Scarlett
Well-Known Member
Had arranged today to take a friends little girl to a local low level dressage comp on another friends pony that she has been riding, as the show was advertised as ideal for novice horses and riders I thought it might make a good place to give Indy his first show experience so I booked in to do Intro B and P18, tbh I wasn't expecting to do P18 as our flatwork is not a thing of beauty but entered on the off chance all would go well.
If anyone remembers him he has a history of bogging off with folk on the gallops when he was in training so I was slightly apprehensive about the fact the show was all on grass on a big, open playing field. He's not the most forward in the school so although I hoped that he would 'light up' a bit at the show I was hoping that didn't mean galloping wildly....
He loaded well for his first proper trip in the trailer - only other time was coming back from the trainers when he was ACP'd - however I had a bit of a panic when I realised, after leaving the house that I had dark navy knickers on under my new pale breeches, do'h!
Had to sort out friends daughter and read her first test, Indy was a bit figity at the box when on his own so OH put his saddle on as, in good old exracer fashion, he instantly settled down. When it was finally time for me to get on I took him for a walk around. This lead to him leaping about in hand, and thus the decision to just get on the damn thing and get trotting. The minute I scrambled on he chilled and we set off for the warm up.
There was a fair bit of OMG! from him in the warm up, however he stayed forward and attentive. Got off his back a bit and kept him moving, he settled ok, had a canter on both reins and, although there were times he felt on the edge, he didn't do anything horrible. Having spent the last year with my mare gradually getting more awful in the warm up it was a nice change to end up wandering round on a long rein and not worrying about what was coming past us or what other horses were doing.
So into the first test, I rode around the outside like an idiot, I was riding him like my mare and just sitting hoping nothing was going to happen, the thing was he wasn't doing anything wrong, thankfully I gave myself a bit of a slap, sat up and went in....
Some of it was lovely, some of it not so but he was forward and rideable so I was super pleased... love this pic...
The Judge stopped me on the way out and had a quick word, he LOVED him and liked that I rode forward and wasn't trying to force a 'shape', so super pleased with that and headed back to the box. Couldnt decide what to do re P18 as had a 2 hour wait. Got test sheets for IntroB and discovered I was 5th with 68.3%, sheet was all 6's and 7's and had gained a nice pink rosette. Even better my friends little girl had managed 2nd with 73%, this was her first show, on a borrowed pony, and she has been riding 6 month. She had everyone in tears...
Anyway, the weather held, the ground stayed good and my best friend and Test Caller Extrordinaire (check out her pink hair in the pics!) called to say she could make it to call P18 for me so we decided to stay. TBH I didn't doubt Indy, it felt like a great opportunity to get back on and build on it all a little more, so back to the warm up we went...
and in for the test... He was super. He got and maintained both canters in a sensible fashion, didn't wobble in any of the more complex turns - he's like driving a bus a bit at the mo - and coped well with a test that asked him some balance questions he hasn't been asked. He stuggled with the downwards transitions and tbh I didn't push it, the last centre line to halt was a bit ropey but he finished off with his ears pricked and looking pleased with his efforts...
One of the most pleasing parts of today was that after the test we wandered back to the box on the buckle and with my feet out my stirrups, such a simple thing but that said a lot to me.
Headed home only to get a call from a friend to say she had picked up my P18 sheet and was bringing it over - 6th with 63.75% and a purple rosette to add to his newly started collection. There were 12-14 in the class I think and some smart looking combinations there so I was super pleased, I really didn't expect a placing. The judge loved that he was forward, this causes much hilarity at home as I'm never forward enough when schooling. Oh well!
I know it was only a small show and the judge was obv in a good mood but I've seen him judging local aff at Merrist Wood so I'll take his scores with a pinch of salt but I am pleased with the comments and my first ever dressage placings.
One final pic... he loves the camera!
Realised today that riding my mare the last couple of years has made me a defensive limpet who just hangs on and just tries not to p!ss my ride off, really seen today that I can start a new slate with him and really ride him forward. I can't remember the last outing I've had that was that enjoyable, it's been a couple of years. Onwards now to more work at home and hopefully some jumping once we sort out a saddle...
