JulesRules
Well-Known Member
So today was the last day of the Quest season and it's been a rollercoaster but we managed to finish on a high.
Back in December, after only having had Rory for a few months I decided we should do My Quest at intro this year.
We started the season steadily enough with our first score at 61% and then progressing to 62% and then 63% . Things were moving in the right direction albeit slowly. We made a Team Quest team with some friends and the future looked rosy.
Then it started to go wrong. We had been working really hard at home, having lessons with a great new trainer and he was going brilliantly, but Rory decided that he wouldn't perform when we went out, he would just be an utter tit, nap to everything or just generally spook at everything in the warm arena, possibly because I was just putting too much pressure on us. On the second occasion I had to retire as I he spooked all the way down the centre line and through the next two movements. I literally sat in my lorry and cried with frustration that day.
Our Quest Team was beset by problems - my friend had all her tack stolen and couldn't get out for weeks until she replace her saddle, another friends horse went lame, our other team member couldn't find her horse's passport and it took forever for a replacement and then my lorry floor blew. Luckily no harm was done but I spent from May until July with no transport while I saved up to fix it and then needed an MOT.
Finally a few weeks ago, with my lorry back on the road, we resumed our lessons.
On Thursday we went out to a new venue and came 2nd with a very respectable 63% in our least favourite test. Today we went to the venue where I had to retire around 4 months ago, and we finally did the test that I've been waiting for him to do and we came 3rd with 66.73% in a strong field of 7 where the lowest score was 65.
I'm literally over the moon. I had the biggest smile on my face when I picked up my sheet. Today, i cried again but it was happy tears this time and relief that we are finally making progress.
I know it's just a little intro test, but it just meant so much to me. It truly is the shit days that make the good days so much more special.
The moral of the story - if you've had a stinker of a test, don't give up. Every dog (and horse) has his day.
Here is Rory with his lovely yellow ribbon.
Back in December, after only having had Rory for a few months I decided we should do My Quest at intro this year.
We started the season steadily enough with our first score at 61% and then progressing to 62% and then 63% . Things were moving in the right direction albeit slowly. We made a Team Quest team with some friends and the future looked rosy.
Then it started to go wrong. We had been working really hard at home, having lessons with a great new trainer and he was going brilliantly, but Rory decided that he wouldn't perform when we went out, he would just be an utter tit, nap to everything or just generally spook at everything in the warm arena, possibly because I was just putting too much pressure on us. On the second occasion I had to retire as I he spooked all the way down the centre line and through the next two movements. I literally sat in my lorry and cried with frustration that day.
Our Quest Team was beset by problems - my friend had all her tack stolen and couldn't get out for weeks until she replace her saddle, another friends horse went lame, our other team member couldn't find her horse's passport and it took forever for a replacement and then my lorry floor blew. Luckily no harm was done but I spent from May until July with no transport while I saved up to fix it and then needed an MOT.
Finally a few weeks ago, with my lorry back on the road, we resumed our lessons.
On Thursday we went out to a new venue and came 2nd with a very respectable 63% in our least favourite test. Today we went to the venue where I had to retire around 4 months ago, and we finally did the test that I've been waiting for him to do and we came 3rd with 66.73% in a strong field of 7 where the lowest score was 65.
I'm literally over the moon. I had the biggest smile on my face when I picked up my sheet. Today, i cried again but it was happy tears this time and relief that we are finally making progress.
I know it's just a little intro test, but it just meant so much to me. It truly is the shit days that make the good days so much more special.
The moral of the story - if you've had a stinker of a test, don't give up. Every dog (and horse) has his day.
Here is Rory with his lovely yellow ribbon.
