milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Ahhh so here we are again - actually took her out for a cheeky first show a few weeks ago but it didn't really warrant a report, having no pictures etc, hehe
Can't help but have a sense of impending doom at this point. In 2014 Millie came back from injury around this time of year, got *ready* to do a show and then got injured on the gallops.
In Spring 2015, she was back to fitness, actually went to a show, qualified for regionals and then came in from the field on 3 legs.
In spring 2016, she has gone to *2* shows... and I'm waiting to see what's going to go wrong THIS time! At least I've got Kira-the-spare now.
So yesterday was D-day - I decided at the last minute to get some late entries to Kings and do our first Advanced Medium. This was a bit foolhardy and Adam laughed at me earlier in the week when I took M for a lesson as we only get a decent change about 10% of the time, but at least at home they are usually civilised and on the aids, even if they are often half a stride late behind
AM was becoming something so enormous in my mind, I knew if I didn't just have a go then I'd always be too afraid, and actually doing it when I know the changes are rubbish takes all the pressure off. Well that's my logic and I'm sticking with it.
Anyway, off we went for a go round Medium 76 to try and get our regional points, and AM 91. Both of them are new tests for this year so unhelpfully there are no videos on Youtube to study
Couldn't remember either of them to save my life and both read like awful floorplans so I didn't have high hopes at all!
Arrived feeling sick and with both arms and legs weak and basically non responsive. Haven't felt that nervous since I quit eventing! The nerves melted away when I got on and warmed up for the medium. Had a super ride round, which really surprised me as last time I rode Millie in the indoor at Kings she dropped me. Just felt like she was a bit down in front and over reacting to my half halts, so there were some jerky moments but very very happy to get 70%. Mission accomplished - silver Medium regional qualification done.
[video=youtube_share;_V_Qp494B28]https://youtu.be/_V_Qp494B28[/video]
Short pause for me to re-learn AM91 which had fallen out of my head by then. Millie felt responsive and on the aid in the warm up, the changes weren't *good* but they were straight and under control, and on demand - that would do nicely. The test started well.... got one change, next was about 10 metres late, the one after the extended canter was late behind and then it all unravelled!
M went on strike and then had a nap down the centre line, ho hum! I always knew it would go a bit green but never mind, we managed to pull it all together and finish, to a round of applause from the gallery. nice to provide a bit of entertainment 
Pleasingly, the rest of the work was good enough to compensate for the 4, 3, 2 and 1 (yes, we got a 1!! not sure we even deserved that tbh) received toward the end of the test for 64% overall and first in my section.
Proof that there is a change!
Still under control at this point, too
So altogether a positive experience, and surely the worst is now out of the way - I won't every be afraid like that again and we weren't last, nor eliminated, nor bolted with, and I didn't fall off
Plus, it had the side-effect that I hoped for, which was to motivate me to ride the Mediums with more focus - it's all to easy to tootle round quite sweetly when you have a horse that goes in a rhythm and can go sideways. But I need the challenge of something really hard to make me up my game, think more, ride better & get the scores Millie is really capable of.
Kira is out & about again on Friday to see if we can get her qualified for regionals too, and then Millie goes to dressage camp at the end of April where we *WILL* nail those bleeding changes! Assuming another leg doesn't fall off, of course...
Can't help but have a sense of impending doom at this point. In 2014 Millie came back from injury around this time of year, got *ready* to do a show and then got injured on the gallops.
In Spring 2015, she was back to fitness, actually went to a show, qualified for regionals and then came in from the field on 3 legs.
In spring 2016, she has gone to *2* shows... and I'm waiting to see what's going to go wrong THIS time! At least I've got Kira-the-spare now.
So yesterday was D-day - I decided at the last minute to get some late entries to Kings and do our first Advanced Medium. This was a bit foolhardy and Adam laughed at me earlier in the week when I took M for a lesson as we only get a decent change about 10% of the time, but at least at home they are usually civilised and on the aids, even if they are often half a stride late behind
AM was becoming something so enormous in my mind, I knew if I didn't just have a go then I'd always be too afraid, and actually doing it when I know the changes are rubbish takes all the pressure off. Well that's my logic and I'm sticking with it.Anyway, off we went for a go round Medium 76 to try and get our regional points, and AM 91. Both of them are new tests for this year so unhelpfully there are no videos on Youtube to study
Couldn't remember either of them to save my life and both read like awful floorplans so I didn't have high hopes at all!Arrived feeling sick and with both arms and legs weak and basically non responsive. Haven't felt that nervous since I quit eventing! The nerves melted away when I got on and warmed up for the medium. Had a super ride round, which really surprised me as last time I rode Millie in the indoor at Kings she dropped me. Just felt like she was a bit down in front and over reacting to my half halts, so there were some jerky moments but very very happy to get 70%. Mission accomplished - silver Medium regional qualification done.
[video=youtube_share;_V_Qp494B28]https://youtu.be/_V_Qp494B28[/video]
Short pause for me to re-learn AM91 which had fallen out of my head by then. Millie felt responsive and on the aid in the warm up, the changes weren't *good* but they were straight and under control, and on demand - that would do nicely. The test started well.... got one change, next was about 10 metres late, the one after the extended canter was late behind and then it all unravelled!
M went on strike and then had a nap down the centre line, ho hum! I always knew it would go a bit green but never mind, we managed to pull it all together and finish, to a round of applause from the gallery. nice to provide a bit of entertainment Pleasingly, the rest of the work was good enough to compensate for the 4, 3, 2 and 1 (yes, we got a 1!! not sure we even deserved that tbh) received toward the end of the test for 64% overall and first in my section.
Proof that there is a change!
Still under control at this point, too
So altogether a positive experience, and surely the worst is now out of the way - I won't every be afraid like that again and we weren't last, nor eliminated, nor bolted with, and I didn't fall off
Plus, it had the side-effect that I hoped for, which was to motivate me to ride the Mediums with more focus - it's all to easy to tootle round quite sweetly when you have a horse that goes in a rhythm and can go sideways. But I need the challenge of something really hard to make me up my game, think more, ride better & get the scores Millie is really capable of.Kira is out & about again on Friday to see if we can get her qualified for regionals too, and then Millie goes to dressage camp at the end of April where we *WILL* nail those bleeding changes! Assuming another leg doesn't fall off, of course...
