madhector
Well-Known Member
Took Jerry to Wix today for his first dressage test. He was very shocked to have his tail washed and his mane plaited this morning, and off we set.
Found it easily enough, even with my awful navigating. He unloaded and stood very calmly to be tacked up, I had left loads of time as it can take up to an hour for him to give in and work properly so wanted lots of time to warm up. He was very disappointed not to be jumping, and after a couple of fly bucks in annoyance he settled.
After half an hour he was fab! I wish I could have gone in then as he felt amazing, really soft over his back and just lovely. Unfortunately we had another 20 minutes to go. So I gave him a rest and then asked for some more work. Bad idea, we went right back to how we were at the beginning...an argumentative so and so! He didn't really submit after that, but did OK, just nothing like what he was like before.
Anyway we went in and he spooked at the scary Christmas lights and the dressage boards, had a very wobbly trot down the centre line. I ended up sitting just to hold him together, he was very inconsistent in his mouth, (still arguing with me) but we managed a fairly accurate if c**p test, canter work was OK, still babyish, but no bucks so I was happy. By the final trot down the CL he was back to listening and was lovely..typical!
Anyway, we finished 8th, only 1 point behind the next place, with a score of 55% (How bad is that?)
My instructor came second and his wife won
I have it videoed but will take ages to upload and isnt the prettiest test
Found it easily enough, even with my awful navigating. He unloaded and stood very calmly to be tacked up, I had left loads of time as it can take up to an hour for him to give in and work properly so wanted lots of time to warm up. He was very disappointed not to be jumping, and after a couple of fly bucks in annoyance he settled.
After half an hour he was fab! I wish I could have gone in then as he felt amazing, really soft over his back and just lovely. Unfortunately we had another 20 minutes to go. So I gave him a rest and then asked for some more work. Bad idea, we went right back to how we were at the beginning...an argumentative so and so! He didn't really submit after that, but did OK, just nothing like what he was like before.
Anyway we went in and he spooked at the scary Christmas lights and the dressage boards, had a very wobbly trot down the centre line. I ended up sitting just to hold him together, he was very inconsistent in his mouth, (still arguing with me) but we managed a fairly accurate if c**p test, canter work was OK, still babyish, but no bucks so I was happy. By the final trot down the CL he was back to listening and was lovely..typical!
Anyway, we finished 8th, only 1 point behind the next place, with a score of 55% (How bad is that?)
My instructor came second and his wife won
I have it videoed but will take ages to upload and isnt the prettiest test
