Today Albert had his Training Level Amateur to Ride class. He didn't go until 3:36, so I had time to ride Skyy in the morning. I lunged him first, and that in itself was interesting.
You see, it's been raining like crazy here. They have fantastic footing and drainage at the Kentucky Horse Park, but there is only so much rain that some of the footing can handle. So they had to juggle competition arenas around, and ended up running three dressage show rings and only one warm-up. Plus that warm-up had to serve as a schooling arena because all of the other arenas were too wet to ride in.
I couldn't very well lunge in an arena that had three classes warming up for it, as well as people schooling horses that weren't about to show, so I had to take him into one of the super mucky arenas. The footing was safe, but just wet and sloppy. By the time we were done both Skyy and I were really filthy.
I took Skyy to the (only) warm-up ring and rode him for about 20 minutes. He was tense, and tried his little bucking twisting routine again when I asked fore the canter, but this time I was ready for him. I sat my butt down and drove him forward, which made him realize that his tantrum only made more work for him. So he didn't try that again. Instead he worked nicely, and was only moderately tense.
Later that afternoon Albert had his class. He was also a bit tense but was a very good boy for me.
He ended up with a score of 69.2%. This put him in 3rd place out of 46 horses. Yes, 46! So we got a Top Ten award! I'm very proud of that boy.
After the awards ceremony they opened up the competition arenas for schooling, so I got back on Skyy to school in the arena where he will show tomorrow. He was much more settled and calm. He was focused, willing, and submissive. I was so very pleased with him. He has settled down and doesn't seem so anxious about everything.
Tomorrow Skyy has his Training Level Amateur to Ride class, and Albert has Training Level Open. As for me, I'm sore, pooped, and ready to get some sleep!
SHN 2009 - Wednesday
All Good Things Must Come To An End
3 years ago
5 comments:
whoo hoo! Congratulations an an awsome test! Good luck today- hope you got some rest
Congrats on the great ride! 3rd out of 46 is awesome! Too bad the conditions are so wet, always more fun to show when the weather is perfect :)
Keep up the great work!
Congrats Bert!!! Good job both of you. He's such a trooper. Good luck with your next rides.
Congratulations! That is so awesome. I'm also waiting for results from my friend who did the Training Level Championships today...this is very exciting! If you see a horse named Rashad from Colorado, please say hello to Kathleen (his rider) from Horseypants!
Wow! That's amazing! I am so happy for you guys after all of your hard work. Good luck with your rides tomorrow :)
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