Beland

Long time no post?
So I ended up doing the dressage show and trying my hand at first level. At this point I was more than over showing and I was fried from the season. I just wasn't into it or excited. It was a freezing and windy day. Carino and another horse Merlin loaded into the trailer. Carino unloaded and tacked up without a problem, nice and calm. Walked over to the warm up field pretty calm as well, but when we got the field he began to show off his "passage" and "piaffe" for everyone..oh and even a little airs above ground...problem was I wasn't asking for this. The wind and all the movement for some reason set him off...this hasn't been a problem for him since the spring when we first started showing so I was completely taken off guard and frustrated with him. We eventually got him so we didn't have a scooting/bolt every other circle. It was time to go in the ring...I heard the bell and wished for the best. Was it my best test? No. Was he relaxed through his back? No. Did we get around quietly and politely? Oh, yeah! So, I was please we managed that test after that warm up and for our first time at this level. We scored a 60.667% and got a third place ribbon in the JR/YR division however I think there were only three JR/YRs. The other riders in my division got 65% and 67%. I placed 9th out of 12 first level test 1 competitors. I might try the test again at Pony Club Dressage Rally in the Spring. I wish I had a better warm up so I could have gotten better quality work in the ring, and I wish I had the chance to practice in a big ring since I kinda got lost in there which threw off my accuracy. Oh well, im pleased for it being our first first level and hey, Im qualified for that scholarship now!
Video of Test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnSXPv20NdM