dressage comp results

[fleabitten]

Sorry only getting round to this now!

We had a very successful first outing with my loan pony last sunday - we went to a localish venue that hosts regular competitions and we have been down spectating at the friday night jumping a lot this year and its very friendly and well organised. Had a look at the class schedule and the only test i had was Prelim 13 so that was the class i ended up doing! lol!

Well, the pony was a complete saint getting ready, it took me and mum 2 hours to get him washed and plaited and travel gear all ready and he hardly fidgeted at all, best pony ever!!! So proud of him for standing so well.

Dad drove the jeep (still have it from the ponies lol) and LP's owner has very kindly offered us use of her trailer. Was very strange going out with a pony, me and mum and dad, bit like the old days!

Was so excited in the morning but by the time we were ready to leave i was getting so nervous! Cant remember the last time i was that nervous, think it was just the added pressure of getting ready in time and having to travel as normally i just hire a riding school horse and only have to take it out of the stable!

We arrived and just timed it well to have a bit of a warm up and then go in - it was quite quiet, not that many people there and just four people in my class. It was more posh than i had expected, not having been to dressage there before, most people looked like they competed at dressage a lot. They have a big indoor arena, was quite scary going in but after a circuit round he just ignored it all and rode really nicely.

I got 60.41% which is a good score although i came last in the class. The judge was very good actually, instead of marking on the usual basic stuff like circle shape and horse not bending in the direction or lines not straight etc etc, he was commenting more on the way of going - he was saying that he needs to be more engaged at the hind end and stretch down over his back, he was active enough but he was just going around with his head a bit high. I thought that was a very fair comment, i would agree totally - he knows all the moves, does leg yield, turn on the forehand, rein back and will go in an outline but i think my nerves in the test prevented all that and i suppose now im riding on my own and not having frequent lessons ive maybe gotten a bit lost - i wouldnt really be confident in knowing how to improve the horse in general, so im hoping to get a lesson in the next week or so to give me some inspiration and get me back on track.

So im hoping to get out another time before christmas, maybe showjumping next time.

I have a couple of pics which i will post in the pic section!

[spotti]

Well done you! Even if it's just for having a go. You're braver than me just for thinking about competing (I'm more of a side line person myself lol).

Lessons can easily go stale if you don't feel like you're making any progress/don't have any way to practice between lessons BUT now you have Mr Cool Dude to play with, a lesson here and there might do you good - just to give you ideas of what you can do when you're riding on your own and also to give you those helpful pointers on that niggly thing that you can't quite manage to perfect without someone on the ground tweaking you...

Tootling off to nosey at your pictures

[fleabitten]

Thanks! I do like getting out and about and doing shows and things. Im so lucky to have this opportunity to ride someone elses pony and get to take it out and about myself - its as good as having your own really!

Thats very true spotti - with going to the riding school every week i got to the point where i was just tired of trying so hard every week and feeling like i still wasnt doing enough and sometimes you wanted to practice something more but theres no time or feeling at a disadvantage because you only ride that particular horse once a week or once a month its hard to get the feel for it. I think having this time on my own, for however long it lasts, will be really good for just letting me take a step back and get the opportunity to ride more and have the whole experience - i quite enjoy the looking after bit too but the fact that he lives out makes it so much better because you have less stable jobs and you dont have to be under pressure to get them out of the stable every day.

Its brilliant, i couldnt ask for a better pony or a better situation.

[haffyfan]

Well done flea and thats a great score you got plus your still getting to know each other. Is there the possibilty of having lessons on Lp sometimes rather than a school horse or is the logistics a nightmare? Just thought that way you get support actually with him and can work on both of you independently inbetween times.

[pboy]

Well done, that's a great score especially as you're a new partnership! Getting out to a new venue is always fairly scary as you have to work out where everything is and how the whole thing works, it's great that you have your family there to support and take some of that pressure off

I'm sure you'll go on to even bigger and better things, what a fab arrangement you have!!

[fleabitten]

haffy - thanks! Yes ive had one lesson at the owners yard on LP and planning on getting another on him soon. Not having any lessons at the riding school atm, no point really when i can get a freelance instructor out which is great!

pboy - thanks! yes thats true still getting to know him, it really is a great arrangement! Im very lucky to have mum and dad supporting me and towing otherwise i wouldnt be able to take him out anywhere.

[racaille]

It's great that you're getting out and about - and your score was not to be sniffed at! Quite a decent tally if you were battling nerves!

I know I keep saying it but you've come such a long way Flea .... well done you!!!!

[fleabitten]

Rac, I know its true! It just goes to show that even though youre a nervous wreck on a horse like I was, with the right help and right horse/horses you can increase your confidence by more than you ever thought - I owe it all to my RS really. Thanks for the kind words everyone!