Valinor Two Phase Photos

2011 show season has begun!

Show season has officially begun! and it kicked off with a wonderful start adding another blue ribbon to Carino and I's collection! Carino and I did our first show of the season at home (Valinor Farm) it was a two phase and we competed at Beginner Novice. I was very curious to how he was going to be since it was a long winter inside and we haven't had many lessons. However, he came into dressage warm up very relaxed even with the awful sloppy footing from the down poor that night and the misty showers during our warm up. He was very good in warm up and our test was great too! Our test was in the indoor which I find difficult to warm up in one setting and show in an other..however he was way more relaxed that I expected and didn't spook only gave a little turn of the head as we walked by the judge. I was so proud of the test..it felt like my best yet because he was so relaxed! He could have been more into the contact and he had a little feet confusion on our left lead up transtion but made a great recovery. Despite me feeling like it was our best test our scores did not match the feeling...I was the only one in my division that scored in the 30's all the others were in the 40's. We got a 39 which is uncommon for us we usually get a 35 and sometimes high 20's. But since all the scores were like this I assumed the judge was just tough and I couldn't complain we were first after dressage again! Its a nice feeling to consistently come out on top after dressage, work is paying off.
Jump warm up was just as great! Very relaxed and spot on! After having to wait until SJ judge and everyone was ready to go we finally got to go! I was very confident after dressage and our SJ warm up..he just was on it. When we picked up the canter in the ring he became a little more tense but much better and more controlled than last years season. We had a clear and beautiful round...best yet! I still realize that talking to him and telling him how good he is really helps him when he is uneasy and uncertain about certain questions.
Carino put in a perfect day and got his well deserved blue ribbon. It was the perfect way to start off the season..he started this year even better than the last. Now I am even more excited for this season!