Disappointing 2012 BD debut, but some nice pics!

[Booboos]

Don't be too hard on yourself!!! It makes a huge difference if you've had a year off competeting than if you've been going out every week (I dread going out again properly! Even doing the video for Dr Anywhere I went wrong twice and had to restart by which point I just wanted to cry!). You just have to find your groove again...and having said all that, 61% is a great score at Medium first time out in ages!!!!! Well done, F looks gorgeous as always!

 

[Matafleur]

Lovely pics, although is it wrong that even with pics of your gorgeous horses the lamb is still my fave? None of ours are that cute

Allenshill must be not too far for you as well as Abbey Dressage, Solihull and Summerhouse? Kings is in Herefordshire but probably wouldn't be too bad a drive from you.

My horse is hopefully competing at Allenshill on Good Friday when they have Prelim to AM. I think it's fairly common for classes at most levels to not have many entries - certainly nothing like 50 unless it's Regionals! I'm more into eventing but I'm trying to pay attention to the stressage a bit more while I'm playing at being an owner!

 

[Fahrenheit]

I will PM you next time I am down there! You shouldn't be confused re. the first set of pics though, it would be a VERY colourful competition warm-up!

Fab I'll look forward to meeting up

 

[KPM]

He's looking really good FB. Hasn't he matured! Not a bad score at all, particularly when you know where you can easily pick up more marks. Well done. He does remind me a lot of my boy, I only hope our first BD outing (our first competion outing) will be as successful!

I love your Albion saddlepad too, as an aside!

 

[carthorse]

Fabulous photos and you know the parts that you can improve on and at medium level it is not easy to score high percentages with most judges. Will enjoy watching your season

 

[Goldenstar]

Such a handsome boy, and think of it the lorry has been loaded now so you will get ready for the next one in quarter of the time.
Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[Four Seasons]

Pff.... 61% is fab for the first outing in a year.... I couldn't do it with mine.....

Frodo looks fab!

 

[noname]

So nice to see you and frodo competing out in the uk! Hopefully I'll bump into you guys with the danish pastry soon! I wouldn't worry about the score, if its a certain one of their regulars she's a law unto herself!!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Thank you so much carthorse, Goldenstar, FourSeasons and noname, you're all so kind

Don't be too hard on yourself!!! It makes a huge difference if you've had a year off competeting than if you've been going out every week (I dread going out again properly! Even doing the video for Dr Anywhere I went wrong twice and had to restart by which point I just wanted to cry!). You just have to find your groove again...and having said all that, 61% is a great score at Medium first time out in ages!!!!! Well done, F looks gorgeous as always!

Yes you're right Booboos. Aaah going out every week, now that would be a dream!! I have always competed sparingly, never more than half a dozen times a year at the very max Really hope I can take advantage of all the shows available here in the UK this season!

Have you already planned your first competition in France? (it would be your first there, wouldn't it?)

Allenshill must be not too far for you as well as Abbey Dressage, Solihull and Summerhouse? Kings is in Herefordshire but probably wouldn't be too bad a drive from you.

Thank you SO MUCH for this Matafleur! Had a quick look at their websites and Abbey looks nice, good arenas (from what I can see from the photos!) etc. Gosh, *all* of those centres you mentioned, apart from Kings, are far closer than Burrows Court, so thank you for giving me so many ideas

He's looking really good FB. Hasn't he matured! Not a bad score at all, particularly when you know where you can easily pick up more marks. Well done. He does remind me a lot of my boy, I only hope our first BD outing (our first competion outing) will be as successful!

I love your Albion saddlepad too, as an aside!

Thank you so much KPM

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

Dont be too hard on yourself, a year off competing, your bound to be a bit ring rusty! It will come back to you. Although, I competlry understand, I'm taking baby Spanish pony out soon and with so long out of the ring...I'm a little scared!

Frodi certainly looks well! Lovely photos!

It's nice to read a comp report from you too!

 

[Worried1]

I think you should be very pleased! No mean feat coming out at medium! Well done and as usual STUNNING photos x

 

[dressagecrazy]

What your disappointed with the score!!

You both look fabulous as usual, don't be to hard on yourself it does sound like you met a low marking judge. But it doesn't matter you & Frodo did great.

 

[Booboos]

Yes you're right Booboos. Aaah going out every week, now that would be a dream!! I have always competed sparingly, never more than half a dozen times a year at the very max Really hope I can take advantage of all the shows available here in the UK this season!

Have you already planned your first competition in France? (it would be your first there, wouldn't it?)

You'll be out all the time and you will have a great time!!! We expect reports and photos though!

Might try for one in June (still not quite there with the license but making progress), although my goal will be just to survive it as I know I will be extremely nervous and R will fall to pieces!

 

[milesjess]

I love his eyes! They make him look even more stunning

 

[trendybraincell]

He is looking rather like the welsh cob, a touch on the round side but still oh so handsome

From things I've heard recently, 61% isn't bad. Its a bit like my West Wilts outing the other month...one test has to be the lowest mark or worst placing you ever get...but now you've blown off the cobwebs its time to get out there!! Abbey Dressage is a nice venue, took Shadow there for his first outing after my knee surgery. I found the judging to be bang on, very fair.

I agree about the surface at Burrows not the being best to ride on...it doesn't seem to give the horses a feeling of security and I've always found he backs off more there

 

[amandaco2]

Stunning as always!!

 

[Mel1]

thanks for posting the report, its always a pleasure to see your photos! you're such an inspiration!

and don't be so harsh on yourself! it is affiliated Medium after all!

I really like the fact you've done a good and bad list, to me it looks like the "goods" beats the "bad" by a long way!

