What a difference a month makes!
February is better left in the history books...a combination of a prolapsed disc,a broken rib, crazy work schedule and family trauma left me in a poor mental and physical state,and definitely not ready for the regionals....withdrawing was a very hard decision, but with little movement through my right side, it was just not fair on either of us...fingers crossed there will be another day...
God bless my trainer, who is an absolute saint, for keeping the wheels on the pony based wagon at least...without him, we would just be sobbing in the corner of a stable somewhere!
The last time we braved the Priory we had to retire. Apparently there are monsters in the hedge! Quite possibly, but I definitely needed to man up and ride...something we have been working on for a good couple of weeks now.
Novice 34 is a new test for me,but we are better with lots going on,so I think it suited us. Being small means short arena tests are generally a bit more doable...60m is a LONG way on a 15.2hh!!!
15 minutes warm up was plenty as the indoor was a veritable sauna!!! A real turning point is that today he managed to contain his distress at working in with strange horses coming at him left right and centre!
Off we popped to the arena of doom...spookety spook, but today I was proactive and bar the odd snakey,giraffe manouvre we managed to get through it ok. Me being me was convinced it would be sub 60%, so was pleasantly surprised with 65%...our first ever Regional qualifying score...chuffed to bits, so a placing not important at that moment.
Let him have a break and a quick graze between tests as it was by now, tropical. Back in for 5minute kick up the backside and back into work mode, before N38. He has been in this arena before, and not had any problems...bar an initial spook at the killer rug over the fence, he settled quickly, worked rhythmically and managed the counter canter...huge pats! I came out chuffed to bits, which is highly unusual for me!!!
You can't imagine my delight to discover we had an almost identical score in the 2nd test, which I felt was much better...but different judges so a different eye...
over the moon covered it...popped him in the trailer and took him home...couldn't wait until end of class today...tidying up at home and the phone rings, my lovely friend Stephanie was charged with the job of collecting sheets...squeals of delight to discover we had come 2nd in both tests, doubling our points tally in the process and getting our first sheets towards regional qualification...
Clever, clever pony!!! At rising 7 it has taken him a while to settle and become submissive in stressful test situations....today I felt he was with me,and I was able to ride rather than take part in damage limitation
Pictures here...
Plan is to keep working on his strength and suppleness, while building in some more of the lateral work...lotsof hard work ahead...and lots of fun!!!
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