Post by racaille on Nov 24, 2014 6:00:37 GMT
The teenager came back for the w/e to do a complet yesterday, I lent her Paco as Sam isn't fit enough now she's away. Despite a 4am start 
we had a great day out.
I was very surprised that Paco loaded like an angel, despite being alone and in the pitch back. All those hours of training have paid off so well.
It was a HUGE comp, so big that her class was split in three, so very busy.
Paco has been going extremely well so I was hoping for some good work but he was a bit unco-operative at first, possibly because the teenager doesn't ride him often and is less familiar with his 'buttons'.
But he started off the dressage very well indeed: his trot work was fabulous. But his canter was not brilliant and he mucked up left strike-off. Still, our coach was pretty happy and another RI chum was full of praise for his outline/engagement/submission - he was one of the very few horses not in a gogue, which are allowed in Club 3 complet.
But the judge wasn't that impressed
. He got quite a poor note for submission - both coaches were flabbergasted. Still, not a bad score at 68% .... but in a high-scoring class he was placed last. The leader of the class scored 89% (we later looked up the horse on the FFE site and it turns out to be a very experienced dressage competitor ridden by an instructor-level girl, possibly doing his first complet?)
Still, the teenager was philosophical. Paco had woken up for the XC and stormed round, the teenager even managed to bully him through the lake in canter!
Then he did a very tidy SJ - she was thrilled that he was beginning to work out his own legs/strides at last!.
Very pleased with the double clear, we set off home early as she had to get the TGV back to Lyon ... and our coach phoned to say he had finished eighth! Just goes to show that a lot of those dressage horses couldn't hack it on the XC.
Good ol' P!
we had a great day out.I was very surprised that Paco loaded like an angel, despite being alone and in the pitch back. All those hours of training have paid off so well.
It was a HUGE comp, so big that her class was split in three, so very busy.
Paco has been going extremely well so I was hoping for some good work but he was a bit unco-operative at first, possibly because the teenager doesn't ride him often and is less familiar with his 'buttons'.
But he started off the dressage very well indeed: his trot work was fabulous. But his canter was not brilliant and he mucked up left strike-off. Still, our coach was pretty happy and another RI chum was full of praise for his outline/engagement/submission - he was one of the very few horses not in a gogue, which are allowed in Club 3 complet.
But the judge wasn't that impressed
. He got quite a poor note for submission - both coaches were flabbergasted. Still, not a bad score at 68% .... but in a high-scoring class he was placed last. The leader of the class scored 89% (we later looked up the horse on the FFE site and it turns out to be a very experienced dressage competitor ridden by an instructor-level girl, possibly doing his first complet?)Still, the teenager was philosophical. Paco had woken up for the XC and stormed round, the teenager even managed to bully him through the lake in canter!
Then he did a very tidy SJ - she was thrilled that he was beginning to work out his own legs/strides at last!.
Very pleased with the double clear, we set off home early as she had to get the TGV back to Lyon ... and our coach phoned to say he had finished eighth! Just goes to show that a lot of those dressage horses couldn't hack it on the XC.
Good ol' P!
Sounds like a great day out.
) The downside of that is that it is exhausting! Although she did say he was less terrified on the XC this time. 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
