BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
When last we spoke I was saying it would likely be September before we would get temperatures and conditions that allowed us to show in his ideal comfort range. But then the weather gods were giving me a very encouraging forecast for a show that we love. The farm at Old Salem is a great show and they redid the Grand Prix arena from grass to a lovely synthetic and as a result it's one of the largest rings in my showing area "close" to home. The drive usually takes 3.5 - 4 hours. This time however due to traffic and a LOT of construction on a bunch of roads, we left at 8pm and arrived at 1am. Cudo didn't look very thrilled about this adventure when we unloaded. LOL. Can't say I felt much differently. It was a challenging drive.
But as all good stories do, the hero (Cudo) surmounted the irritation with the travel conditions and by morning was looking much brighter at the farm of a friend that we stay with. The show started yesterday and as I am here alone I spent a good part of the lovely morning watching the ring and the 1m and 1.10m classes. The courses yesterday were lovely. Very flowing, made use of the big space and not that intense. Exactly what I'd hoped for on day 1. I had the option to dropdown into the 1.10m to start if I wanted to stay out of the higher heat, but the weather wasn't terrible and it was a small 1.10. Not worth it in my mind and Cudo was getting more rest time at the farm as the day churned slowly along at the show. So figuring that more rest and a bit of heat to jump our normal heights would be the best plan, we stuck to our 1.20 and 1.30 entries. The orders were fantastic as I drew 31st of 34 in the 1.20 and 29th of 35 in the 1.30. It meant 90 mins between classes which I surmised would be best to allow him enough time to get cooled down and rest before coming out again. It's been hot enough this summer that we haven't don't a ton of long courses in our lessons. Just 5-6 fences at a time. So yesterday we had a 10 fence, 13 effort 1.20 and a 11 fence, 14 effort 1.30.
We're obviously using this show to get our fall fitness for shows going, and as such the pilot has to remember how to better give her signals. LOL. Translation, a few rails fell. In the 1.20 I tipped one rail when I held Cudo to the distance and from the base he lightly shifted his flight path and ticked the rail. In the 1.30 the lower front rail of the first oxer at #1 came down. He hasn't done that often but he had every right to be a little hot and less reactive. Then he took a second rail, but this one behind, in the out of a 1 stride in and out. He jumped into the distance too much and didn't get all his legs out of the way. That's life. And he improves a ton when the temperatures drop. His clear round percentage is much higher in spring and fall.
But this was our first true 1.30m class again since the debacle of the June '21 show and the subsequent mental break on my part, and physical break on Cudo's side. During those low months I was not sure if we'd ever make it back, or be legitimate at 1.30 again. (Depression plays horrible tricks on your mind and subsequently your confidence) But I gotta say I have re-watched the rounds from yesterday and previous 1.30's we have done. We looked soooo much more solid and definitely belonged. We are clicking and better than before. The finer details will come. But very proud and so thankful to all the people helping us.
Videos are here:
Full Rounds:
Fun TikTok music video (30 seconds)
https://www.tiktok.com/@xctrygirlus...1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7064012529277994502
We have today doing another 1.20 and 1.30 and then finish tomorrow morning with a single 1.25m class. Should be fun.
I'll post updates back here tonight too.
Many thanks,
Em
When last we spoke I was saying it would likely be September before we would get temperatures and conditions that allowed us to show in his ideal comfort range. But then the weather gods were giving me a very encouraging forecast for a show that we love. The farm at Old Salem is a great show and they redid the Grand Prix arena from grass to a lovely synthetic and as a result it's one of the largest rings in my showing area "close" to home. The drive usually takes 3.5 - 4 hours. This time however due to traffic and a LOT of construction on a bunch of roads, we left at 8pm and arrived at 1am. Cudo didn't look very thrilled about this adventure when we unloaded. LOL. Can't say I felt much differently. It was a challenging drive.
But as all good stories do, the hero (Cudo) surmounted the irritation with the travel conditions and by morning was looking much brighter at the farm of a friend that we stay with. The show started yesterday and as I am here alone I spent a good part of the lovely morning watching the ring and the 1m and 1.10m classes. The courses yesterday were lovely. Very flowing, made use of the big space and not that intense. Exactly what I'd hoped for on day 1. I had the option to dropdown into the 1.10m to start if I wanted to stay out of the higher heat, but the weather wasn't terrible and it was a small 1.10. Not worth it in my mind and Cudo was getting more rest time at the farm as the day churned slowly along at the show. So figuring that more rest and a bit of heat to jump our normal heights would be the best plan, we stuck to our 1.20 and 1.30 entries. The orders were fantastic as I drew 31st of 34 in the 1.20 and 29th of 35 in the 1.30. It meant 90 mins between classes which I surmised would be best to allow him enough time to get cooled down and rest before coming out again. It's been hot enough this summer that we haven't don't a ton of long courses in our lessons. Just 5-6 fences at a time. So yesterday we had a 10 fence, 13 effort 1.20 and a 11 fence, 14 effort 1.30.
We're obviously using this show to get our fall fitness for shows going, and as such the pilot has to remember how to better give her signals. LOL. Translation, a few rails fell. In the 1.20 I tipped one rail when I held Cudo to the distance and from the base he lightly shifted his flight path and ticked the rail. In the 1.30 the lower front rail of the first oxer at #1 came down. He hasn't done that often but he had every right to be a little hot and less reactive. Then he took a second rail, but this one behind, in the out of a 1 stride in and out. He jumped into the distance too much and didn't get all his legs out of the way. That's life. And he improves a ton when the temperatures drop. His clear round percentage is much higher in spring and fall.
But this was our first true 1.30m class again since the debacle of the June '21 show and the subsequent mental break on my part, and physical break on Cudo's side. During those low months I was not sure if we'd ever make it back, or be legitimate at 1.30 again. (Depression plays horrible tricks on your mind and subsequently your confidence) But I gotta say I have re-watched the rounds from yesterday and previous 1.30's we have done. We looked soooo much more solid and definitely belonged. We are clicking and better than before. The finer details will come. But very proud and so thankful to all the people helping us.
Videos are here:
Full Rounds:
Fun TikTok music video (30 seconds)
https://www.tiktok.com/@xctrygirlus...1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7064012529277994502
We have today doing another 1.20 and 1.30 and then finish tomorrow morning with a single 1.25m class. Should be fun.
I'll post updates back here tonight too.
Many thanks,
Em
