Jenni_
Well-Known Member
...Aka Scotland.
We've been quite lucky. Some venues (especially the smaller, local ones) have been able to continue to run dressage within their Local Authority / Tier rating. You may think this would mean lower attendance, but living within a very horsey area with people unable to compete at the bigger, national venues means these wee shows have been well subscribed. So with a distinct lack of amateur outings for England and some of Scotland, I'll do you all a competition report and you can live the past two weekends through Skye and I.
Back when we could compete again in September, I made the plunge and registered BD - so we have been out competing affiliated a bit before things were shut back down.
Skye can be tricky, and basically wears any of my internalised nerves or tension as a badge the minute we're away from home, which can end up quite explosive. A couple of weeks ago we changed approach with the help of our coach and have been practicing a routine to ensure I relax before I get on, and a warm up with 'go to' cues for releasing any tension from us both, which we were trying for the first time last weekend. I memorised my tests inside out, did my breathing and bungi exercises (courtesy of Activate Your Seat), put on my back brace and did our Yoga-esque warm up.
Call it successful or a fluke, but not only did I win my first test, but also my second. They were only simple prelims, but I was delighted with our first ever 70% and 67% at a venue we've had tension issues at before. To put it into perspective, we've not won a Prelim since 2017, and have spent an awful lot of time middle to bottom of classes, with scores in the high 50's, and getting placed by default. Big pats for her and a tentative pat on the back for me. It was definitely a long awaited 'break in the clouds,' but the proof will be in whether we can keep the relaxation and rideability going.
Off to a friend's yard yesterday for what would be our final competitive outing of the year. Instead of piling the pressure on myself to do well, I took the view that I'd had a good day the week before, and just to enjoy the day. Really liked the look of the Novice test (34), so decided to warm up with the fun test on offer and spend time learning Novice 34 inside out. A cold day, a loose horse and rain made for a properly tense Skye just before my tests, but instead of her downing tools and causing me to nurse the whole test, she came back to me to do some beautiful trot work, and decent walk work. Canter was rubbish, but the trot and walk work made up for it enough to get us 65.95% and 2nd place, with my friend winning on 68%. I was especially pleased at being able to ask for some sort of stretch in our final circle - there have been days where I'd have been far too scared to even attempt it. I have to remember that you don't need to be perfect to compete at a level! Some of the novices really suit her, they keep us busy and thinking forward so that we don't get 'stuck' like we do sometimes in the prelims. So just because my medium trots aren't 10 worthy, or our walk to canters aren't established all the time doesn't mean I should avoid them if I like the look of a test.
Anyway - successful two weekends for us and so pleased to be finishing this season on a positive for once. Lockdown has really given us the space to be consistent and get on with things. No doubt when we start competing again next year, especially at the bigger / busier venues I'll have tension to contend with again, but instead of being disheartened I am just going to chip away with the preparation and warm up routines until going out to do dressage is utterly boring and I don't ever get nervous.
So we finish 2020, a rank amateur with a horse who is far too good and far too clever for her, with their first 15 BD points, a possible Petplan Qualification, a whole range of placings, and most importantly, a sound and very well looking horse who's earned herself a small spell of annual leave.
Saturday 14th:
Sunday 22nd:
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And just for a bit of context on how far she's come condition wise, this is her June - October. We really lacked grass this summer, and she didn't get much work from Jan - June due to winter / lockdown, so she's needed some careful supportive feeding which has definitely paid off.
We've been quite lucky. Some venues (especially the smaller, local ones) have been able to continue to run dressage within their Local Authority / Tier rating. You may think this would mean lower attendance, but living within a very horsey area with people unable to compete at the bigger, national venues means these wee shows have been well subscribed. So with a distinct lack of amateur outings for England and some of Scotland, I'll do you all a competition report and you can live the past two weekends through Skye and I.
Back when we could compete again in September, I made the plunge and registered BD - so we have been out competing affiliated a bit before things were shut back down.
Skye can be tricky, and basically wears any of my internalised nerves or tension as a badge the minute we're away from home, which can end up quite explosive. A couple of weeks ago we changed approach with the help of our coach and have been practicing a routine to ensure I relax before I get on, and a warm up with 'go to' cues for releasing any tension from us both, which we were trying for the first time last weekend. I memorised my tests inside out, did my breathing and bungi exercises (courtesy of Activate Your Seat), put on my back brace and did our Yoga-esque warm up.
Call it successful or a fluke, but not only did I win my first test, but also my second. They were only simple prelims, but I was delighted with our first ever 70% and 67% at a venue we've had tension issues at before. To put it into perspective, we've not won a Prelim since 2017, and have spent an awful lot of time middle to bottom of classes, with scores in the high 50's, and getting placed by default. Big pats for her and a tentative pat on the back for me. It was definitely a long awaited 'break in the clouds,' but the proof will be in whether we can keep the relaxation and rideability going.
Off to a friend's yard yesterday for what would be our final competitive outing of the year. Instead of piling the pressure on myself to do well, I took the view that I'd had a good day the week before, and just to enjoy the day. Really liked the look of the Novice test (34), so decided to warm up with the fun test on offer and spend time learning Novice 34 inside out. A cold day, a loose horse and rain made for a properly tense Skye just before my tests, but instead of her downing tools and causing me to nurse the whole test, she came back to me to do some beautiful trot work, and decent walk work. Canter was rubbish, but the trot and walk work made up for it enough to get us 65.95% and 2nd place, with my friend winning on 68%. I was especially pleased at being able to ask for some sort of stretch in our final circle - there have been days where I'd have been far too scared to even attempt it. I have to remember that you don't need to be perfect to compete at a level! Some of the novices really suit her, they keep us busy and thinking forward so that we don't get 'stuck' like we do sometimes in the prelims. So just because my medium trots aren't 10 worthy, or our walk to canters aren't established all the time doesn't mean I should avoid them if I like the look of a test.
Anyway - successful two weekends for us and so pleased to be finishing this season on a positive for once. Lockdown has really given us the space to be consistent and get on with things. No doubt when we start competing again next year, especially at the bigger / busier venues I'll have tension to contend with again, but instead of being disheartened I am just going to chip away with the preparation and warm up routines until going out to do dressage is utterly boring and I don't ever get nervous.
So we finish 2020, a rank amateur with a horse who is far too good and far too clever for her, with their first 15 BD points, a possible Petplan Qualification, a whole range of placings, and most importantly, a sound and very well looking horse who's earned herself a small spell of annual leave.
Saturday 14th:
Sunday 22nd:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
And just for a bit of context on how far she's come condition wise, this is her June - October. We really lacked grass this summer, and she didn't get much work from Jan - June due to winter / lockdown, so she's needed some careful supportive feeding which has definitely paid off.
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