BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
Hello again everyone!!!!
I figured it was time to hit you all with another batch of fun videos and to catch you up with what's been going on.
It's May 20th and since we last caught up we have done (technically) 3 shows. I say technically because we should have been at our 4 day show in Virginia today, BUT, the show we were going to will be having temps of 36 degrees Celsius today and won't be lower than 31 degrees all weekend. Cudo cannot handle heat with humidity over about 26 degrees. So we quickly shifted course and did a day at a show 2 hours away in New Jersey on Weds, and a different show for the day yesterday. We did 2 classes at each and the temps were lower and breezy and it was fine weather. Much nicer to be able to come home each night and he was able to be turned out for abbreviated overnight turnout, so he could relax in his routine with his buddy Beau. They came in at 11pm both nights so he would retain some energy for shipping and showing each next day.
But first....on May 8th we got to run back to one of the Premier Show Facilities on the east coast and conquer some older 'demons'. Back in 2018 we had a ROUGH show at Old Salem Farm. Well this year they redid their grass arena to have footing and the weekend before their big deal 2 week show series started, they offered a true deal. They had an unrecognized show, Sat and Sun, and the office fee was just $50 and each class was just $50. The classes only went up to 1.10m, but I thought this was a FABULOUS way to start chipping away at my personal issues so we can hopefully show their at their fall premiere show. So off Cudo and I went on Saturday....near on 5 hours in the trailer. Stabled overnight 1/2 mile away, competed Sunday and then right back on the trailer and 5 hours home again. LOL.
We did a speed round and a Jump off class. (Sorry....can't find the post we did that would give me the English equivalents) He was great and although I made a slight mistake here and there he was wonderful. We ended up winning the Jump off class. The speed class I could have ridden better as I was cantering to the first fence thinking:
"I can win this class too...I want to win this class too...Hey I don't see a distance to this fence....Let me start pulling on his mouth a bit and I'll find it." (Clunk....down falls the first rail)
Cudo: "WOULD YOU JUST LET GO AND KICK NEXT TIME!!!"
Anyway...here's a Tiktok of the jump off itself from the first class. I LOVE the music behind it. SO appropriate.
https://www.tiktok.com/@xctrygirlus...1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7064012529277994502
Ok so fast forward to this week. Since we broke up 1 week into 2 days with drives I wanted to stick to only 2 classes per day. But I had cross entered to have some choices based on how he was feeling.
At Princeton Weds we did the 1.15m as a warm up and I came out of the ring beaming. He was just feeling so well and clearly happy to be back doing it in that ring, it has a lot of atmosphere, and the course was built as a decent sized course. We then progressed to the 1.20m open for our second class. I had cross entered the 1.30m but I am trying to be smart about going back to the heights when we're riding more correctly and better. At 15 years old now and in our 5th show season together, it's more of an aim for skills over scope/bravado. With the understanding that sometimes we fall back on the scope/bravado as we are in the process of transforming the ride style.
1.15 -
1.20 -
Yesterday we went on to Swan Lake (where we did the schooling show in April) and carried over the positive rides from the day before at Princeton. I had again cross entered 4 classes to make the best choices for what would suit and keep the confidence and improvements going forward. I was initially on the fence about again starting the day with a 1.15 or just starting at 1.20 to build off the day before. I decided to walk the 1.15 and decide then. I did and glad I did...it was small. So we skipped it and did the 1.20 as our warm up course. I had a lovely chat with the course designer and specifically asked about that days Speed Stakes. In the prize list it was listed as being 1.25-1.30 in height. I asked if it was going to be a maxed out course, given that it was only Thursday, or maybe a touch softer. He agreed that it would likely be 1.25 for the most part with maybe an errant 1.30 here or there. Such sweet words to my mind. I figured that if we were ok in the 1.20 we'd again skip the 1.30 and head to the speed class. We both love and are good at speed classes, so it seemed wise enough.
