Stoneliegh HT Sept.25.2010

It just keeps getting better.
I was quite nervous about the xc of this show because it was off farm and I know there was a good chance of Carino taking a good look at some jumps and for us to get some stops. Also months ago the plan was to have my trainer Erin ride him and then for me to ride at UNH the following weekend. However, I could not afford UNH since my budget was running low after a long show season and I wanted to get one last sanctioned in under my own belt...so I decided to go for it. What did I have to lose? Elimination? I spent my first half of the season with elimination after elimination...

So I found myself not getting home until 10 the night before then waking up at 3 to drive to the barn to head off to Stoneliegh with 6 other horses.

Right when we got there we walked xc...parts of the course made me nervous for sure since I was thinking as if I was in Carino's mind. He will look at this, and this is different so this might be scary and blah blah...so I was nervous but tried not to think of it as I got into dressage mode. I went into warm up with tons of time before my ride since I didn't know how he was going to come out but he came out on a lose rein and completely relaxed. So we just walked for a good 10 min to loosen up. We then began to trot where I could let him stretch down all the way to the buckle. We did some canter, transitions, serpentines and circles and then took a walk break. I picked him back up again at the sitting trot and did some lengthening which we both enjoy. Another walk break watched some test and as the rider before me went in we went back to the trot and then went to start our test. I knew the judge was in a trailer at C and I knew Carino did not like this at our last away show and I was prepared for him to spook which he did but I stayed relaxed and made him go through/passed. This time took a lot less time to get over it but we still need to work on the scary judge in the trailer. This spook created a little tension and lost the quality of the trot we had but it was still a decent presentable trot. The test was not like our last show but was average for us and some parts were great. Unfortunately, the secretary lost my test so I could not see my comments and my collective marks but I did get a print out of my scores for each movement. I had a lot of 6's which I was not so pleased with since my last test I only had one and everything else was 7's and 8's. I just wish I could see why the judge marked the way she did for certain movements. But overall very happy with the test since it was our average score of a 35% and we were second after dressage. Can't complain!

Stadium warm up was spot on! He did take some long but that is something he has and always does. The course was clear with no time penalties. I do wish we got the spots better...since he took most of them a little long but none to the point where it was scary since I stayed with him. I was very happy with the results and now that the jumps are not a problem I can start working towards getting the great jumping I get at home schooling in the show ring.

XC warm up was the exact same as stadium warm up. We were the last rider so we waited and then headed up to the start box we walked around until the count down began and then we were off right to the first fence...I didn't know what he was going to do but he jump right over it and up the hill we went to fence two were he took a look at the fence judges and people but once he saw the jump was fine. We had a nice little galloping line then a tricky approach to fence 3 due to rock in the ground right on the perfect line...so we had to S around which got him a little confused to as where he was going and he was looking at all the people and jumps so he broke to a trot but then saw the fence and was over and on to the next long galloping lane. At the end of this lane there was a small red coup that was no problem then on to my first big fear; the ditch to roll top combination. But he flew right over it just giving a little curl at the base of it and right over the roll top and into the dark woods with no problem. However, inside the woods was quite scary for the little man. In the middle of the trail was a person walking and she saw I was coming but yet did not move and she was right in my line...so I screamed HORSE! and she moves a little..after a few seconds.. So I had to make a really squiggly S to the fence that was already in a weird spot I had to S too. So he spooked at her and then at the jump judges around the corner and broke to the trot but I kept talking to him like I did since the first fence and he trotted right over one of the biggest fences on course. Then right over another little log and out the woods..but looking at everything on his way out. Then we had a great galloping lane which I let him really go and when I asked him to come back for the coup like fence he did perfectly and jumped it the best out of them all. And then galloping up a nice hill were I passed my trainer and others from my barn walking their courses. But I had to prepare for my other big big fear which I saw a girl fall off earlier at; two coups set on a very steep hill in a related distance. But my trainer told me to ride it like a bank and that is exactly what I did and it was actually fun. But right after that was my last fear the up bank since Carino has never jumped one in a show situation..but I put my leg on and it was also fun. I had four more and over the wall over the two roll tops and then I made sure to ride the last fence since two of the riders from my barn had stops since they didn't ride it after a clear round and Carino jumped that fence which was the biggest one spot on and then through the finish we went. And that is when I realized that I was first after stadium since the person in first had time faults and moved down and that I just won. I was glowing..and couldn't believe it, still can't but I have a nice big blue ribbon to prove it.

August Valinor Farm HT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmIDLyO2Gn0

So, I have finally completed my first sanctioned. After many set backs with lame horses and bad timing I took the my first own horse that I have trained in both his and mine first sanctioned. This was also Carino's first time ever going BN!

This dressage test was the best test I have ever done. Warm up was great he was so relaxed which I was not expecting. I went in warm up did some walk trot canter then went out and went for a little walk then went back in picked him back up took a walk break and then picked him up again and he was calm, relaxed and listening. We got up to the new dressage ring on the top of the hill, he looked around a little but got a little more pep in his step which he kinda needed so It worked to my advantage but he was still relaxed. It was my most relaxed, consistent and smooth test. When I got my score I was very surprised a 28.5% this was my best score ever and this first time I ever got a score in the 20's! When I looked at the placing after dressage I was in 5th, kinda a bummer since I got so use to always being in first after dressage but I was only 1 1/2 points always from the first place score which was a 27%...so was not disappointed at all!

