Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Feb 13 Schooling show with Taran

Well, the first show with Taran is in the books. He's a great competitor - doesn't look at other horses, doesn't care that he doesn't have friends there, and he stays pretty focused. Unfortunately, I got tense and had my reins too long, so our tests lacked the connection, bend, and precision that we've had at home for the last few weeks. It was a decidedly "meh" set of performances.

Taran takes a pre-ride snooze


Sporting yet another classy set of pants. I think they go GREAT with the jacket, don't you?

Bonus of showing your friend's horse: Friend takes care of all grooming and tacking. I could get used to this!


Taran's attempt at Haffie Hair. Not bad. (Pls ignore my right hand - I'm sure it wasn't under my direct control when this picture was taken.)

Major takeaways:

  • Could my reins be any longer?
  • Relax and stop trying so hard.
  • Slow. The. Eff. Down.
Not the connection I was looking for.


Better.

Not awesome.

Lots of right leg = straight horse. 

It would have been nice if this had been the free walk during the test. Alas, it was not.

Could my reins BE any longer?

Here are the actual tests, if you're bored:

Training 2

Training 3

Score-wise, I was riding HC (my trainer was the judge) so I didn't get my scores added up. We were about 65% on both tests, which is generous. I was really hoping for a better ride, but that's all on me - Taran certainly didn't do anything wrong, and there were no major mistakes. I just need to put what we've been doing in lessons into the sandbox.

Our next show is a USDF rated show March 5-6. Between now and then, Taran is at my trainer's for a week while I'm traveling for work, but when I get back I'm really going to focus on better connection, better free walk, better stretchy trot, and better canter transitions. Hopefully we can be a little more connected at the next show - I feel like we're capable, I just need to make it happen. Fortunately, my trainer will be at the show, so hopefully she can apply her magic trainer dust and I'll be able to make a better show of it.

Oh, and for the record, I REMEMBERED MY TESTS!!!! :D

(All pics and video courtesy of MC. Thanks!)

28 comments:

  1. It is always great to practice! And yay remembering!

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  2. YAY TESTS REMEMBERED!!

    Also that jacket looks fantastic. A+ outfit.

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    1. I've been waiting to wear that jacket for like 6 months... :)

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  3. I love your jacket! Your tests had some really nice moments- you'll get it totally together for the next show!

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    1. Awww, thanks. I just look at our nice moments in practice and wonder where they've all gone...

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  4. I love the outfit. I like your jacket a lot too. Shame about the long reins, but at least you remembered your tests this time.

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    1. Thanks! That's the Kerrits Competitor coat.

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  5. You remembered your tests! Awesome! Two things I always have to repeat in my head when I'm riding 1) shorten up your GD reins and 2) leg, always more leg:)

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    1. The funny thing is that I choke up on the reins on Paddy, but on Taran I can't keep them short enough. WTH?

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    2. Maybe it's because Paddy is your horse and Taran isn't?

      I know that I'm (personally) always afraid to be "too rough" with other people's horses, but tend to be more so with Kacey (not that I'm being "rough", but you know what I mean...)

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    3. Eo, it's actually because of the way they carry their necks. Paddy gets super short in the neck when he gets tense, so I want to ride with really short reins. Taran doesn't do that, so I over-compensate with a too-long rein.

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  6. yay for getting through the show. next time will be better!

    also, apropos nothing, i've been wondering if my similarly hued blue jacket would be appropriate for dressage shows, or whether it's too light. would you wear that jacket to a rated show?

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    1. Given the color combinations that are in the dressage ring these days, I think that jacket will be fine for a rated show. My bigger issues is the white saddle pad on Taran... it's just making him look dirty. Trying to decide if I might need a dark grey coat and light grey breeches or something... :D

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    2. ooooh now that would be pretty :)

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  7. I would call this a successful first outing and celebrate with carrots and chai.

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    1. Oh for sure! As I said, there was nothing *wrong* with it - no mistakes or anything - but it's just not our best. Still, carrots and chai for all!

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  8. I love that coat - but I'm biased towards blue. ;-)

    YAY for remembering your tests!!!

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    1. I really like the coat too, especially on Taran. Still up in the air about the white saddle pad though...

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  9. Replies
    1. Oh, it was steady and mistake-free, but it just wasn't as *good* as we've been doing at home - so I'm disappointed with myself because of that. There's always more to work on!

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