From cloud nine to a thumping reality check

[abi31]

So, I've had my new lad Paddy nearly a month now and decided to take him out to his first competition. There was an affiliated dressage comp with unaffiliated sections at a lovely indoor school about 40 mins away. He loaded like an old pro and was as good as gold in the warm-up. We went in the arena and he was spooked by the wall of mirrors but fine going past the gallery.
For his first two tests he tried really hard. We have a long way to go with bend and flexion but even in four weeks he's come on in leaps and bounds. I took the boy home and drove back for our results. How thrilled do you think I was when we won both the Novice 22 and 38?!! Then I went to see how the others had done and had a swift reality check. We were the only entrants in the unaffiliated section, so short of getting eliminated we still would have won.
Cue getting back to the yard and everyone asks you how you did, wasn't that brilliant and how many were in the class?... Still I'm a very proud mummy and we're going to a full unaff comp next week.xxx

 

[lauraandjack]

Just don't tell anyone how many were in your section! Well done anyway!

 

[Tilda]

I think what matters is that you and your boy had a good experience for your first outing and that he tried his best well done both of you x

 

[AnotherNewbie]

I think that's brilliant....it's exactly the sort of thing that would happen to me! Still, at least you have had a positive outing and two nice red rosettes to show for it!

 

[PC Steele]

What percentages did you get?? Your the one who rides your horse everyday if he went well then I would be chuffed

 

[orionstar]

Not to worry, my sister entered our 17.1hh 4 year old in a short 2" cross country for a first outing, including water and a step up and she trotted most of the way around but was thrilled to find she'd won the class. Que the event organiser turning up 15 minutes later to say "sorry to p**s on your bonfire, but you just beat a 6 year old". After the initial thought of oh, we realised that we actually did really well as said six year old was riding a school master of the highest order and for a first outing the confidence boost was just what the horse and my sister needed!