Dressage Delight and Disaster

[Irishlife]

What a mixed day. It was the first dressage competition for my home bred 4 year old today with my daughter riding. During BD 7, he hit some false ground in the arena and fell, on inspection the surface was dead, dry on top and slippery underneath. He fell onto his side and onto my daughters leg which is now quite sore but not too badly injured. I would not really expect a dressage competition to expect anything like this but there was nothing in place for the eventuality in the way of stewards,first aiders etc . My daughter did remount and complete the test and was judged as the movement not executed (canter transition). Still got a good score for a baby 59.5 and came third.

My daughter painfully rode BD 18 and scored well into the 60's and came 2nd so really happy with the horse . Judges comments were it would have been a 70% test if the canter work was better so great feedback that way.

As it was only Prelim level but was affiliated just wondered how a fall would normally be judged!!

It is ironic that he has show huntered all summer, gone clear at 3 hunter trials and fell over doing dressage!!!!!!

 

[DarkHorseB]

Aw what a shame! But what a good horse to pick up and carry on!
I had this happen when selling my 4 year old a number of years ago. It happened in the arena at home and he just tripped cantering on the flat. I thought that would put them right off but we just picked ourselves up and carried on and they saw the way he reacted to it as a 4yo as a big plus point rather than a negative!
Hope your daughter not too stiff and sore today - or him and fall apart sounds an excellent first outing!
Must admit I have never come across a fall of horse at dressage before - have seen a rider fall off but they retired so would have no idea how a horse fall was judged either.

 

[MuddyCob]

Here's the appropriate rule from the BD rulebook - sounds like she should not have been allowed to complete 1st test if I've read it right:

83. Dismounting and/or fall off horse
If, after the rider has entered the arena, he/she dismounts without a reason acceptable to the Judges,
no marks will be given for the movement. In the case of a fall of horse and/or rider, the combination
will be retired immediately from that test but can ride in future tests should the rider declare they are fit
to continue.