Dressage Rally May.30.10

Carino was a superstar!
This was his third show ever and his second away show. He loaded on and off no problem like he has been doing it forever. Stayed tied to the trailer all day happily eating hay. Walked into warm up as if we were walking into the arena at home! So relaxed. Our first warm up was quite long we had about half an hour. So I started with just walking him around then did shoulder forward, leg yield off the wall and then just leg yields. We then picked up the trot and did some trot work. Had a walk break, then some great canter. Then another walk since we had a lot of time. Then I picked him back up did some center lines and transitions and some more walk, trot and canter. Our first test was the best he has ever done and the judge liked him too. We got a few 8's and our score was a 65. Then we had a few hours so he hung out by the trailer. When it was time to go to warm up we only had like 5 min. which was weird because I know I wasn't running late but he felt good so I went in the ring. He was doing pretty good and then we got to canter and he was having a little to much fun. He got to quick and strong so then the trot after it was tight and tense. After the free walk he started to relax a little more. The second canter was better but I think he would of preferred to go jump a course then do another dressage test. This was shown in our scores because we had all 7's until our first canter were we got 5's then after the free walk we went right back up to 7's. So with the yee-haw canter and all our second test received a 62, not bad for a horse who has only been cantering since November.

My PC team got 5th overall. We could have done better at the HM part but it was 3 of our first rally ever so it was a great learning experience. And all I really wanted to do was get my horse in a ring and he was great...I was so pleased with the day.

and we begin..

Carino has begun his show career.
April.18th was his first show. It was away at Flatlands Equestrian Center. We did the two phase, Dressage test Beginner Novice A and jump height 2 foot. Dressage test was pretty decent considering it was his first time in a dressage ring ever. Would have been better if we didn't have to warm up outside and then do the test in the indoor. Jumping did not go well at all. He begun to fall apart in warm up and due to the fact that I completely pulled my back out 3 days before, I physically couldn't help him through the rough moments just causing things to get worse. I ended up falling in warm up and Carino and I hit heads and I then landed on my back. I got back on but I physically couldn't ride. So, I scratched and had Erin (my trainer) take him around the course. I wanted it to be a positive experience and I knew I physically wasn't capable of being any help to my horse at that moment.

We had another show the following weekend April. 25th. This time at home. Dressage went much much better, he did spook since again we had to warm up outside then ride the test in the indoor, he was a little confused by the chain and the table and everyone looking at him. But he was more relaxed then the previous weekend resulting in a score of 34.0 and putting us in first. In jumping warm up it took him a while to figure out his feet, but once he did and we got in sync it was great. He of course refused almost everything in the actual ring due to just being green but towards the end he became bold which was a good sign. Even though we got eliminated I saw the progress and I was very very pleased with the day and proud of my horse.
After the show we did a XC school were he did absolutely amazing. Jumped all the logs, coups and barns I asked. He jumped his first ditch (took him a few tries) and jumped his first bank ever! which was out of water! I was very impressed with him.
Also the next day we had a lesson over the same stadium course and he didn't refuse a thing. We even jumped the barrels set at a higher level and this jump wasn't even in the course the previous day, he even could do the inside turn to it. In fact he was so bold he was practically doing the course himself. So i think he had a confidence boost which was a great feeling.

Next we have Pony Club Dressage Rally maybe a little jumper show and then hopefully his first 3phase in July.