moneypit1
Well-Known Member
This is also in competition riders as I feel maximum exposure is called for! This is the story of Harry Trotters (4yo) first dressage test, Prelim 1.
What a day. Ended up running late this morning as my hubby was out late last night picking up a horse from Duchy College and I was so bored waiting for him I opened a bottle of wine! You know where this is going right. Didn't get around to washing Harry who is a grey and so this morning I was in a flap doing ten things at once....badly.
Got there in good time and he was as good as gold tied up to the lorry. We had another 4 yo entered half hour before with another rider so concentrated on him. Decided to tack up in good time and warm up as he can be incredibly fresh. OMG, he was a lunatic. He swerved and lept around the warmup scattering bystanders and other horses. I was mortified and apologised profusely leaving at once to the santuary of the car park where he proceeded to do the most amazing passage, snorting and totally ignoring me.
In between time my friend ran up to tell me the resident jack russell had been found in our lorry on TOP of the cooker having eaten 12 of our 15 sausages!
Then it was time...... He napped at the entrance to the indoor school and the gate man led him in, on the way Harry got hold of the poor guys belt in his mouth and practically castrated him by lifting him in the air. More apologies.
To cut a long story short he shyed and snorted and the very patient judge let me have a few minutes before ringing the bell. Then his adrenalin ran out and I really had to kick him on. We did a mediocre test and came 5th. Apparently his paces were 'fluid and he held a good rythum'. Of course I was ecstatic but think that they felt very sorry for me and were over lenient with the marking down, especially as their dog had eaten our lunch. Oh well, at least it is over with, roll on the next one! xx
What a day. Ended up running late this morning as my hubby was out late last night picking up a horse from Duchy College and I was so bored waiting for him I opened a bottle of wine! You know where this is going right. Didn't get around to washing Harry who is a grey and so this morning I was in a flap doing ten things at once....badly.
Got there in good time and he was as good as gold tied up to the lorry. We had another 4 yo entered half hour before with another rider so concentrated on him. Decided to tack up in good time and warm up as he can be incredibly fresh. OMG, he was a lunatic. He swerved and lept around the warmup scattering bystanders and other horses. I was mortified and apologised profusely leaving at once to the santuary of the car park where he proceeded to do the most amazing passage, snorting and totally ignoring me.
In between time my friend ran up to tell me the resident jack russell had been found in our lorry on TOP of the cooker having eaten 12 of our 15 sausages!
Then it was time...... He napped at the entrance to the indoor school and the gate man led him in, on the way Harry got hold of the poor guys belt in his mouth and practically castrated him by lifting him in the air. More apologies.
To cut a long story short he shyed and snorted and the very patient judge let me have a few minutes before ringing the bell. Then his adrenalin ran out and I really had to kick him on. We did a mediocre test and came 5th. Apparently his paces were 'fluid and he held a good rythum'. Of course I was ecstatic but think that they felt very sorry for me and were over lenient with the marking down, especially as their dog had eaten our lunch. Oh well, at least it is over with, roll on the next one! xx