The 1.20 went well, but oddly, he knocked 2 rails...both green oxers. And his rails at Princeton, had both been green oxers. I am for sure buying green paint soon and redoing some rails. LOL. I am not sure the correlation but of course there are ride improvements to make as well. So on we went to the speed stakes class. Now for sure I was aware this was a money class, but it was also a tremendous opportunity to ride a nice course, on excellent footing, in the beginning of the year and get some mileage going for the future. It was a Table 3 class so the faults were converted to time. IE. drop a rail, get 4 seconds added to your time. A show friend of mine won this class the week before with a dropped rail. So it's possible to overcome what would normally knock you out.
You can watch what happened in the video, but please know I have rarely had so much FUN on a horse. ANY horse. The judge, announcer, course designer all thought we would win it if we'd just kept it to 2 rails....but then he ticked 2 more. Oh well. They LOVED him though and praised him highly. My dad was there (he videoed) John shot pics and you know what...I had a ton of fun and could share it with my closest supporters. I praised all the folks I knew that I competed against...they rode great. And they should, the winner is a Grand Prix rider, another friend is an established 5* eventer, and some other strong professional riders were in that field.
And me, well scores be damned.... we'll take this as a learning day and get some more fitness and prep for the next show and speed class, but it was lovely to come out of 2 days, 4 rounds and no egregious, horrifying, pearl clutching errors. Sure there's lots to improve on, but that's life with horses.
1.20m -
Speed Stake -
We have built the schedule to give him a 3 week break before our next show, Upperville, with the 4 round competition thing for riders over 50. Those courses are 1.10, 1.10, 1.15 and 1.15. Should be a nice challenge and then after that he'll get another 3 weeks til we do one of the Twilight Jumper classes at night in Virginia.
Cudo for his part is happily resting in his stall today after being out last night. I turned him out naked so he could have a bit of mud rolling, which he took advantage of. This am I groomed him thoroughly and checked him over. Not a pimple out of place and eagerly looking for his breakfast or any treats. He's seems none the worse for the efforts. So he'll be off til Sunday, do a walking hack then and back to work next week.
Thanks for reading all this if you have!!!! Have a great weekend all and good luck at your shows/rides!!!
Em
I figured it was time to hit you all with another batch of fun videos and to catch you up with what's been going on.
It's May 20th and since we last caught up we have done (technically) 3 shows. I say technically because we should have been at our 4 day show in Virginia today, BUT, the show we were going to will be having temps of 36 degrees Celsius today and won't be lower than 31 degrees all weekend. Cudo cannot handle heat with humidity over about 26 degrees. So we quickly shifted course and did a day at a show 2 hours away in New Jersey on Weds, and a different show for the day yesterday. We did 2 classes at each and the temps were lower and breezy and it was fine weather. Much nicer to be able to come home each night and he was able to be turned out for abbreviated overnight turnout, so he could relax in his routine with his buddy Beau. They came in at 11pm both nights so he would retain some energy for shipping and showing each next day.
But first....on May 8th we got to run back to one of the Premier Show Facilities on the east coast and conquer some older 'demons'. Back in 2018 we had a ROUGH show at Old Salem Farm. Well this year they redid their grass arena to have footing and the weekend before their big deal 2 week show series started, they offered a true deal. They had an unrecognized show, Sat and Sun, and the office fee was just $50 and each class was just $50. The classes only went up to 1.10m, but I thought this was a FABULOUS way to start chipping away at my personal issues so we can hopefully show their at their fall premiere show. So off Cudo and I went on Saturday....near on 5 hours in the trailer. Stabled overnight 1/2 mile away, competed Sunday and then right back on the trailer and 5 hours home again. LOL.
We did a speed round and a Jump off class. (Sorry....can't find the post we did that would give me the English equivalents) He was great and although I made a slight mistake here and there he was wonderful. We ended up winning the Jump off class. The speed class I could have ridden better as I was cantering to the first fence thinking:
"I can win this class too...I want to win this class too...Hey I don't see a distance to this fence....Let me start pulling on his mouth a bit and I'll find it." (Clunk....down falls the first rail)
Cudo: "WOULD YOU JUST LET GO AND KICK NEXT TIME!!!"
