After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time! most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the
Today we competed at Hidden Brook Farm in Norway, ME. This is a MDS/WMDEA show so will not count towards our SMDA year ends, just for state points. To qualify at two levels, I need to do 6 shows (6 tests at each level). Last year I was able to do just the four SMDA shows because I only qualified at one level. Luckily I realized this before it was too late......LOL! Gotta get those year end awards!
Here are our results:
Intro B = 61.5%, fourth place (out of 6)
Training 1 = 57.8261%, second place (out of 4)
HOLY COW!!!! We may just earn a 60% someday at Training level! :D
Dreamy warmed up well, but then tensed up as soon as we entered the ring. The judge was in a horse trailer, which stressed her out. :( Silly girl. So being tense affected our tempo, which made the test rushed and a bit sloppy. I think I am so focused on the Training test that I am "throwing away" my Intro test. It is almost like I am thinking, this is the "easy" test and our "warm-up".....which is NOT true. I want to ride the Intro test just as well as any other test. So I need to fix my thinking about the tests......AND I need help slowing our tempo! Sometimes when I half-halt to slow/re-balance she just roots on the bit and I cannot seem to use my legs enough to push her out into the bridle. Not sure on this one.....something for my lesson this Tuesday. Plus she really flipped her head around in both tests today. I need to figure out what I am doing incorrectly.
I also had a hard time with my 10 m turn onto the center line. I think I need to do some of the test movements during a lesson sometime so I can fine tune the movements. I was frustrated with myself becuase I REALLY thought about keeping my outside hand, but nevertheless each time we turned onto the center line (final salute) it was NOT a straight turn.
Training 1 was FABULOUS. We scored all 6s and 7s, with two 8s, and just a couple 5s!!!! We even got a SIX on our right lead canter (and a 5 on the left....her bad side). I was in the game this time, our half halts were there, etc etc and I was much more focused. She did anticipate the canter yet again, but only got a couple of little "hops" in, not an actual canter stride. :) She hopped in our last trot circle and then all the way up the center line. Need help with this! Good thing I have a lesson in three days!
The judge really liked Dreamy (big surprise, LOL!) and said she was a nice mover. Told me to do hundreds of trot/canter transitions, and then after that do hundreds more. I laughed and she said, "NO really, do hundreds of them. You will get bored before she does." She said, "She'll get it and she will become balanced and she will have a gorgeous canter. You just wait."
So I am pretty pleased with my horse and her efforts! :) I just have to FIX ME!
USDF Intro B
Training Level Test 1
Stills from the videos....click to enlarge.
Here are our results:
Intro B = 61.5%, fourth place (out of 6)
Training 1 = 57.8261%, second place (out of 4)
HOLY COW!!!! We may just earn a 60% someday at Training level! :D
Dreamy warmed up well, but then tensed up as soon as we entered the ring. The judge was in a horse trailer, which stressed her out. :( Silly girl. So being tense affected our tempo, which made the test rushed and a bit sloppy. I think I am so focused on the Training test that I am "throwing away" my Intro test. It is almost like I am thinking, this is the "easy" test and our "warm-up".....which is NOT true. I want to ride the Intro test just as well as any other test. So I need to fix my thinking about the tests......AND I need help slowing our tempo! Sometimes when I half-halt to slow/re-balance she just roots on the bit and I cannot seem to use my legs enough to push her out into the bridle. Not sure on this one.....something for my lesson this Tuesday. Plus she really flipped her head around in both tests today. I need to figure out what I am doing incorrectly.
I also had a hard time with my 10 m turn onto the center line. I think I need to do some of the test movements during a lesson sometime so I can fine tune the movements. I was frustrated with myself becuase I REALLY thought about keeping my outside hand, but nevertheless each time we turned onto the center line (final salute) it was NOT a straight turn.
Training 1 was FABULOUS. We scored all 6s and 7s, with two 8s, and just a couple 5s!!!! We even got a SIX on our right lead canter (and a 5 on the left....her bad side). I was in the game this time, our half halts were there, etc etc and I was much more focused. She did anticipate the canter yet again, but only got a couple of little "hops" in, not an actual canter stride. :) She hopped in our last trot circle and then all the way up the center line. Need help with this! Good thing I have a lesson in three days!
The judge really liked Dreamy (big surprise, LOL!) and said she was a nice mover. Told me to do hundreds of trot/canter transitions, and then after that do hundreds more. I laughed and she said, "NO really, do hundreds of them. You will get bored before she does." She said, "She'll get it and she will become balanced and she will have a gorgeous canter. You just wait."
So I am pretty pleased with my horse and her efforts! :) I just have to FIX ME!
USDF Intro B
Training Level Test 1
Stills from the videos....click to enlarge.
And of course, my completely adorable C! :)
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