.62 and the Ele 53.somethingorother. The Ele score was totally justified, and perhaps the Nov was too - but I felt really deflated by the lack of any positive comments. The best comment was one which was "better". Better than what? But even the comments in the collectives were a bit "meh".
Despite the lack of encouraging comments, I still really enjoyed my boy and our day out. Lack of mental preparation definitely kicked our butts. Confidence has deffo taken a dent. Ho hum. And boo, not even a photo momento as trainer was busy reading my tests so couldn't take any pics/vid.
Big glass o' red for reading!