Monday, April 6, 2015

San Antonio Spring Dressage I

This weekend there were two rated dressage shows that we attended - on Saturday and one Sunday. They were at the same venue and used the same judges, but each rider was judged by a different judge each day, so we could maximize our chances for qualifying for various awards.

I had off Friday, so I loaded the trailer and got everything ready to go. We left when hubby arrived home, and only managed to forget a few things (I don't make lists, which would probably drive most of you crazy, but whatever, it works for me). The show was two hours away, and we made good time and pulled in with plenty of daylight to spare. I headed to the office to get our competitor's pack while hubby parked the rig, and then we unloaded Paddy and got him settled in. Being a well-traveled Haffie, he was at home as soon as the hay net arrived.

A treat from Dad didn't hurt either...

After we unloaded a few things, I tacked up and took Paddy for a tour.

Blurry ear shot of the warmup.

He was pretty good - spent a little time looking around but didn't do any of his usual screaming, thank goodness. We rode for about 30 minutes, then gave him a quick bath before heading out for dinner and THE BEST MARGARITAS EVER OMG. 

On Saturday, I didn't ride till 10:30, so I had plenty of time to pretend to braid my horse and get ready.  Hubby was awesome, holding Paddy while I did his forelock, checking on time, and generally keeping me cared for. With an hour to go, I changed clothes and put my hair up. I've GOT to find a better hair style - I simply have too much hair for a bun, because it just pushes my helmet forward over my eyes no matter how low on my nape it is. And I can't do hunter hair because it just doesn't fit under my helmet. I don't like show bows because they flop, which is visually pretty distracting. #horseshowproblems, right?

 Anyway, I had given us about 30 minutes to warm up, and we spent the first 15 of that walking around loosening up and taking in the sights. Paddy acted like a seasoned show horse - sure, he looked at all the activity, but horses everywhere didn't faze him one bit. Our warmup was going well when we were informed that they were running 10 minutes early and I was up next - YIKES! I could have waited (you are not required to ride until your posted time), but I figured we might as well go. And here's our ride:



It was quick, it was tense. He wasn't really listening to me very well. Still, we managed to squeak out a 63.099%, which I will take any day of the week. I decided that we needed a bit longer warmup, and I needed to make sure he was REALLY on my aids before we went in for our next test. We had a couple of hours before our next test, so we took him back to his stall, let him relax, and got a handwalk/graze in.

Between test hand walking and snacking. We were 3rd of 5.

The humans also got a nap in.

Training Test 3 was at 2:10. This time, I allowed 40 minutes for warmup. We spent a full 20 minutes walking out, and I think that really helped him loosen up. He's not used to being in a stall all the time, so a long warmup was good. The warmup itself went GREAT - he was really listening and we had some beautiful moments and excellent transitions. Unfortunately, as soon as we went down to the far end of the arena, he fell apart. Our test began with us barging up centerline and things going downhill from there. Here are some highlights from the video...

X was... somewhere back there...

Charging across the arena, hollow and stiff.

Bolting down the long side in canter.

I hear that leaning back helps loads when you're trying to get a downward transition (NOT).

"Free to look around with your head in the air" walk

And here's the actual video, if you want to see the carnage:

So, that was worth a 60.9 (8th of 8). I was pretty disappointed - our warmup was SO GOOD, and the test was SO BAD. Where had I gone wrong? Hubby and I discussed, and agreed that he really fell apart when we got down by A, just before we came in. We decided that the next day I would do a couple of 10 meter figure 8s down there before the bell, to get him focused and back on my aids before going in. Alas, horses do not always stick with the plan... 


26 comments:

  1. Congrats on the first test & shiny satin ribbon. Pity about the second test, but showing is all about learning more to enhance your partnership in different situations away from home right? ;-)

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    1. Yes, this one was definitely a learning experience!

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  2. Oh he could so easily be Flurry in either of those videos! They are so similar in their way of going! Poor Paddy was certainly a distracted little boy... I know that feeling!
    I didn't think the second test was THAT bad, his canter transitions were good and it looked like a brisk canter rather than a bolt (i've done the bolt, it looks a lot worse than yours).
    At the end, when he offered you a canter in the corner just before coming back up the centre line, it looks to me like he had switched back on to you... four minutes too late of course...
    Looking forward to the next installment :-)

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    1. The "brisk canter" was more like him charging along without heed to any of my requests for his attention or engagement. As for the offering of the canter, there was more of that the next day.... MUCH more, because he was so sucked back behind my leg. It's his latest evasion. *rolls eyes*

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  3. Congrats!! There were a lot of really great moments in both tests, so I think you have a lot to be proud of :).

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    1. There were definitely some good moments! Now we just need more of them, and more often. :)

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  4. If you ever come up with a good solution for your hair, please share!!

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    1. I'm planning to park myself in front of a mirror with some hair containment devices and my helmet to try different styles. I'll let you know how it goes!

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  5. The judge should have given you extra points for dramatic interpretation and dashing good looks.

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    1. Or at the very least CUTENESS POINTS.

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    2. Paddy is definitely working on being a drama queen. He already knows he gets all the cuteness points!

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  6. Interpretive dressage dancing! ;) Yay scores!

    (Btw. Still not seeing distressingly terrible braids.) When you say show-bow are you talking about the ones with the actual bows on them? Or the ones like this: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/crystal-hair-net-scrunchie-with-clips--11923. I have that one, and I like it. It does not flop if my hair isn't floppy.

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    1. I have looked at those, but if i put my hair in a bun to fit that, there's just too much hair and it pushes my helmet forward. I can't get the bun low enough on my nape to work with my helmet. #toomuchhair

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  7. I too have a lot of hair, I put my hair in 2 low pigtails, braid them, then basically tie the 2 braids in a long skinny flat square knot at the base of my skull. It does require about 6 hair rubber bands, but it doesn't interfere with my helmet & it keeps my hair under control!!

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    1. Yep, that's basically it! I braid my hair tighter so its not as fluffy though.. :)

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    2. Hmmm, not sure I quite understand what you are suggesting. I can't do the "Heidi Braid" because I can't fit the braided hair (on top of my head) under my helmet. My helmet BARELY fits my head, so there is no room at all for hair.

      I may try something like this: http://www.dressage-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/helens-hair-3276.jpg. Except I can't french braid like that...

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    3. On the link I posted, if you wait a second,it will jump past the first (Heidi braid) page to another option - flat braids pinned low on the back of the neck, theoretically under the helmet. ;D

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  8. Ok watching videos and giggling like an idiot. Maybe not Paddykin's most shining moments, but he definitely wears his whole entire heart of his sleeve. And on that gorgeous shining white tail of his.

    Still want to squeeze him.

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    1. "Not his most shining moments..." well said. Le sigh.

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  9. Paddy is just the cutest haffie out there - and it looks like y'all had a ton of fun even if the second test didn't go exactly as expected given the warm up... congrats on the 3rd tho!!

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    1. He was actually one of TWO haffies there... and definitely the cutest! I actually had someone come up to me and say "OH MY GOD I JUST WANT TO SQUEEZE HIM!!!"

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  10. Not bad in my book! I am showing training level too so it was super helpful to learn the tests through your videos :P

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    1. Just remember to actually halt AT X, lol!

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  11. Paddy says "I wasn't bolting and charging, was was being expressive!" He's such a cutie. :) Congrats on your first test!

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