Splats, Circles, & Stalking... Another competition report

Jenni_

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edinburgh
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Weekend got off to a tumbling start, with Skye having a bit of a slip whilst working on Friday night. Cantering along, asked her to leg yield over for a bit of flex, next thing she slipped and off I fell. Take it from me, that's a long to fall and I even had time to write my will and some other last minute errands on the way down. Once I regained half brain function and checked nothing was broken, I flipped over to find a very un-amused Skye a mere inches from my face, with patronising look on her face.

Sorry Love.

10 points for identifying skid and splat zone- its a wonder she didn't stand on me to be honest.
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Saturday, my friend had to withdraw her horse from the Rockrose Festival of Dressage, and she very kindly got the organisers to agree to let me have her space in N24 and E42. So we took a nice easy drive down the East Coast to do them.

Warmed up in that massive indoor arena, and she mooched about quite happily, not fussed about horses, mirrors, noise - anything.
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Our instructor and sponsor (Emma Gibson from egCavalletti) was also competing on her young horse.
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We popped into the novice, which was a bit of a disaster. It was quite windy, and it is the first time she's competed at another venue except Cousland so I couldn't be upset at her going a bit tense and against me. Had one catastrophic nap at A, but we recovered. Bad girl!

Fair old wait until E42, so we chucked her in the trailer, had lunch, and watched some of the other tests. Picked up our sheets and were a bit disheartened with a 58% percent, but many people were grumbling about harsh marking and overall it was enough to get us 3rd in the class - being pipped to 2nd by my instructor by only a few marks!

Took a while warming her up for the Elementary, making sure she accepted my leg. Warm up by that point pretty intimidating with some 'names' in there - including Mount St John! I did plenty of warm-up watching that's for sure. This test was more consistent, flowed better, for a score of 54% (harsh marking again)... Ok not fab, but the wind had really picked up and she's only young. Again, sheet cried out for 'more' - so more we shall work on.1st in Class as only one in section.

I could be out competing at Prelim every weekend, winning or being placed, at a level I am comfortable at... but being out at Novice / low Ele means her brain is being kept busy, and I am being challenged as a rider. We're not out disgracing ourselves, but there's plenty to improve on. That's where I want to be.

Out showing this weekend, but there's some SJ classes so may give her a pop over those if the ground is good going. After that she can have 2 weeks off competing (i'm going to get drunk at the Highland) and then we're on the Riding Club dressage teams at the Scottish Qualifiers!

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Oh yeah... and we also nearly loaded into the wrong lorry on the way home... such an easy mistake to make!!
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I love my pony :) :)
 
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Im loving your beaming smiley face in one of your pictures...regardless of points/placings and comments on a sheet if you can have that smile at the end of the day surely that is what competing should be about...congrats jenni.
 
I think it's great you're pushing yourself. Around us we get lots of 'names' signing up for unaffiliated prelim and novice classes and you do wonder, what do they get out of it?! You guys look great :)
 
Well done! I love to see people who are trying to push themselves and improve. Sounds like a productive and educational day out, you can't ask for more than that. Your pictures look like she deserves more than mid-50s scores.
I am the same as you when it comes to getting out and trying to push things and the last judge slated me for it (with a mid-50s score at Novice) and it's great to know I'm not the only one having fun. Your post has given me confidence, thanks!
 
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