FestiveFuzz
Well-Known Member
So this week we finally had our dressage debut. Ive had M for a little over 18 months now, but a combination of being slightly intimidated by his BD record and self-doubt on my part meant Ive kinda been dragging my heels about actually entering a competition.
Since buying our little lorry though weve been heading out for arena training a couple of times a week and finally plucked up the courage to venture out. I picked a small venue, albeit one wed never been to together for our first time and picked evening dressage as I knew it wasnt likely to be too busy. After a minor wrong turn that saw us trundling up a steep single-track lane for what seemed like forever, we finally arrived at the venue with more than an hour to spare! M was surprisingly chilled, so we had a little graze and then I dragged him with me to collect our number by which time my wonderful OH and head groom/caller/provider of drinks had arrived.
A quick wardrobe change and I was in the saddle and heading off to the warm up, which was by far the smallest indoor school we've ever ridden in. Now M is a dinky warmblood at around 16hh on tippy toes, but what he lacks in height he makes up for with HUGE paces so warming up with two others was interesting to say the least. We did the best we could given the circumstances though, and headed out just in time to watch the end of the test before us.
Id chosen Novice 24 as its so straightforward, but also has enough to think about that M doesnt switch off. Now there were many things Id factored in when it came to our first proper outing Id prepared for M to be spooky, for him to do his best giraffe impressions and to perhaps get a bit over-enthusiastic/take over after the first medium canter. What I hadnt prepared for was that hed be completely behind my leg, essentially the whole test was like riding with the handbrake on. Im willing to accept that this may have been partially down to my nerves and perhaps I was unthinkingly gripping with my legs, or it could just have been M was a little overwhelmed what with being at a completely new place. Hes never, ever felt that backwards though so it was a bit of a surprise.
That said, there were still plenty of positives. We managed to remember the test, and our changes through walk and trot were much better than they had been at home where M usually tries to take over. Sadly our lack of impulsion meant our medium canter was positively non-existent and we lost marks in the free walk as well as a rather embarassing Thelwell moment when I felt M trying to break into trot early from the canter and he point-blankly ignored all aids. So I was a bit surprised to see wed managed to score an extremely generous 72.4%, which saw us take 3rd place. So all in all it was a pretty productive trip out, albeit a little frustrating given I know how nicely M usually goes.
We've got a lesson tomorrow so hoping to try and iron out some of the kinks (although not sure how to replicate the lack of gas in the tank as he's never backwards at home) and then we're out again next week at a venue we regularly school at so hopefully he'll feel a bit more like his usual bouncy self again.
Sadly OH was calling for us so were unfortunately lacking in pics from the day, but heres a very handsome looking post-party M
Since buying our little lorry though weve been heading out for arena training a couple of times a week and finally plucked up the courage to venture out. I picked a small venue, albeit one wed never been to together for our first time and picked evening dressage as I knew it wasnt likely to be too busy. After a minor wrong turn that saw us trundling up a steep single-track lane for what seemed like forever, we finally arrived at the venue with more than an hour to spare! M was surprisingly chilled, so we had a little graze and then I dragged him with me to collect our number by which time my wonderful OH and head groom/caller/provider of drinks had arrived.
A quick wardrobe change and I was in the saddle and heading off to the warm up, which was by far the smallest indoor school we've ever ridden in. Now M is a dinky warmblood at around 16hh on tippy toes, but what he lacks in height he makes up for with HUGE paces so warming up with two others was interesting to say the least. We did the best we could given the circumstances though, and headed out just in time to watch the end of the test before us.
Id chosen Novice 24 as its so straightforward, but also has enough to think about that M doesnt switch off. Now there were many things Id factored in when it came to our first proper outing Id prepared for M to be spooky, for him to do his best giraffe impressions and to perhaps get a bit over-enthusiastic/take over after the first medium canter. What I hadnt prepared for was that hed be completely behind my leg, essentially the whole test was like riding with the handbrake on. Im willing to accept that this may have been partially down to my nerves and perhaps I was unthinkingly gripping with my legs, or it could just have been M was a little overwhelmed what with being at a completely new place. Hes never, ever felt that backwards though so it was a bit of a surprise.
That said, there were still plenty of positives. We managed to remember the test, and our changes through walk and trot were much better than they had been at home where M usually tries to take over. Sadly our lack of impulsion meant our medium canter was positively non-existent and we lost marks in the free walk as well as a rather embarassing Thelwell moment when I felt M trying to break into trot early from the canter and he point-blankly ignored all aids. So I was a bit surprised to see wed managed to score an extremely generous 72.4%, which saw us take 3rd place. So all in all it was a pretty productive trip out, albeit a little frustrating given I know how nicely M usually goes.
We've got a lesson tomorrow so hoping to try and iron out some of the kinks (although not sure how to replicate the lack of gas in the tank as he's never backwards at home) and then we're out again next week at a venue we regularly school at so hopefully he'll feel a bit more like his usual bouncy self again.
Sadly OH was calling for us so were unfortunately lacking in pics from the day, but heres a very handsome looking post-party M