Anyway...here's a Tiktok of the jump off itself from the first class. I LOVE the music behind it. SO appropriate.
https://www.tiktok.com/@xctrygirlus...1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7064012529277994502
Ok so fast forward to this week. Since we broke up 1 week into 2 days with drives I wanted to stick to only 2 classes per day. But I had cross entered to have some choices based on how he was feeling.
At Princeton Weds we did the 1.15m as a warm up and I came out of the ring beaming. He was just feeling so well and clearly happy to be back doing it in that ring, it has a lot of atmosphere, and the course was built as a decent sized course. We then progressed to the 1.20m open for our second class. I had cross entered the 1.30m but I am trying to be smart about going back to the heights when we're riding more correctly and better. At 15 years old now and in our 5th show season together, it's more of an aim for skills over scope/bravado. With the understanding that sometimes we fall back on the scope/bravado as we are in the process of transforming the ride style.
1.15 -
1.20 -
Yesterday we went on to Swan Lake (where we did the schooling show in April) and carried over the positive rides from the day before at Princeton. I had again cross entered 4 classes to make the best choices for what would suit and keep the confidence and improvements going forward. I was initially on the fence about again starting the day with a 1.15 or just starting at 1.20 to build off the day before. I decided to walk the 1.15 and decide then. I did and glad I did...it was small. So we skipped it and did the 1.20 as our warm up course. I had a lovely chat with the course designer and specifically asked about that days Speed Stakes. In the prize list it was listed as being 1.25-1.30 in height. I asked if it was going to be a maxed out course, given that it was only Thursday, or maybe a touch softer. He agreed that it would likely be 1.25 for the most part with maybe an errant 1.30 here or there. Such sweet words to my mind. I figured that if we were ok in the 1.20 we'd again skip the 1.30 and head to the speed class. We both love and are good at speed classes, so it seemed wise enough.
The 1.20 went well, but oddly, he knocked 2 rails...both green oxers. And his rails at Princeton, had both been green oxers. I am for sure buying green paint soon and redoing some rails. LOL. I am not sure the correlation but of course there are ride improvements to make as well. So on we went to the speed stakes class. Now for sure I was aware this was a money class, but it was also a tremendous opportunity to ride a nice course, on excellent footing, in the beginning of the year and get some mileage going for the future. It was a Table 3 class so the faults were converted to time. IE. drop a rail, get 4 seconds added to your time. A show friend of mine won this class the week before with a dropped rail. So it's possible to overcome what would normally knock you out.
You can watch what happened in the video, but please know I have rarely had so much FUN on a horse. ANY horse. The judge, announcer, course designer all thought we would win it if we'd just kept it to 2 rails....but then he ticked 2 more. Oh well. They LOVED him though and praised him highly. My dad was there (he videoed) John shot pics and you know what...I had a ton of fun and could share it with my closest supporters. I praised all the folks I knew that I competed against...they rode great. And they should, the winner is a Grand Prix rider, another friend is an established 5* eventer, and some other strong professional riders were in that field.
And me, well scores be damned.... we'll take this as a learning day and get some more fitness and prep for the next show and speed class, but it was lovely to come out of 2 days, 4 rounds and no egregious, horrifying, pearl clutching errors. Sure there's lots to improve on, but that's life with horses.
1.20m -
Speed Stake -
We have built the schedule to give him a 3 week break before our next show, Upperville, with the 4 round competition thing for riders over 50. Those courses are 1.10, 1.10, 1.15 and 1.15. Should be a nice challenge and then after that he'll get another 3 weeks til we do one of the Twilight Jumper classes at night in Virginia.
Cudo for his part is happily resting in his stall today after being out last night. I turned him out naked so he could have a bit of mud rolling, which he took advantage of. This am I groomed him thoroughly and checked him over. Not a pimple out of place and eagerly looking for his breakfast or any treats. He's seems none the worse for the efforts. So he'll be off til Sunday, do a walking hack then and back to work next week.
Thanks for reading all this if you have!!!! Have a great weekend all and good luck at your shows/rides!!!
Em