My mantra...

in my day job is 'Hard Work Is Always Rewarded'
I use it to give my kids the confidence to excel, succeed and achieve their potential...and it is true, very true!

With 12 days to go, we regrouped and looked at the plan..

This weekend was key preparation time
Two tests and regional venue...
Lots of challenges: the weather (apocalyptic) the venue (indoors and spooky) the tests (Novice 24...very hard and Elementary 44) and me....

Instructions were to enter 2, ride one, if it felt great, then withdraw from 2nd and come home on a high..
the best laid plans and all!!!

I thought I knew the tests, but had a reader anyway...a lovely, calming influence! We warmed up in a howling gale, which was not conducive to relaxation...called in for test (bizarrely Ele first!)  and the roof sounded like it was going to take off. Small Brown was NOT impressed, cue silly skipping sideways a la giraffe...I kicked on but never really got him through or relaxed in the neck...some bits were ok, most of it was tense and then I did my usual and forgot to listen to reader...error of course! Rubbish! Completed with a sense of disappointment,mixed with achievement for actually doing our first Elementary without retirement!!!
So chuffed to get a 60+% from a judge I respect hugely.

Sigh....it did mean however, we were definitely going to have to do test number 2. Left him munching his haylage quite happily as an hour between tests, by which time The Wise One had arrived with his sensible and pragmatic approach...looked at video and declared I should be pleased with that at this stage in his training....

So helpful to have him there for the warm up as he never gets to see the 'moments of joy' we experience...and SmallBrown is a total angel at home!!
Luckily Small Brown was happy to show off his shenanigans..and as soon as another horse passed too close...off he went at a rate of knots!!!
'Don't pat him' ringing in my ears...not until he is going forward and soft and relaxed...oh yes!!!! Such a bad habit of mine...and all it is doing is confirming the sillliness is ok!!
'Find some space' 'Look up' 'Relax'
Second test, took it all on board. We had quite a long time in the arena before the bell rang,and luckily it was at the mirror end, so could sort me,him and ride him past every single terrifying marker :D

This time he felt soft and with me
This time I listened
This time I actually rode him
Couple of tense moments riding towards the door, but, but but we finished with a smile on our faces

Couldn't have been more chuffed when the news of 65+% arrived!!!
Our personal best score for straight dressage sans music
9th out of 29, so no disgrace at all...

A great end to a long, long day
There is a video...but the soundtrack is my 8 year old singing 'We are the Champions' for a full 5minutes...fabulous if she actually knew more than the single line...sung at top volume...I will spare you....

So we have achieved what we set out to in the  of competing that January and February have turned out to be!!
We have spaces booked at Pachesham on Saturday, but The Wise One feels we are better at home doing last minute tweeks to floorplan and music desensitisation...happy with that

Chocolate Brown saddle cloth has been purchased...and we will be donning our Casco ensemble, with brown jacket and boots to hopefully wow those judges...

Lets hope Chris Malinchak, The Wanted and The Googoodolls are up the streets of the judges ;)
Little video of our practice here:

FSMNovice routine

We really really couldn't have thrown anything else at the preparation,so now all that remains is to go, have fun and do our best :)