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Post by fimacg on Jan 28, 2009 15:42:28 GMT
in an effort to stop the tumbleweed I thought i would let you guys into a little secret - I am back doing another dressage test on Brave tonight - aside from a quick 20 minute walk up the road and back yesterday he hasn't been seriously ridden since last weekend!
Because of the weather I haven't been able to get into the areans (snow and ice) so I haven't practiced the test at all, in fact I barely know the thing.
AND they were shooting in the field opposite again today...
Oh... Its going to be a disaster!!!
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Post by Becca on Jan 28, 2009 16:12:28 GMT
Ooooo film it! good entertainment hehe No you will be fine  good luck! |
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Post by racaille on Jan 28, 2009 18:17:12 GMT
You are very brave!!! Good luck! ;D
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Post by dannyboy on Jan 28, 2009 22:11:49 GMT
How did you get on Fi?
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Post by ronansmum2 on Jan 29, 2009 9:59:08 GMT
in an effort to stop the tumbleweed I thought i would let you guys into a little secret - I am back doing another dressage test on Brave tonight - aside from a quick 20 minute walk up the road and back yesterday he hasn't been seriously ridden since last weekend! Because of the weather I haven't been able to get into the areans (snow and ice) so I haven't practiced the test at all, in fact I barely know the thing. AND they were shooting in the field opposite again today... Oh... Its going to be a disaster!!! I missed your first post Fi.  Hope it went well. How did you get on?  |
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Post by fimacg on Jan 29, 2009 11:00:09 GMT
Well I think the best we can say about last night is we are chalking it up to experience!
Brave was rather spooky and fresh, and decided he didn't like the windows in the warm up areana, other horses near him and threw a threatening kick at one who cantered too close to him.
The gap between the warm up arena and main area held all sorts of monsters...
We did manage to get all the way up to the last flowerpot on the long side at which point he decided that it was all too much and we entered the arena in reverse at K!
The judge was really nice and allowed someone in the arena with me to lead me up past the dreaded flowers to get up to A.
As for the test itself well we got around with just one error on my part - not bad considering I was learning it off you-tube at 4pm yesterday when I was on at 5.40!
We kept falling out of canter and our trot was all over the place with him spooking and looking the wrong way at every opportunity. I didn't even bother to collect my score sheet!
I know the comments they will be:
rather tense
wrong bend
falling out
varying rythem
canter broke (4 times and both reins)
On the plus side we did a really nice halt at the end! (for which the judge gave me a big thumbs up!)
I have booked the arena before the next competition for an hour with it all set up for the competition so that I can just potter about in there, introduce him to all the trees and flower pots move them to random places and generally just let him relax.
* modified for the usual spelling problems
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Post by ronansmum2 on Jan 29, 2009 11:24:11 GMT
Well done Fi. You went and you did it.  Doesn't matter that it wasn't text book. It was all for experinece and you both got some of that!! Well done again, good on you .... ;D Great idea hiring the arena before next time. |
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Post by kitcat on Jan 29, 2009 12:54:35 GMT
Well done for going through with it. Surely with more experience he will become more relaxed. At the moment it must be very scarey for him. It doesn't sound like it was all bad though.
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Post by Becca on Jan 29, 2009 14:24:11 GMT
Abstract dressage text 0.1
* enter arena in reverse at K
* spin round snorting 10 times
;D
He does sound a big wally bless him, were the thumbs up for well done for getting to the end?
