Orange Horses surprising everyone including me!

[OrangeEmpire]

First time of writing a competition report and I have to admit it is not in the usual league of everyone else on here!

But I just have to post pictures of Jack at his first ever dressage competition (UA Prelim1)... Anyone who has read any of my posts will have noticed I tend to go on (and on and on) about him being a 16yro ex-racer with advanced arthritis in his neck which causes coordination problems. 2 years ago he was on the brink of it being The End but after a lot of hard work and patience (me) and determination (him) he has become a happy beastie once more.

So yesterday having decided that he was strong enough I took him to his first ever dressage competition. Despite being very confused about the whole thing he tried his heart out and gave me a brilliant ride! So here are the pictures of him strutting his stuff.

 

[ChestnutMonty]

Lovely horse! Well done!
I'm all for supporting orange horses!!

 

[dixie]

Love the halt at the end. He looks like he is looking at the judge and saying "was that okay then" !!

 

[LizzieJ]

What a lovely looking boy. You must be very pleased, well done!

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Thank you all! He and I are by no means brilliant, but it just amazes me that he went from utter hopelessness to this. The judges made comments like 'tense across back' and 'lacking engagement behind' which are perfectly reasonable comments, but if they just knew what he has dealt with I think they would have been as stunned as I was.
Hurrah for orange horses!

 

[sarahs]

arrrrr ! that is almost a tear jerker !
He looks fab - so many well dones - you sound very pleased !

 

[Seahorse]

he looks lovely, well done

 

[murphyboywoody]

I love orange horseys too!! Well done Orange Empire and Jack!!

 

[Sneedy]

Orange horses rule!!

Well done for overcoming everything, he looks awesome, a credit to all your hard work!!

 

[henryhorn]

Well done, you should feel very proud...

 

[Haniki]

I love the halt photo too! Well done.

 

[custard]

Looks to be doing a nice test well done, I have to say he looks like he's enjoyed himself in the pic of his final halt, looks well cheeky!!

 

[SpruceRI]

Well done. Your boy looks lovely ....from another biaised orange-horse lover!

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Wow I never realised there were so many closet Orange Horse Enthusiasts! *grin*

 

[HenryandPeta]

He is such a sweetheart! I'm so glad I got round to the judges car for the halt shot!!