chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
I've just come fourth in my first ever Novice test!!!
Did P13 which Rhyn warmed up beautifully for and was then a total s*** in! Went round like a giraffe neighing his head off for the first half but then settled ok in the second half. Nice canter work so was pleased with that.
Then did N26.... lovely trot work, really really pleased. He was really listening and tried so hard. The arena was v deep and he did find the canter quite hard. Managed the shallow loops in canter ok and his trot work towards the end was great. Lots to work on and the canter felt messy and unbalanced but my Novice mark was only 0.5% lower than the Prelim. I did feel like it was a big jump from Prelim, everything comes up so quickly in the Novice
Judge in the Novice wasn't particularly encouraging, but then it is the next level up and I guess they're not meant to be as nice as they are at Prelim.
The canter work in the Prelim was generally a mark higher for each canter movement than this time last year (haven't done any dressage for almost a year) so that's encouraging but unfortunately the trot didn't get the marks we usually do because he was too busy neighing!
Anyway, just a quick post to say how pleased I am with my boy because he tried really hard in the Novice and we actually got a rosette!!!
V daunting in there with all those WBs though, he was the only little one!
Did P13 which Rhyn warmed up beautifully for and was then a total s*** in! Went round like a giraffe neighing his head off for the first half but then settled ok in the second half. Nice canter work so was pleased with that.
Then did N26.... lovely trot work, really really pleased. He was really listening and tried so hard. The arena was v deep and he did find the canter quite hard. Managed the shallow loops in canter ok and his trot work towards the end was great. Lots to work on and the canter felt messy and unbalanced but my Novice mark was only 0.5% lower than the Prelim. I did feel like it was a big jump from Prelim, everything comes up so quickly in the Novice
The canter work in the Prelim was generally a mark higher for each canter movement than this time last year (haven't done any dressage for almost a year) so that's encouraging but unfortunately the trot didn't get the marks we usually do because he was too busy neighing!
Anyway, just a quick post to say how pleased I am with my boy because he tried really hard in the Novice and we actually got a rosette!!!
