Pigeon
Well-Known Member
So. Our first ever affiliated dressage.
It was an interesting day!
Pippy was as usual a total babe to plait and load, such a cutie pie. First test was indoors which I hadn't realised, and we went down the centre line nicely, and then he sort of had a little squeaky 'oh crap' kind of a moment and it all went downhill from there. Somewhat wild, is how I would describe it. The only two things I thought we managed really well were gallop and stop. I wont bore you with details, but I will say our score was very generous considering
Then straight into the novice - outdoors thank god! I was having a bit of a nervous breakdown after the prelim debacle. Terrible terrible mindset to start on - when I get stressed the test always falls out of my head. I didn't really know where I was going (never actually ridden in a long arena before) so rode one of the most underwhelming tests ever
Straightness/rhythm/bend/accuracy just did not factor in, because I was too busy panicking about where I should be going! He was kind of round and there weren't any major disasters, which is good I guess? But just sort of flat and aimless - sixes across the board. 5 in one canter where he picked up the wrong lead, and deducted two points because I saluted with my whip hand. (/moron)
Got 62 point something and came 6th, out of what looked like a big class (maybe 18?) but I have no idea who was open and who was restricted. 4th - 6th were all on the same mark more-or-less, and then it jumped up for the top three. But I'm happy to come away feeling there was a LOT I could have improved on, if only I'd actually sat up and ridden. Would have been so much worse if he'd had gone as well as I know he's capable of, and still scored badly. Didn't feel totally out of depth in the Novice, which was was the risk, jumping straight in at that level.
Couldn't really have asked for more. Little fatty racehorse now has two points to his name
And pics of course!
Obligatory ridiculous picture - Pip struggles to get any air time in medium trot. And yet this happened when I asked for walk... Nope, could not stop
And the only sane moments in the prelim;
It was an interesting day!
Pippy was as usual a total babe to plait and load, such a cutie pie. First test was indoors which I hadn't realised, and we went down the centre line nicely, and then he sort of had a little squeaky 'oh crap' kind of a moment and it all went downhill from there. Somewhat wild, is how I would describe it. The only two things I thought we managed really well were gallop and stop. I wont bore you with details, but I will say our score was very generous considering
Then straight into the novice - outdoors thank god! I was having a bit of a nervous breakdown after the prelim debacle. Terrible terrible mindset to start on - when I get stressed the test always falls out of my head. I didn't really know where I was going (never actually ridden in a long arena before) so rode one of the most underwhelming tests ever
Straightness/rhythm/bend/accuracy just did not factor in, because I was too busy panicking about where I should be going! He was kind of round and there weren't any major disasters, which is good I guess? But just sort of flat and aimless - sixes across the board. 5 in one canter where he picked up the wrong lead, and deducted two points because I saluted with my whip hand. (/moron) Got 62 point something and came 6th, out of what looked like a big class (maybe 18?) but I have no idea who was open and who was restricted. 4th - 6th were all on the same mark more-or-less, and then it jumped up for the top three. But I'm happy to come away feeling there was a LOT I could have improved on, if only I'd actually sat up and ridden. Would have been so much worse if he'd had gone as well as I know he's capable of, and still scored badly. Didn't feel totally out of depth in the Novice, which was was the risk, jumping straight in at that level.
Couldn't really have asked for more. Little fatty racehorse now has two points to his name
And pics of course!
Obligatory ridiculous picture - Pip struggles to get any air time in medium trot. And yet this happened when I asked for walk... Nope, could not stop
And the only sane moments in the prelim;
