Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Senior moments (or, why we didn’t actually get first place on Training 3)

So in my last post, I mentioned that we had a couple of fabulous dressage tests at the show last weekend, and I also mentioned that for our second test we missed first place by one point. Normally I’d be like “Eh, we had a great ride, who cares!” but what I neglected to mention is that I went off course on Tr:3… which cost us two points.



Two points.

In other words, if I had remembered my damn test, we would have been first… by one point.

[Quick side note about how dressage is scored: Every dressage test has a certain number of movements, such as 20 meter circles or halts or trot-canter transitions. Each movement is scored from 1-10, 1 being “did not perform the movement” and 10 being “you just won the Olympics with this movement.” Certain movements have coefficients, so they are worth twice or even three times as many points. To get your percentage score, you add up the number of points you got, divide by the number of points possible for that test (every test is different), and multiply by 100. That’s how I got a 68%, but was only 1 actual POINT behind first place, which was a 68.4%. If I’d gotten the two extra points, I would have had a 68.8%.]

The EVEN SADDER thing is, I ALSO forgot Training 2. I’d practiced both tests to death the week before, and I even went over them several times in my head right before I went in the arena. Seriously though… forgetting two tests in one day?

Going over the test before going into the arena.


I’m blaming it on my advanced age.

22 comments:

  1. Oh man!
    I never understand how you guys can remember those tests. I have trouble remembering a short showmanship, trail, or reinsmanship (driving) pattern!

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    1. Obviously we don't remember the tests. Or *I* don't... lol!

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  2. Oops. Poor Paddykins was robbed by rider error? The horror!

    Good thing he looks good in all colors.

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    1. I know, my poor poor Haffie. He would have been more upset if there had been treats to go with first place, but there was only a ribbon.

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  3. Now, I hate to blame the horse, but maybe there's some shared responsibility here. You are CLEARLY saying "first we go this way, then we go that way..." and Paddy, equally clearly, is dozing and letting you figure it out instead of paying attention to what you're telling him. What happened to partnership? Great tan line, too.

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    1. And here I thought you weren't supposed to practice your test toooo many times so they wouldn't anticipate... obviously I was wrong!

      And yeah, those are great tan lines aren't they?

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  4. bah! so frustrating!! But at least you can take heart in the fact that the "errors" are fixable ones and Mr Paddy is a rock star. Instead of being like "DANG, we would have won if we got a 9 instead of a 7 on gaits... time for a new import!!" :)

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    1. Haffie is perfect and rider is error. Obviously rider needs more work. ;)

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  5. At least it's only minus two and not an entire disqualification ;) I believe you've seen me first hand make the same mistake!

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  6. Trying to remember dressage tests is one reason why I'll probably never compete in dressage...I have enough trouble trying to remember the next jump in a course, so my first time doing the jumpers should be interesting haha. And hey, even though you had a brain fart, you still placed reeeeeally well :)

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    1. Usually I have no problem remember tests... last week just wasn't my week, lol!

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  7. My favorite is when I start doing one test and then switch to another.... Yeah.

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    1. The sad thing is I didn't even realize I was off course until the whistle blew. Either time. Sigh...

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  8. Oops! Well... I always prefer pilot error over bad behavior, so I'll take it! Haha

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  9. Me too. It's not gonna happen again! (I hope)

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