Little dressage report

[RachelB]

So it was only a very small, quiet, local RC competition but it was my first on Cookie (started riding him in March-ish time) and I just had to post cos I'm so chuffed with him! We've been working probably at novice level at home, but mostly been doing SJing, so I know how well he can go (once he gets engaged he's really easy to keep on the contact and nice and round, supple and between leg and hand). He can be a bit lazy at home but I was hoping being somewhere new would zizz him up a bit. That didn't exactly go to plan as he was just about as backwards as ever! I think I annoyed his owner (she doesn't seem particularly keen to let me compete him but was ok about today) by doing two perfect walk to canter transitions in the warm-up

so we got off to a good start! He was so very backwards in the test, not listening to my leg or whip at all but there were some lovely moments when he went forwards without me chasing him, and was in a lovely frame and felt very much in my hand and working through. At the end of the test I had a talk with the judge and she said it was a lovely test, and could she steal Cookie! I thought it had been awful (apart from the occasional 'moment'), but obviously the judge didn't think so as we won the class with 68.3%! My first ever first rosette!

I am so pleased, although a little sad as I'm not 'allowed' to do dressage on him any more as it's what his owner wants to do (she's affiliated novice and wants to work up to elementary). Anyway I just had to share

I hope everyone else's weekend competitions and outings went as well as mine!

 

[tigers_eye]

Showing up the owner probably isn't the best way to keep a ride

Well done though, will you be able to do some competitive jumping on him?

 

[RachelB]

I didn't mean to, we were just in the right place at the right time and I wanted to canter, so I did! It just so happened that trot didn't come between walk and canter! I was 99.9% certain a week ago that she'd never let me do any dressage after today, so it's no real loss... just makes me sad really as I'd love to do it on him as it's what I love doing.
I was going to a local SJ next month some time, just 2'3" and 2'6", but that looks unlikely now (as I said I'm not sure the owner is really as keen as she makes out). We're going schooling at a local venue in a couple of weeks though so if all goes well (and I don't come off or have too many stops at the fillers!) then we'll see if we're allowed! Hopefully though now we seem to have the dressage going well, it should give us a nice firm basis for our SJing.

 

[Tempi]

YAY - thats fantastic hun, well done!!!!!!

Such a shame his owner wont let you do anymore dressage on him tho

You didnt miss much on saturday, apart from getting soaking wet

 

[RachelB]

Thanks!
I didn't think I'd enjoy going out in that rain TBH... I sat and watched a Monty Python film and had a 'Sunday afternoon' on a Saturday! Much warmer and drier! Glad the boyo went well though

I've just spotted some more schedules for Hoplands so I'm hoping I can take him to their combined training and sneak a dressage test in that way

crafty, eh?!

 

[Tempi]

good plan - im sure she wont mind too much!!