black_horse
Well-Known Member
Well, what can i say, i think i am jumping high over the moon then the cow!
Had a few dramas before we left our yard to get to the venue, apparently the painters wanted to turn up two weeks early, just to add to my problems
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Got to the venue, delicia shot off the lorry, snort and acting like the giant black stallion she is not, tacked up and got on, passaged to the arenas and then, after letting out a big sigh, relaxed. Due to previous dramas and me being unprepared for them, i only had 20 minutes to warm up so worked on suppleness and getting her to accept my legs. Dee worked on my reactions and decided she didnt like my right leg.
Passaged down to the arena for my elementary 40. I used to test as a warm up for our medium, working on her neck and quarter placement, letting go of the curb almost completely and ridding of the snaffle rein. Was a nice little test, though i didnt really ask for the first medium trot,(which reflected in my mark of 7) and only allowed a few strides of medium canter as i didnt want to blow her brains. But she settled nicely so i asked for a little more. I got an 8 for our second medium canter (judge said she would have given me a nine is i had done the stride the full length rather then between the 1/4 lines but i would rather ask for few steps at the moment). The first counter canter was brilliant, the second dee thought i mean canter half pass and so we were marked down, though the judge loved our transition from medium canter to trot. Troted down the center line nicely but piaffed at the end before halting. (And a ver nice piaffe it was too, it was not the tension type but and actual piaffe....didnt realise that button was there, i was trying to ride her into the halt lol). I wasnt that pleased with the test, but happy with her.
Went to warm up for the medium and the next door neighbours started their fireworks display! I have never been more proud of delicia in my life. Every other horse bolted to the gate, a few riders almost came off. Dee just pricked her ears and continued walking towards the fireworks on a loose rein. She is really starting to trust me and she got a sugar lump for that. I warmed her up for the medium, was harder this time as the other horses were very spooked by the foreworks (luckily the organiser went and asked them to stop, which they did), so dee had a few horses hugging her ass. She doesnt mind, and wouldnt kick, but it gets her attention rather then my aids.
We were last to go in the medium, my time was 5:51. It was bloody cold and dark. Thank god for indoor arenas and lights! Went into the medium and my back was sore so put my stirrups up a hole, hopeing it would help. We rode a respectable test. She planted herself in the right half pass but i managed to get her back and get half pass towards the end of the movement. Could really show extended trot as my back was just too sore and she broke in the last canter but those were the only errors. Obviously it looked better then i felt it (bear in mind my nerve disorder means my feelings are very strange at the best of times!). But i did all trot work sitting, i didnt hover as i though i should just grin and bear it. I couldnt establish the halt very well at the end as fireworks further in the distance made dee worry, but i didnt mind. I dropped the contact and patted her, she let out another sigh and i finished the test.
Then i got to see the marks. Out of 15 in the elementary we came 5th with 66.69% (the winner got 67.4%!) and in the medium we came 2nd with a score of 65%! The winner in the medium beat me on collectives by 1 mark (i blame my back) but dee got a 9 for her paces and i got an 8 for my riding). I am over the moon. I have qualified for the venues dressage championships and for hickstead.
Very clever pony and a very proud rider. No photos this time as too dark/foggy but bloody well done to her.
Had a few dramas before we left our yard to get to the venue, apparently the painters wanted to turn up two weeks early, just to add to my problems
.Got to the venue, delicia shot off the lorry, snort and acting like the giant black stallion she is not, tacked up and got on, passaged to the arenas and then, after letting out a big sigh, relaxed. Due to previous dramas and me being unprepared for them, i only had 20 minutes to warm up so worked on suppleness and getting her to accept my legs. Dee worked on my reactions and decided she didnt like my right leg.
Passaged down to the arena for my elementary 40. I used to test as a warm up for our medium, working on her neck and quarter placement, letting go of the curb almost completely and ridding of the snaffle rein. Was a nice little test, though i didnt really ask for the first medium trot,(which reflected in my mark of 7) and only allowed a few strides of medium canter as i didnt want to blow her brains. But she settled nicely so i asked for a little more. I got an 8 for our second medium canter (judge said she would have given me a nine is i had done the stride the full length rather then between the 1/4 lines but i would rather ask for few steps at the moment). The first counter canter was brilliant, the second dee thought i mean canter half pass and so we were marked down, though the judge loved our transition from medium canter to trot. Troted down the center line nicely but piaffed at the end before halting. (And a ver nice piaffe it was too, it was not the tension type but and actual piaffe....didnt realise that button was there, i was trying to ride her into the halt lol). I wasnt that pleased with the test, but happy with her.
Went to warm up for the medium and the next door neighbours started their fireworks display! I have never been more proud of delicia in my life. Every other horse bolted to the gate, a few riders almost came off. Dee just pricked her ears and continued walking towards the fireworks on a loose rein. She is really starting to trust me and she got a sugar lump for that. I warmed her up for the medium, was harder this time as the other horses were very spooked by the foreworks (luckily the organiser went and asked them to stop, which they did), so dee had a few horses hugging her ass. She doesnt mind, and wouldnt kick, but it gets her attention rather then my aids.
We were last to go in the medium, my time was 5:51. It was bloody cold and dark. Thank god for indoor arenas and lights! Went into the medium and my back was sore so put my stirrups up a hole, hopeing it would help. We rode a respectable test. She planted herself in the right half pass but i managed to get her back and get half pass towards the end of the movement. Could really show extended trot as my back was just too sore and she broke in the last canter but those were the only errors. Obviously it looked better then i felt it (bear in mind my nerve disorder means my feelings are very strange at the best of times!). But i did all trot work sitting, i didnt hover as i though i should just grin and bear it. I couldnt establish the halt very well at the end as fireworks further in the distance made dee worry, but i didnt mind. I dropped the contact and patted her, she let out another sigh and i finished the test.
Then i got to see the marks. Out of 15 in the elementary we came 5th with 66.69% (the winner got 67.4%!) and in the medium we came 2nd with a score of 65%! The winner in the medium beat me on collectives by 1 mark (i blame my back) but dee got a 9 for her paces and i got an 8 for my riding). I am over the moon. I have qualified for the venues dressage championships and for hickstead.
Very clever pony and a very proud rider. No photos this time as too dark/foggy but bloody well done to her.