milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Awwwww, I love this little cob, she's such a funny little tinker. Thanks to the HHOers who helped me stop dithering about whether to go affiliated with Kira straight away, it was the perfect outing for her and just what she needed.
I had decided to only enter one test, so we did Prelim 15. Not too much canter (that's the weak spot at the moment) and it's quite short, so not too much tootling around becoming inattentive. I didn't want to do 2 tests on her first outing - if she was good, I wanted it to end on a positive rather than push my luck, and if it was bad, she could go back to the warm up to do more work.
Slightly chaotic morning, as is usual, so we were on our way a bit later than planned. Arrived at Summerhouse with just enough time to have a wee (both me and Kira!), pull breeches on and chuck some tack at pony. So we didn't get the 15 minute warm up, focussing on transitions and taking in the sights, that I had planned....:rolleyes3:
Ho hum, I lead her into the warm up arena, as the new sights and smells were a bit much and she needed some reassurance from the ground. Hopped on board and quickly trotted down to the test arena, as we were only 2nd to go, by my watch the first combination had gone early, and the judges were waiting for us
She was a little behind my leg, and forgot the sequence of legs required in the second canter, but other than that I'm so so pleased with my little £2 horse. She didn't look at the banners, she didn't spook at the judges box, she didn't gawp at the white boards, nor attempt to leap out of the arena (a first for ANY of my rides attending their first show!) and she didn't plant in the middle and refuse to move.
In fact, she scored 63% ! We had quite a few 7s, and then a 4 for the tranter pace that we produced in the middle. Judge said she had nice rhythmical paces & just needs to be more consistent in the contact. I'm not worried about that at all, when she is more switched on she is like a little swinging metronome, so that's entirely solvable.
After the test we popped back in the warm up for 10 minutes, as by then it was a bit busier and I wanted to see how she would react with more horses around. We did lots of canter transitions until she became forward and relaxed, and she didn't bat an eye at the other horses. She stood quietly next to the box to be untacked & while I went off to read the sheet, and then off home we went, before she got bored. All in all, a really positive experience, and she's a total delight to have around - so nice to have a horse that doesn't climb all over you at a show, or get ants it its pants etc.
Next trip will probably be a fun ride, which I think she will enjoy and so will I, as she's really good in company. Also eyeing up a little clear round at local RC show... decisions, decisions...
Pics!
I had decided to only enter one test, so we did Prelim 15. Not too much canter (that's the weak spot at the moment) and it's quite short, so not too much tootling around becoming inattentive. I didn't want to do 2 tests on her first outing - if she was good, I wanted it to end on a positive rather than push my luck, and if it was bad, she could go back to the warm up to do more work.
Slightly chaotic morning, as is usual, so we were on our way a bit later than planned. Arrived at Summerhouse with just enough time to have a wee (both me and Kira!), pull breeches on and chuck some tack at pony. So we didn't get the 15 minute warm up, focussing on transitions and taking in the sights, that I had planned....:rolleyes3:
Ho hum, I lead her into the warm up arena, as the new sights and smells were a bit much and she needed some reassurance from the ground. Hopped on board and quickly trotted down to the test arena, as we were only 2nd to go, by my watch the first combination had gone early, and the judges were waiting for us
She was a little behind my leg, and forgot the sequence of legs required in the second canter, but other than that I'm so so pleased with my little £2 horse. She didn't look at the banners, she didn't spook at the judges box, she didn't gawp at the white boards, nor attempt to leap out of the arena (a first for ANY of my rides attending their first show!) and she didn't plant in the middle and refuse to move.
In fact, she scored 63% ! We had quite a few 7s, and then a 4 for the tranter pace that we produced in the middle. Judge said she had nice rhythmical paces & just needs to be more consistent in the contact. I'm not worried about that at all, when she is more switched on she is like a little swinging metronome, so that's entirely solvable.
After the test we popped back in the warm up for 10 minutes, as by then it was a bit busier and I wanted to see how she would react with more horses around. We did lots of canter transitions until she became forward and relaxed, and she didn't bat an eye at the other horses. She stood quietly next to the box to be untacked & while I went off to read the sheet, and then off home we went, before she got bored. All in all, a really positive experience, and she's a total delight to have around - so nice to have a horse that doesn't climb all over you at a show, or get ants it its pants etc.
Next trip will probably be a fun ride, which I think she will enjoy and so will I, as she's really good in company. Also eyeing up a little clear round at local RC show... decisions, decisions...
Pics!
Wish she was a little taller, she's got the feet of a 16hh horse!
Congratulations on the amazing score and roll on your next outing 
