Dressage comp report

[Wheels]

I got home from work on Wednesday to a flat as pancake tyre - turns out I had a side wall puncture that couldn't be fixed. It was touch and go whether I would get my wheel back as the other 3 tyres on my 4x4 were no longer being produced. But I got home from work on Friday to find my wheel was back with new tyre fitted after the local tyre shop had managed to get hold of one for me. 5 star review was promptly put on their FB page

I missed my lesson on Thursday which was a shame as really wanted to run through today's test but it is a test I've ridden before so off we trotted to our first Dressage Ireland show (although we are unreg at present so entered on a ticket). It was pretty warm and sunny which is obviously very nice but it left M a little flat and we lost our usual forwardness. The test felt a little backward as a result but a friend took a video and it looked better than it felt for a very sweet 65.17%

This was Ms only 3rd ever dressage test and we won the unregistered section by about 5% - so pleased with him, that would have been a qualifying score for the regionals / nationals in one of the championship tests.

I don't think I will do too many more prelims, we are working on Nov and some Ele movements at home although not all movements are test ready yet. Will probably go out now and do a bit of SJ to shake things up

I also have a very annoying new habit which I really need to get rid of - I must be hanging on to the right rein because I keep pulling the bit through to the right, I noticed it on Thurs evening and again today, that is my number one goal this week - to rid myself of that

I haven't plaited in so long having had a part bred PRE last and now my connie but I think he looks pretty smart!

 

[DabDab]

Congratulations!

Wow, I absolutely love that plait - does it take you long? Seriously impressive

 

[SOS]

Sounds like a great day out! Glad the truck is fixed, personally I always find I am shelling out money for one aspect or another of my golden but broken triangle: truck-trailer-horse

Those plaits are amazing, and super smart. It’s a shame you can’t see quite how intricate and beautiful they are from the ridden pictures, they deserve to be showed off.

 

[Bernster]

Well done. That plaiting is awesome, never seen that. Impressive!

 

[Wheels]

Thanks all - the plaits look very intricate but they're actually quite easy and almost as quick as normal plaits. Viewed from above is the best view of them.

The mane has to be quite long for it to work, the very top and the very bottom plait are just standard plaits, folded twice and banded as the mane there is too short.

Plait 2 was then sectioned as normal, plaited all the way down and banded. Then the bottom of the plait is folded under and the end pushed up through the top of plait as close to the skin as possible. I pulled it through to get a nice size rosette and banded that into place. The end of that plait is then incorporated into the middle section of the next plait and so on.

 

[Surbie]

Well done on the dressage test. And the plaits look amazing. I will have to practice those, so smart!!

 

[McFluff]

Well done, and great that you got a tyre on time.

Love, love the plaits. Not sure I’d manage those, but may have to try!