black_horse
Well-Known Member
Well i decided to test the waters with Delicia and see how far she was coming. She is still rather green in the ring but has been working well. We are having confidence issues with her canter work so that is a little hit and miss.
Anyway we did a show at home, Elementary 44, a nice test for her. She warmed up fairly ok, being a mare she decided to be in season
bless her! So was a little tense in her back.
Went into the test, the judge is a very scarey person dont you know
. Started off beautifully, scoring 7's down the sheet. She actually did the 6 seconds of immobility which i was happy with as she has a tendency to dance about a bit. Walk was ok, got tence as i gave the aid for the canter.
The canter went off okish i suppose, she felt veyr baby like suddenly and i felt the same issues raise again. This was a little disheartening because outside of a show environment she was starting to feel more confident in her canter work. However i reasurred her. When it came to cantering across the diagonal and changing canter lead through trot Delicia stopped and planted four feet on the ground. I patted her neck and she softened again and went off on the correct canter lead, however doing the second 15m circle she did a flying change and became a bit unsettled.
I decided to retire at this point. The test was almost over but i want to build her confidence up a bit. I patted her neck and retired from the test. Letting her trot around on a loose rein for two circuits to get her going forward again and patting her the whole time to reassure her. Back in warm up she did two beautiful canters and i left it there on a good note.
Bless her, she is still very green and is coming on tremendously. Being the pleb of a rider i am and with the difficulties i have with my leg it isnt always easy as she has a lot of power.
Still, i was very proud of her, the 20x40 feels small to her movement and the test she did perform would have put me neck and neck with the winner of the class, but i would rather end it on a good note and have delicia working with me and against me.
So although i had to retire, i feel i did the right thing. Everyone clapped when i retired and there was a corus of "well ridden" which brought a tear to my eye. I was gutted for Delicia as i know she can do it, but today just wasnt her day. Even the judge said i rode her really sympathetically and exactly how i should have which made me grin.
Anyway, pictures. I welcome CC as i know i have a lot to learn but please be gentle, i have some real issues with my right leg and lower back from a riding accident 4 years ago.
Enjoy.
warming up
hmm bad shoulders and collapsing my hip, again! grr
motorbiling a bit, my fault
The test!
Showing little nervousness in the first halt.
love this
Asked for a little bit of extension, she can do mahoosive ones!
getting tense and anticipating the canter
Anyway we did a show at home, Elementary 44, a nice test for her. She warmed up fairly ok, being a mare she decided to be in season
bless her! So was a little tense in her back. Went into the test, the judge is a very scarey person dont you know
. Started off beautifully, scoring 7's down the sheet. She actually did the 6 seconds of immobility which i was happy with as she has a tendency to dance about a bit. Walk was ok, got tence as i gave the aid for the canter. The canter went off okish i suppose, she felt veyr baby like suddenly and i felt the same issues raise again. This was a little disheartening because outside of a show environment she was starting to feel more confident in her canter work. However i reasurred her. When it came to cantering across the diagonal and changing canter lead through trot Delicia stopped and planted four feet on the ground. I patted her neck and she softened again and went off on the correct canter lead, however doing the second 15m circle she did a flying change and became a bit unsettled.
I decided to retire at this point. The test was almost over but i want to build her confidence up a bit. I patted her neck and retired from the test. Letting her trot around on a loose rein for two circuits to get her going forward again and patting her the whole time to reassure her. Back in warm up she did two beautiful canters and i left it there on a good note.
Bless her, she is still very green and is coming on tremendously. Being the pleb of a rider i am and with the difficulties i have with my leg it isnt always easy as she has a lot of power.
Still, i was very proud of her, the 20x40 feels small to her movement and the test she did perform would have put me neck and neck with the winner of the class, but i would rather end it on a good note and have delicia working with me and against me.
So although i had to retire, i feel i did the right thing. Everyone clapped when i retired and there was a corus of "well ridden" which brought a tear to my eye. I was gutted for Delicia as i know she can do it, but today just wasnt her day. Even the judge said i rode her really sympathetically and exactly how i should have which made me grin.
Anyway, pictures. I welcome CC as i know i have a lot to learn but please be gentle, i have some real issues with my right leg and lower back from a riding accident 4 years ago.
Enjoy.
warming up
hmm bad shoulders and collapsing my hip, again! grr
motorbiling a bit, my fault
The test!
Showing little nervousness in the first halt.
love this
Asked for a little bit of extension, she can do mahoosive ones!
getting tense and anticipating the canter