good idea booking the arena for next time though, forward thinking
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Post by dannyboy on Jan 29, 2009 14:43:00 GMT
Abstract dressage text 0.1 * enter arena in reverse at K * spin round snorting 10 times ;D PMSL Becca ;D - Well done Fi for getting through it. I like the fact that you've booked the arena for next time *it obviously hasn't put you off anyway |
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Post by fleabitten on Jan 29, 2009 16:19:57 GMT
Well done fi  Maybe he will behave a little better after an hour to get him used to it. |
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Post by duckles on Jan 29, 2009 17:35:50 GMT
Well done- you and Brave are great going out and doing things especially in this rotten weather. He will be a veteran of flower pots soon - impressed by your rapid learning
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Post by florence on Jan 29, 2009 21:33:09 GMT
Good on you for getting in some valuable experience. It's a shame he didn't live up to his name though! Flower pots are scary. Some contain little men that talk in a strange tongue.... ;D
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Post by fimacg on Jan 30, 2009 9:11:05 GMT
were the thumbs up for well done for getting to the end? I'm not sure possibly a bit of both |
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Post by fimacg on Jan 30, 2009 9:22:13 GMT
two pictures for you of the last movement and out nice halt (although he did leave a leg behind)   |
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Post by racaille on Jan 30, 2009 9:26:48 GMT
Like the pix ;D Well, I think you are an inspiration. I have been wondering whether now is the time for me to give up competing altogether and forever but I like your attitude and will have to see if I can de-stress enough to adopt it. Well done both of you! mod for spelling  |
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Post by fimacg on Jan 30, 2009 9:46:26 GMT
Thanks Rac, All I do is try to find something positive to take home, it save me getting depressed as I know Brave has the moves, its just up to me to get them out of him now.
I am also going to ask if the competition centre would consider running some beginner dressage classes, they use to do this at my old yard, if you won the class 3 times you could no longer enter and had to move into the normal prelim class, it gave people like me, with new partnerships or young horses more motivation as you could see youself gradually move up the placings as you improved as you weren't constantly in class you have absolutely no chance of winning. Which is how I feel at the moment as the constant top 4 horses and riders are also competing in the novice class too.
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Post by duckles on Jan 30, 2009 10:53:42 GMT
The beginer dressage classes sound a great idea and I hope your centre will go for it. I saw the Halt photo and it is a lovely halt. Like Racaille, I think you are a great inspiration. THere is a dressage comp about an hour from me on Feb 15th and I am thinking of giving it a go. JB is very unfit after nearly 2 years out of all work except occasional schooling or hacking. THere is another one on the 22nd which would give me a little more time to get him ready. HHmm !
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Post by brigadier on Feb 1, 2009 15:17:07 GMT
Fi- totally missed this whole post. You should have got your sheet because I think the thumbs up was from judges who realised he was a novice and the end halt is fantastic, they wont even have noticed that leg as he looks so straight and I love the expresion on both your faces. I bet some of their comments were really helpful. As Rac says your attitude and approach are an inspiration!
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Post by Becca on Feb 1, 2009 21:53:53 GMT
Totally agree, so many people would be annoyed with having a test that erm, didn't go to plan I love that you have a big grin on your face in the second pic |
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Post by fimacg on Feb 2, 2009 8:50:52 GMT
I knew it wasn't going to be one of our best efforts before we left so by the time the end of the test came around I couldn't help but laugh. Mainly at Brave for being such a complete wombat about the flower pots....
I just thought I may as well enjoy myself and treat it as schooling and rather than getting worried about what went wrong, come up with a solution to fix it and then focus on what went well about the evening.
After the test I led him around the warm up arena, introducing him to the terrifying door, fire hose, windows and most of all his reflection... I couldn't get back into the main arena, so I decided to hire it instead.
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Feb 2, 2009 9:19:56 GMT
oops missed this, love that last pic he looks so proud of himself and you look so pleased. He's such a handsome boy too!
How big is he? I think of him being about 14.2/15hh (because of breeding) but he looks enormous in that last pic.
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Post by fimacg on Feb 2, 2009 9:24:50 GMT
Haffy I cant remember if he is 15hh or 15.1hh but I am also just a short a***
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ceej
Administrator
im back.... :)
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Post by ceej on Feb 2, 2009 12:26:25 GMT
cor he looks well handsome!
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good luck!
Always saddle your own horse
Doesn't matter that it wasn't text book. It was all for experinece and you both got some of that!!
Maybe he will behave a little better after an hour to get him used to it. 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