I'll be really looking forward to follow your future progress and celebrate your red rosettes - so good luck!

go Freudo go!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

thanks for posting the report, its always a pleasure to see your photos! you're such an inspiration!

and don't be so harsh on yourself! it is affiliated Medium after all!

I really like the fact you've done a good and bad list, to me it looks like the "goods" beats the "bad" by a long way!

I'll be really looking forward to follow your future progress and celebrate your red rosettes - so good luck!

go Freudo go!

Aww thank you so much Mel1, that's so kind!

I think you should be very pleased! No mean feat coming out at medium! Well done and as usual STUNNING photos x

Thank you Worried1

You'll be out all the time and you will have a great time!!! We expect reports and photos though!

Might try for one in June (still not quite there with the license but making progress), although my goal will be just to survive it as I know I will be extremely nervous and R will fall to pieces!

Don't you just HATE bureaucracy? It took me FIVE months to get my license here in the UK! (And by the way, still *haven't* been able to have Rauti assessed.). I just SO wish there was less paperwork and more time to ride....!!!!!!

What your disappointed with the score!!

You both look fabulous as usual, don't be to hard on yourself it does sound like you met a low marking judge. But it doesn't matter you & Frodo did great.

Thanks a lot dressagecrazy

He is looking rather like the welsh cob, a touch on the round side but still oh so handsome

...Maybe we should start thinking of a pas de deux together. I think we'd be brilliant

Dont be too hard on yourself, a year off competing, your bound to be a bit ring rusty! It will come back to you. Although, I competlry understand, I'm taking baby Spanish pony out soon and with so long out of the ring...I'm a little scared!

Frodi certainly looks well! Lovely photos!

It's nice to read a comp report from you too!

Thank you! Best of luck with your Spanish boy!

Thanks milesjess and amandaco

 

[Vickijay]

He looks gorgeous and Rauti looks very well!!

When is your next outing?

 

[Paladine]

He looks lovely!

Don't worry about the score. The first time I showed 2nd level, it was a decent, if lackluster test, and we got pummeled with a 57%. Felt awful, doubted myself, etc.

Came out three weeks later and blew the doors off with two 70%s. We didn't lose a 2nd level class for an entire YEAR.

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

Just re-read your report - what's happened to rauti? Hope all is ok.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Ah Vickijay I don't know, hopefully at the end of April / start of May, unless I can get a lift in somebody's lorry before then

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

He looks lovely!

Don't worry about the score. The first time I showed 2nd level, it was a decent, if lackluster test, and we got pummeled with a 57%. Felt awful, doubted myself, etc.

Came out three weeks later and blew the doors off with two 70%s. We didn't lose a 2nd level class for an entire YEAR.

Thanks Paladine! This wasn't my first show at 2nd level, but it was the first on this horse and in this country Would really love to score 2 x 70%s in my next outing, though

Just re-read your report - what's happened to rauti? Hope all is ok.

Thanks for asking. However crazy it may sound, I am not sure actually - he seems to have had most of the winter off for a series of ridiculous, unrelated problems ranging from shoeing issues to hoof abscesses to a horrid, uncharacteristic reaction to his routine jabs... Nothing major, just a series of minor 'problems' that meant that he was constantly having a week / ten days off and as a result he's lost SO much topline and fitness. I shouldn't really complain because in 8 years of ownership he'd never had a lame day... so clearly they've simply all come at the same time

 

[PapaFrita]

Thanks for asking. However crazy it may sound, I am not sure actually - he seems to have had most of the winter off for a series of ridiculous, unrelated problems ranging from shoeing issues to hoof abscesses to a horrid, uncharacteristic reaction to his routine jabs... Nothing major, just a series of minor 'problems' that meant that he was constantly having a week / ten days off and as a result he's lost SO much topline and fitness. I shouldn't really complain because in 8 years of ownership he'd never had a lame day... so clearly they've simply all come at the same time

Are you quite sure you've been warming up for long enough? I suspect that if you doubled or tripled your warm up time, he wouldn't have lost ANY topline.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Of course, PF, of course, in fact that was probably the cause of the unsoundness / problems in the first place

 

[PapaFrita]

Of course, PF, of course, in fact that was probably the cause of the unsoundness / problems in the first place

Glad to be of help. Feel the huggles!!
Oh. Hang on. Wrong thread

 

[luckyhorseshoe]

Doesn't found crazy at all. I thinkit just goes like that with horses sometimes.
Mine has had a lot of time off for various things over the winter - at least you have another riding horse...I'm now so unfit!!

Glad rauti is ok though and it wasn't something major.

Look forward to seeing more threads with your boys in!

 

[miss_c]

He's looking fab! Genie never seems to like Burrows, I'm not sure what it is but like Shadow she backs off and never goes nearly as well. I second Abbey being a lovely venue, and really like Home Farm in Cheltenham as well.

 

[stolensilver]

61% is a score you can build on. Onwards and upwards and all that.

What I don't understand is why you'd have been happy with that score in Germany but not in the UK???!!! What are you saying? Last time I looked the Brits were favourite for the gold at the Olympics.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Thanks stolensilver No, I wasn't dismissing British dressage at all But generally speaking standards *are* much higher in Germany than they are here and it *is* harder to do well, at any level. You really don't get away with anything! (But it's only natural, they have far more people doing dressage and far more combinations at all levels so to do well everything has to be perfect. And of course there are so many stunning horses there that it's very difficult to stand out. It would be absolutely impossible for a 'normal' horse like Frodo to win a Medium class in Germany, whereas in the UK he has already won at Medium with good scores etc).

Thanks miss_c, there really must be something about the surface then..!!

And yes luckyhorseshoe, I know I was very lucky to have another one to ride when Rauti was off.