RachelB
Well-Known Member
I've just got back from my first ever show with my new horse, and my first show with my share horse since February. Biggest grin ever!
I was hoping Cracks (share) would go well as I'd had a fab lesson yesterday, but I wasn't too hopeful about Maiden as I don't think she's done dressage before and she's certainly not built for it! She tries so hard to please though, so I was hoping for 45% at least (was 50% but my last schooling session went really badly yesterday!)
Maiden warmed in very well, we have trouble with left canter strike-offs but after a few protests she gave me left every time, and was working a bit behind the leg in trot but wasn't snatching the reins etc. like usual, and not jogging in the walk (both big pluses). The judge was a bit scary (he came and told the poor steward off for not sending horses in straight after each other, looked quite a miserable guy...) so I was terrified of making a mistake and looking like an idiot, plus it was raining and very windy so I didn't want Maiden to slip up (it was grass). Anyway she did a fairly nice test, argued about left canter (got a three) but was generally quite pleasant, for a 57.9%! I consider 60% to be a damned decent score, so to get nearly 60% on my tank of an ID X was fantastic! No rosette, but did come joint ninth out of 14... so I beat some people! I'm not worst! Of course, one of the people I beat was myself... Cracks was a monster, worked in absolutely beautifully then tried every evasion in the book on me in the test, and got 55% (which was pretty generous I'd say).
Anyway as they had SJ there too, and even though my horse hasn't been taught to jump properly yet, I decided I'd go and jump some practice fences too to make sure Maiden got the gist of doing more than one thing. After a total mess-up of the first jump (she didn't realise mummy wanted her to jump, she was being a dressage horse after all, it's too confusing jumping as well!) where she stopped and I had to get her to walk over the fence, she jumped beautifully.
So I am SO pleased that not only can Maiden score TWO sevens in a test and a LOAD of sixes
I also now have enough confidence back after having my last nutcase pony that I can go and 'just pop a few fences'!
I am SO looking forward to my next show! Prelim 4, plus they have SJ on too... maybe I'll take my jumping saddle...
Just had to share, thanks for reading!!!
I was hoping Cracks (share) would go well as I'd had a fab lesson yesterday, but I wasn't too hopeful about Maiden as I don't think she's done dressage before and she's certainly not built for it! She tries so hard to please though, so I was hoping for 45% at least (was 50% but my last schooling session went really badly yesterday!)
Maiden warmed in very well, we have trouble with left canter strike-offs but after a few protests she gave me left every time, and was working a bit behind the leg in trot but wasn't snatching the reins etc. like usual, and not jogging in the walk (both big pluses). The judge was a bit scary (he came and told the poor steward off for not sending horses in straight after each other, looked quite a miserable guy...) so I was terrified of making a mistake and looking like an idiot, plus it was raining and very windy so I didn't want Maiden to slip up (it was grass). Anyway she did a fairly nice test, argued about left canter (got a three) but was generally quite pleasant, for a 57.9%! I consider 60% to be a damned decent score, so to get nearly 60% on my tank of an ID X was fantastic! No rosette, but did come joint ninth out of 14... so I beat some people! I'm not worst! Of course, one of the people I beat was myself... Cracks was a monster, worked in absolutely beautifully then tried every evasion in the book on me in the test, and got 55% (which was pretty generous I'd say).
Anyway as they had SJ there too, and even though my horse hasn't been taught to jump properly yet, I decided I'd go and jump some practice fences too to make sure Maiden got the gist of doing more than one thing. After a total mess-up of the first jump (she didn't realise mummy wanted her to jump, she was being a dressage horse after all, it's too confusing jumping as well!) where she stopped and I had to get her to walk over the fence, she jumped beautifully.
So I am SO pleased that not only can Maiden score TWO sevens in a test and a LOAD of sixes
I am SO looking forward to my next show! Prelim 4, plus they have SJ on too... maybe I'll take my jumping saddle...
Just had to share, thanks for reading!!!