Jumping warm up was great also, super relaxed, spot on and listening. We did our thing and then parked it and waited, I then hopped over the oxer once more and then went in the ring. As we got to the first jump I had no idea what he was going to do...was he going to fly to the side like he sometimes does or just do a slam on the brakes..but no problem and then takes off down the hill to jump 2. We turned up the hill to two and he is on it. We pull a rail at 2 but I didn't care..he hasn't stopped! we turn to the bending line to three and its like I'm just sitting there for the ride. He completely was point and shoot. We leave the ring with just that one rail. I was so happy with that horse. However next time I would like to feel a little more in control..it doesn't look out of control but I would just like to have it more relaxed, and adjustable which will come with mileage. He was just in the zone and loving it.

We then head to xc, which after the awesome SJ round I completely forgot I had to do! We walked over, waited for the other rider to get a good ways on course and we were off. As we came close to the first fence I admit I tightened up because of nerves and uncertainty but then he just started to really GO to the fence! so I let him and he flew right over it and then we turned up the hill to 2, and right over that and then he LEAPED over the little bench at 3 (he knew it was small) and then was a little wiggly going down into the new wooded trail. We trotted and cantered down the hill sense he was a little tense and looky, but once he saw the fence he locked on it and flew over it and up the hill. We then came out to the field..took a little look then over the tires. He then came down too fast the next hill especially for the tight awkward turn at the bottom, so I trotted a few strides and then asked him to pick it back up, but when we turned the corner he saw the ditches and other jumps that made up the coffin to both sides of him and a jump judge up on the hill and came to a halt. I gave him a little nudge with my leg and showed him where to go and he went up the little hill to the bank type log then right over the log pile and leaped into and out of the water..making me lose a stirrup... so i jumped the pyramid with one stirrup and then tried to get it back at the gallop but it was flopping..so I was like maybe I can jump the other half with only one..but then I knew that was a BAD idea and he was in the need of a wake up call so I halted him. We then went on to the combo and that was great and then flew over the DITCH. Up the hill over the barn and then down the wooded trail to the skinny...now this is a fence I was nervous about and of course we have an issue but not fence related. We are going down the hill he is a little looky but Im getting him listening and looking at the jump not the other jump or the way out and right when I have to come off the edge of the trail to make that tight turn to the line he spooks at the judge and people walking and fly's to the other side of the trail and there is no way I can jump this fence this way sense it is angled the opposite way he is facing now so I kick him back to right and then kick him over it and he goes right over. It was so fast I couldn't tell if he stopped or went backwards without me feeling it but I was pretty sure it was all sideways and forward but I was still worried. He then tried to gallop home on the trail we usually take home but I turned him up to the rock cradle and he cleared it and then on to our last fence up the hill. And he does it perfectly. So I then bring Carino back to the barn untack him, hose him off and poultice him. My mom looked at the xc scores and it was CLEAN! yes!

Carino and I were 5th over all in a division of 16 riders both JR and SR. It was the best show ever, I couldn't be more pleased with the day. Especially for both our first sanctioned, his first BN, and for Carino not to even be cantering under saddle a year yet and only jumping since Feb. and doing xc since late Mar.
Erin will ride him at Stonleigh HT Sept. 25th-26th, this will be his first off farm sanctioned(second sanctioned) and then if money allows I will take him to UNH in Oct.

August 12th VF Jumper Show

Yet another jumper show. I got there early to get Carino in the warm up before it got crazy since he can feed off of the commotion. I was able to get a good start and then I walked him for a few minutes. Some more horses came in and a few minutes later I picked him back up..and he began the bolt/spook nonsense. When a horse came cantering by him he did it and then he would not take his eyes off the kids who decided to run around the woods right next to the ring..(great idea!?) so finally their mom realized my horse was having a melt down after 10 min. and they all got out of the woods...So I let him and I chill for a min. I picked him back up did some more walk trot canter to get him back since we lost everything we just did. I then began to jump him and every jump was spot on perfect. When the lower level jumping started I went down to watch to learn the course and watch how the course rode. Before my class I hopped him over the vertical and oxer one more time and still pretty perfect...but a little jazzed after.. We waited for our turn and went in. This was his first time jumping a whole course at 2'6 without jumping the course at a lower height before. We picked up the canter and it was so relaxed! Which made me so confident because I wouldn't have a mad man pulling me around! We come up the long approach to the nice inviting vertical with that great canter and urrrrrrrrr! goes the brakes. Took me by complete shock and I was furious. So I turned around and kicked him over it. Came to the second..same thing...my temper began to rise..so I gave him a boot and made him go on. Did bending line to 3 great, one stride good, and then flew out the shoulder and slammed on the brakes to barrels at 6 which he has never had a problem with. Got him over that and then jumped the super scary skinny on the hard tern spot on perfect...(HUH?) jumped 8 fine, then if i remember correctly I pretty much galloped him over the last line and made him have no choice but to GO! and get over it. The whole time there was no crazy running around canter. listening to when I asked him to comeback or open..but just slammed on the brakes when he felt like it...So me with my demand of perfection was not a happy camper...
We then go in for our 2'9 course and he did this absolutely spot on perfect. Listened so well and was so relaxed. We then did our jump off and when I asked for speed or a bigger stride he did it and only when I asked...couldn't ask for anything better. Well, we did end up tied for first but we had another jump off..and I got greedy got sloppy with my line to the skinny which caused me a rail. If I didn't get that rail we both would of still been tied for first since we had the same jump off time AGAIN!

