It's hard not to smile -- Part 2

On May 3, my trainer and friends traveled once again to Yarra Yarra Ranch for another day of competition. Teddy was very excited. Arriving at the ranch, he recognized at once where he was and started calling out to his buddies. Our horses filled a small barn that is reserved for incoming competition horses. Teddy took up his place at his stall door watching and responding to everything around him with genuine enthusiasm. I wonder if he ever slept!

It is times like this that I really enjoy horse shows. One is surrounded by friends. You are doing what you love. All this makes it very hard to get stressed out about the testing. 

Sunday morning, the day of the competition was quite cold and there was a stiff wind blowing from the west. This is perfect weather for me and Ted. He is much more forward when it is cool and breezy. And while some were having trouble with their horses in the freshening wind, I was not.

The first test, Training Level Test 3, did not go as planned. I went off course and lost points because of it. I had hoped to get better scores than the past weekend and was very disheartened. The test was filled with 6s and 5s and I had not managed to improve my freewalk, nor had I improved the "rising trot, allowing the horse to stretch forward and down." I was rattled.

I had a half an hour to relax, so I took Teddy's tack off and made sure he had hay. I walked up and down trying to relieve some of the stress I was feeling. If I can turn my mind off, things go amazingly well. My friend Nora suggested that one test did not make for a disasterous day. 

I went back to the warm-up arena and got ready for Traing Level Test 4. I felt as though I needed to ask more from Teddy, myself and to listen closely to my trainer who would read the test for me. I got into the arena and stopped worrying and simply rode the test to the best of my ability. Here is the result.

The judge's collective remarks were "nicely ridden test, must work on bending for higher marks." My trainer's critique was that Teddy was not on the bit and he was strung out. After looking at the video, I see a lot of problems, but I also see the improvements that we have made over the past year. I managed to get a 7 for rider position, which was one of my main goals. My overall score was a 67.6 percent. This is the highest score Teddy and I have ever received. Teddy and I were very glad to get back to our barn that afternoon. There was an apple for him and a nice long nap for me.

Comments

[Xena]

Nice Test! : )

I'm very much enjoying your commentary and vidoes. Teddy is adorable and you are a better rider than you give yourself credit for (as I'm sure your Trainer has told you : ) ).

I, too, am a Dressage rider and I also show in Hunters and Jumpers. I have a 12 year old Morgan mare named Argo and a coming two year old Quarab named Epona that I hope will be my uber Dressage mount ::grin::.

I'm glad I found this blog and will defintely keep checking in. Good luck to you and Teddy! :)

Oh, BTW, I have the opposite problem with Argo...too much forward! LOL

[Karen]

Oh Elizabeth...I thought you both did magnificently. I'm sorry...my critique means little as I know so little about horses. However I am enjoying so much following you and Teddy. I applaud your devotion and determination. Teddy is such a beautiful horse. I'm so glad you're sharing these moments with me. When I was a little girl I wanted a horse sooooooo badly but alas...it wasn't in the cards for me. Keep up the wonderful work you're doing and please give Teddy a nice fat, orange, carrot for me!