spookypony
Well-Known Member
...and not a good kind of somersault!
Today was the riding school's annual gymkhana, a biggish event attracting lots of riders from the surrounding area. New this year was the inclusion of dressage tests at Intro, Prelim, and Novice.
The Spooky Pony was down to do BTO, Equitation (to get him calm, one hoped!), Prelim 13, Novice 21, and possibly some games if he seemed up to it (I love games; SOO ridiculous!).
Thanks to illness yesterday, I didn't make it up to the yard today until 7:30, so I had to groom and plait in a massive hurry to make it to the show fields by 9am. BTO had a huge turn-out, and we didn't really have a snow-ball's chance in hell, but it was fun...just wish I'd been feeling better yesterday, to prepare properly.
The Equitation class was also huge. I was very happy with how the pony was going, even in the deep, deep mud---and then the first canter happened---he tore off in a panic, the judge was shouting "walk, walk!" (easier said than done). and suddenly...he sort of bucked/went down in front, and I did a somersault over his head that was truly spectacular, according to onlookers. Sadly, no one caught it on film. Much swearing ensued. Pony caught---turns out the deep, deep mud had sucked his hoof boots severely out of place. Poor pony---I would panic too, if my feet were suddenly on backwards! (Know to avoid using them in that kind of sucking mud in the future.) So, eliminated.
Took him out of the ring, got back on, restored peace. Feeling a touch apprehensive about the dressage.
Had a long wait, and then went in---the going was awful, and that caused some problems in one of his canters. Nevertheless, I thought he'd tried really hard, and it was a step up from before! Utterly, utterly stunned though, to receive 62.5 (WE FINALLY BROKE THE 60%!!!
) and 4th place!!
Decided not to do games, since they were delayed into the start of the Novice. Only his 2nd Novice test! Again, he tried really hard. I was worried about being marked down for accuracy, because I was trying to avoid the worst of the going, since he felt like he was really struggling. Numpty me went wrong once, but still got 59.5% (woulda been 60 without the error!
), and THIRD place!
Utterly flabberghasted.
I'm SO proud of my pony!
Very stiff and sore now; headed for a hot bathtub.
Today was the riding school's annual gymkhana, a biggish event attracting lots of riders from the surrounding area. New this year was the inclusion of dressage tests at Intro, Prelim, and Novice.
The Spooky Pony was down to do BTO, Equitation (to get him calm, one hoped!), Prelim 13, Novice 21, and possibly some games if he seemed up to it (I love games; SOO ridiculous!).
Thanks to illness yesterday, I didn't make it up to the yard today until 7:30, so I had to groom and plait in a massive hurry to make it to the show fields by 9am. BTO had a huge turn-out, and we didn't really have a snow-ball's chance in hell, but it was fun...just wish I'd been feeling better yesterday, to prepare properly.
The Equitation class was also huge. I was very happy with how the pony was going, even in the deep, deep mud---and then the first canter happened---he tore off in a panic, the judge was shouting "walk, walk!" (easier said than done). and suddenly...he sort of bucked/went down in front, and I did a somersault over his head that was truly spectacular, according to onlookers. Sadly, no one caught it on film. Much swearing ensued. Pony caught---turns out the deep, deep mud had sucked his hoof boots severely out of place. Poor pony---I would panic too, if my feet were suddenly on backwards! (Know to avoid using them in that kind of sucking mud in the future.) So, eliminated.
Took him out of the ring, got back on, restored peace. Feeling a touch apprehensive about the dressage.
Had a long wait, and then went in---the going was awful, and that caused some problems in one of his canters. Nevertheless, I thought he'd tried really hard, and it was a step up from before! Utterly, utterly stunned though, to receive 62.5 (WE FINALLY BROKE THE 60%!!!
Decided not to do games, since they were delayed into the start of the Novice. Only his 2nd Novice test! Again, he tried really hard. I was worried about being marked down for accuracy, because I was trying to avoid the worst of the going, since he felt like he was really struggling. Numpty me went wrong once, but still got 59.5% (woulda been 60 without the error!
I'm SO proud of my pony!
Very stiff and sore now; headed for a hot bathtub.