Myopia Benefit 3phase.

July 24th. Myopia Benefit 3phase. Elementary.
A horse got lose right before I went to get on for dressage warm up so all the horses were worked up. Carino eventually started to become relaxed and was going around quite nice..so when I was called to go to do my test I was relaxed and fine. But then he spooked at the ring, the trailer the judges were in, the flower pots and his brain shut off. He would not listen. Throughout the test I had to yank on my reins just to get him to walk or to stay on the rail because he was completely ignoring my seat and leg and all my aids. I was furious with the test and at him and everyone . It was the worst test we ever had. We got a 46% which is AWFUL for us. But no one in our division got above a 30 and some got in the 50's. However, Carino made up for it by going double clear with two great rounds. Stadium was great, there was a scary plank xrail that many of the horses had stops at. Carino looked at it but with I gave him the reins and put me leg on and he took a little leap over it.. He did the same thing at an oxer later in the course which I didn't understand but I rode it the same and it was no problem. We then went straight to xc. He tried to run out and stop at the first fence but I gave with the rein and put my leg on and it wasn't a problem. The next few jumps he started to develop his rhythm still a little unsure but really starting to enjoy himself. At fence 4 I believe he started to drift like he was going to run out but I caught this from a good amount of strides away and got him straight. After that he was very bold and almost pulling me to the fences. Resulting in his first clear xc course! Despite the worst dressage test of my life, Carino and I placed second in our division (Elementary JR.)

Pipestave Hill HT

So this was an interesting show...
Dressage felt pretty gross, warm up wasn't that great...he never relaxed. He started to relax as we were going around the ring and during our center line and down the long side but then he saw this green plastic bin that he apparently didn't see during our center line and spooked real bad...so he was pretty tense after that. The test just felt sloppy but when we finished the judge had nice things to say and we placed second with a score of 34.5%..so i guess it wasn't that bad. XC warm up was intense he was flying over the jumps, just really game and wanting to go..but once we got on course he turned into a wimp. Wouldn't get into a canter to the first fence until a few strides away from it, refused it and then went over it..was fine with the really scary second fence and then refused the third over and over and we were eliminated... Erin got the TD to let me go on, some moments perfect others he was just scared and pulling me. This was his first real xc course so what was I to expect? He never has jumped on trails and then come out to a field(real scary for him) and he was introduced to jump judges..the big problem. And then SJ warm up he was spot on and the course was perfect...absolutely perfect..not one issue. So I just need to work on his xc like I had to do with his SJ.. We have Myopia HT the 24th. We are doing elementary just as a confidence boost for xc. But the dressage test is an intro test so that will be very boring and so will the stadium jumping..

VF Jumper Show July 8th

Carino came out a mad man again...
The first round was 2'3 and he was quick and tense..but I feel like we could of got around clear if the second fence wasn't a skinny. He has jumped much skinnier fences than that but never with standards on the side, It freaked him out. We then did the course but at 2'6 and we had no issues at all and we placed third. We then did the course at 2'9 and it was even better and we placed second. I think we both do better with bigger jumps and after we have had a few jumps done and time to stand, watch and chill. We need time to breath and relax.

July Flatlands HT

Carino's first horse trial was a great positive one!

We were first after dressage with a score of 34. Overall the dressage test was good. Our canters could have been better and so could of my halt at the end by being more forceful about him always trying to throw his haunches right. Wish I could get the nice big flowing trot and connection over the top line in the show ring like I can at home but that will just take both more shows and consistency from both him and I.

I wish XC warm up went better, he just never felt like how I wanted him too. Just to quick and rushed. He refused the first little little warm up fence but I could expect that from him..
We then went to the XC field,.. he tried to stop or he just took a good look at the first but it was a little log and he popped over it and he did a similar move at the second little log. We then had a little canter room and he still refused a good sized coop but then cleared it then refused a stadium like fence once. He then jumped the biggest fence perfectly. But then had two run out/refusals at this gate type fence. Then after that he completely found his rhythm and went clear the rest of the round and he was super confident and he was really enjoying it. And that is exactly what I wanted. Not bad for his first time going xc at a show!

Carino really surprised me at stadium. He was an absolute super star! He went completely clear and listened so well. I was so happy and proud of him. The pieces really started to come together. He is starting to get that shows aren't so scary, and hopefully eventually he will realize that it is time to show off. Also, again many people admired him and gave him many complements which boosted mine and of course his confidence. ;)