Dotty's first show - 70%!!!

Here is a report I posted on H&H about Dotty's first ever competition on 25.5.13.

Some of you may be familiar with Tinks81's homebred mare Dotty who is by Scolari out of a Rubinstein x Weltmeyer mare. I have been very fortunate to have been schooling her for the last 4 weeks and right from the moment I sat on her I knew I would have bought her in an instant if I was looking for another horse (sadly have a full house) She is a compact power house standing at just under 16hh and is going to make someone an absolutely top class dressage horse. 

So for the last few weeks I have worked on the basics, getting her more relaxed and supple, plus working on her balance as she has a huge canter which is going to take time to grow in to and be able to perfect transitions. This was her about 3 weeks ago at home, bearing in mind this is a 60x30 school, that canter is just "ever so slightly" uphill and ground covering for a small horse 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGE8TcwyRm4

Every time I've ridden her she has felt better and more willing, to the point I am able to now contain the canter more yet also ride her forwards when I want to as she waits for me. The contact is miles better, she feels straighter through her body and I just LOVE riding this horse! She really is going to be the definition of contained power as she isn't silly with it either, I have never seen her spook, buck or rear once, not even on the lunge after a week off. I had a lesson on her with my trainer who commented on how responsive she is.

After a successful outing to hire the schools at Oldencraig (Tinks81 posted a report on this) we thought we'd aim her at a local prelim. However, it all happenned a bit quickly. I was meant to take my young German pony Charmeur to his first unaffiliated at Oldencraig last Saturday but typically he went lame from a bruised sole and although came sound after a few days he would have been much too fresh to then compete. So we thought, lets take Dotty! So I had about 3 sessions to get her "test ready" with centrelines and halts etc.

Marvelous sunshine and fantastic team consisting of Tinks81, her headgirl K, a lovely livery from their yard, ThorthePony (who kindly took the photos below), ThorthePony's OH, and also some clients that I teach. Phew! 

Dotty warmed up like an absolute pro, no spooking or gawping whatsoever, just calm, quiet, forwards work. Didn't bat an eyelid when someone rode straight into us (hadn't realised she would do a 10m circle for the 20th time in a row just as we were passing!) In fact I only had one short canter on each rein and probably did about 15 minutes walk and trot. First test was Prelim 1 in the International Arena. She hadn't even seen arena markers before yet she was completely unphased. As soon as the bell went I just imagined we were out for a bit of schooling, I didn't feel the slightest bit nervous at all as I pushed her on up that centre line. Considering we had never ridden the test before, let alone practised in a short arena, we were absolutely chuffed with the first test! Just a few baby wobbly bits but overall there was not a single thing to fault. We couldn't have cared what the score was as what more could you expect at a first ever show?!

Dotty had a quick break in the horsebox before it was time for Prelim 15. She must have thought she was finished poor girl and she felt a bit tired as we entered the warm up, so I only did a few minutes in walk and trot and no canter before we went into the arena. The test was mistake free but did not flow as well as the first one as I could feel she was tired and I had to nurse her round a bit. But still, there was nothing not to like and she kept on trying all the way.

So off to the cafe for cheesy chips whilst we waited for the results, and wow we were over the moon to find we'd got 70% and won the first class, and with a List 1 judge no less!!! Fantastic comments and all 7s for the collectives. What a superstar!!! Imagine how good she will be in a few years time if she's finding everything this easy a few months after being backed. 

As expected the score for the second class was lower, 65%, but the winner was only a few marks ahead. But still, no reason to be disappointed and the sheet said exactly what we knew. Same judge as well. At least we know for next time she only needs to do one test and is able to do the first test well with barely any warm up whatsoever!

So what a great first show out for clever Dotty. A couple of lovely photos kindly taken by ThorthePony:





And the video of the winning test taken by K:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyHI1PxSh50

And please if anyone wants to buy her (and let me keep the ride of course ) there is definitely the possibility of a syndicate as everyone loves her  Just a little bit excited by her, she has impressed top trainers, a well known Judge and a gold medal Olympic winning rider has even commented favourably on her 

(Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and white wine if you're read this far as that is what has just got me through finishing my tax return!)

Training Training and more Training

Whilst some dressage divas are excited about the new matching 2013 Spring collections (ok I am a tiny bit too), I am excited about how much training I have lined up! Yesterday I had not one but two lessons with June which was fantastic and I feel so much more in tune and balanced from it.

It was Risby's first lesson in his new double bridle and he has taken to it really well. Previous riders and trainers have found him tricky in one and didn't pursue it, but after all the recent work on getting him more connected the transition has been completely smooth and natural. I would go as far as saying he even feels happier in it so I am really pleased about that. We had a great session working on basic suppleness and straightness, making sure every bit of created energy was flowing through his body and not getting lost somewhere as tension or crookedness.

