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
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