(God thats long - well done anyone who actually reads it!)
If anyone remembers him he has a history of bogging off with folk on the gallops when he was in training so I was slightly apprehensive about the fact the show was all on grass on a big, open playing field. He's not the most forward in the school so although I hoped that he would 'light up' a bit at the show I was hoping that didn't mean galloping wildly....
He loaded well for his first proper trip in the trailer - only other time was coming back from the trainers when he was ACP'd - however I had a bit of a panic when I realised, after leaving the house that I had dark navy knickers on under my new pale breeches, do'h!
Had to sort out friends daughter and read her first test, Indy was a bit figity at the box when on his own so OH put his saddle on as, in good old exracer fashion, he instantly settled down. When it was finally time for me to get on I took him for a walk around. This lead to him leaping about in hand, and thus the decision to just get on the damn thing and get trotting. The minute I scrambled on he chilled and we set off for the warm up.
There was a fair bit of OMG! from him in the warm up, however he stayed forward and attentive. Got off his back a bit and kept him moving, he settled ok, had a canter on both reins and, although there were times he felt on the edge, he didn't do anything horrible. Having spent the last year with my mare gradually getting more awful in the warm up it was a nice change to end up wandering round on a long rein and not worrying about what was coming past us or what other horses were doing.
So into the first test, I rode around the outside like an idiot, I was riding him like my mare and just sitting hoping nothing was going to happen, the thing was he wasn't doing anything wrong, thankfully I gave myself a bit of a slap, sat up and went in....
Some of it was lovely, some of it not so but he was forward and rideable so I was super pleased... love this pic...
The Judge stopped me on the way out and had a quick word, he LOVED him and liked that I rode forward and wasn't trying to force a 'shape', so super pleased with that and headed back to the box. Couldnt decide what to do re P18 as had a 2 hour wait. Got test sheets for IntroB and discovered I was 5th with 68.3%, sheet was all 6's and 7's and had gained a nice pink rosette. Even better my friends little girl had managed 2nd with 73%, this was her first show, on a borrowed pony, and she has been riding 6 month. She had everyone in tears...
Anyway, the weather held, the ground stayed good and my best friend and Test Caller Extrordinaire (check out her pink hair in the pics!) called to say she could make it to call P18 for me so we decided to stay. TBH I didn't doubt Indy, it felt like a great opportunity to get back on and build on it all a little more, so back to the warm up we went...
and in for the test... He was super. He got and maintained both canters in a sensible fashion, didn't wobble in any of the more complex turns - he's like driving a bus a bit at the mo - and coped well with a test that asked him some balance questions he hasn't been asked. He stuggled with the downwards transitions and tbh I didn't push it, the last centre line to halt was a bit ropey but he finished off with his ears pricked and looking pleased with his efforts...
One of the most pleasing parts of today was that after the test we wandered back to the box on the buckle and with my feet out my stirrups, such a simple thing but that said a lot to me.
Headed home only to get a call from a friend to say she had picked up my P18 sheet and was bringing it over - 6th with 63.75% and a purple rosette to add to his newly started collection. There were 12-14 in the class I think and some smart looking combinations there so I was super pleased, I really didn't expect a placing. The judge loved that he was forward, this causes much hilarity at home as I'm never forward enough when schooling. Oh well!
I know it was only a small show and the judge was obv in a good mood but I've seen him judging local aff at Merrist Wood so I'll take his scores with a pinch of salt but I am pleased with the comments and my first ever dressage placings.
One final pic... he loves the camera!
Realised today that riding my mare the last couple of years has made me a defensive limpet who just hangs on and just tries not to p!ss my ride off, really seen today that I can start a new slate with him and really ride him forward. I can't remember the last outing I've had that was that enjoyable, it's been a couple of years. Onwards now to more work at home and hopefully some jumping once we sort out a saddle...
(God thats long - well done anyone who actually reads it!)
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Quite dissapointed as the shows there are the nicest, friendliest, best organised unaff shows around. Gutted the next one isn't until September!