I then had a lesson on 4 year old Dotty. She was impeccably well behaved as always. She is lovely and forwards thinking and always wants to please which is so nice in a young horse. June had me establishing the contact with the outside rein and making sure she stayed in a nice, steady rhythm as she truly is a little power rocket! June also had a sit on her which was really useful to watch. The overall conclusion was that this mare is very exciting!! With continued correct, sympathetic training she is going to be a real superstar.

This week we also introduced Jack to a double bridle for the first time. Like Risby, he took to it beautifully and I couldn't believe how happy he felt in it. He was feeling so uphill and light in front I thought I'd have a little play and ask for a few steps for piaffe, which he offered willingly, and then a few more! Owner Nikki was understandable emotional as it had always been her dream to see the little 14.2hh Dales pony piaffe. What a talented chap!

I took Charmeur on a very lively hack in gale force winds and rain to a huge field, at about 6.30pm. With a snaffle and no martingale, some may call it suicidal, I call it bomproofing! It was certainly fun. I keep reiterating, if you haven't pushed yours and your horse's boundaries outside of the dressage arena, how can you possible push on those extensions in the arena, and ride "all out" as it were and feel confident. A little spook in the ring shouldn't be a major hurdle.

Risby and Jack have also been extremely busy teaching other riders which I find very rewarding. Its great when people are new to dressage, finding ways to break it all down and make it relevant to them personally.

Looks like a very busy few months ahead with 4 horses lined up to compete, lots of teaching and very importantly, lots of lessons to keep improving and raising the standard. If the choice is between a new saddle cloth and a lesson, a lesson wins every time :-)

Oldencraig BD, jumping report and lessons...

So... After many many months it was finally time to take the big grey one to a show. After much deliberation I decided to just crack on with Elementary 43 and Medium 61, athough initially was thinking to ride some Novices HC to get him more relaxed in the ring.

Thankfully the day before we went for a lesson with our lovely trainer June. She had me riding every inch of the test, making sure I had him really connected throughout. My main issue was with the canter half passes from K and F to X. As always the key is in the preparation so we worked on getting him really through and bent round my inside leg beforehand. We also worked on shoulder in to ensure he maintained a consistent flexion and remained fluid throughout. Felt so much more confident after that lesson, had my whole warm up worked out and what I planned to do before the bell went in the ring.

Initially I had three "helpers" lined up to come to the show. For various unseen reasons I found myself driving there on my own thinking "yikes!". However by the time I arrived and saw so many familiar faces the nerves completely vanished. I didn't push the warm up for the Elementary too hard but maybe I should have done more, as the test could have been more together and more accurate. Unusually we lost some balance in the counter canter and he was a little tense in a few of the transitions. I wasn't too worried as I had planned the medium much better.

The second warm up felt more supple and  active. I got him bending nicely so that then the lateral work felt easy. Before the bell went I got him really on my aids with some on and back within the trot. The test flowed a lot better, although I could have allowed him into a more open frame in the extensions but was purposely keeping my reins extra short so he couldn't escape me at any point. Was really pleased with that test, purely for the fact it was mistake free and he remained connected throughout which is all I'm aiming for at this point. In the last couple of months the contact and self carriage have improved hugely. We can then add the extra sparkle which we are developing at home bit by bit as and when he feels ready.

I checked the scores to find we had received 62% in the Elementary not surprisingly, and 63% in the Medium, which was good enough to win our section and is a qualifying score. Not bad for a last minute decision to have a go at the Medium, and I know there is plenty to work on and improve for next time.

Charmeur's first ever event turned out to be clear round jumping which was being held close by. I was a little nervous at what he might do, seeing as I've only jumped him once all year and he can be a little sharp at times, however never nasty. We managed to sail around our first proper course and get a clear round, yey! He was a little bit too keen and I imagine he would make someone an amazing BSJA pony seeing as he cleared everything by at least a foot to spare, but I now need to remind him he is supposed to be a dressage pony. First dressage show entries posted now... Can't wait.

A week after Oldencraig it was off to June's with Risby to work on our medium test riding again. What a glorious sunny day it was, I felt so lucky to be in the horsebox, listening to Kiss100, eating chocolate and heading for a lesson! Another really great session. June got us thinking engagement and collection right from the word go, and we practised riding some steep half passes from K and F to B and E. That certainly made the required Medium angles feel much easier! I realised I needed to get the beginning and ending much neater, as Risby finds the actual crossing over easy.

I am really lucky to be helping school a fabulous 4 year old mare who is for sale. She is an amazingly rideable compact powerhouse, and standing at just under 15.3hh is such a perfect size for me and I am incredible tempted by her, but have far too many horses at the moment! She has a super brain and is so willing, I hope she finds a great home. See her super canter below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGE8TcwyRm4&feature=youtube_gdata_player