Post by breakfast on Apr 10, 2010 22:40:01 GMT
Last year we tried a dressage test and didn't do very well. Earlier in the week I noticed the same competition had come around again and decided to enter at the last moment.
Thursday night we did a single runthrough to check I could remember the test ( same as last year, just walk and trot but given that we scored 42 certainly in need of work ) and on Friday the ponies had their feet done so I didn't ask him to work. By half past eight this morning we were unloading Zorro from the lorry for the first time ( after I had got the lorry to start using my previously unrealised mechanical skills ) and getting ready for our test.
Into the arena...
One of our "circles". Apparently, according to the judge, circles are traditionally a little more, well, circular.
Our trot got better after something outside the arena flustered Zorro a little bit and his energy picked right up.
Halt and immobility- our forte!
Finished and the morning still ahead of us.
We came home with a rosette! It said "Second Place" on it.
We'll focus on that "second place" and not think too hard about the actual numbers involved either in the score or the number of people in the class... ;D
So then we bundled back into the lorry, headed home and fairly shortly afterwards were off to meet with Sophira ( not sure if that's how her name is spelled but it will do for now ) who is a very sweet, recently backed Lusitano mare who lives just down the road from our ponies and needs someone to help bring her on.
Doing a bit on the ground- she is very sensitive and has had some pretty good training so far so she's actually a real pleasure to work with. Quite different from Zorro.
Reminding me just how much I love riding baby horses. And how quirky they can be- when I was asking her to move away from my leg her initial idea of what I wanted was to kick the underside of my foot with her hindfoot. Very flexible. Also very smart.
I am hoping to ride her a lot over the summer, just get her more experienced and knowing a bit more about the world. She's a lovely horse and it will be great experience for me, balancing out my need for an interesting summer project with my need to not have to poo pick another pony. This is a deal that works well for everyone...
Then we went off to Julian's for a lesson ( after a couple of years we now have reins! Still on the lunge though... ) where I was riding a charming big hunter type horse called Rocky. We spent a long time trotting, getting a bigger and bouncier trot throughout the lesson. It was hard work but brilliant fun.
What an amazing day! But now, I'm exhausted, time for bed...
Thursday night we did a single runthrough to check I could remember the test ( same as last year, just walk and trot but given that we scored 42 certainly in need of work ) and on Friday the ponies had their feet done so I didn't ask him to work. By half past eight this morning we were unloading Zorro from the lorry for the first time ( after I had got the lorry to start using my previously unrealised mechanical skills ) and getting ready for our test.
Into the arena...
One of our "circles". Apparently, according to the judge, circles are traditionally a little more, well, circular.
Our trot got better after something outside the arena flustered Zorro a little bit and his energy picked right up.
Halt and immobility- our forte!
Finished and the morning still ahead of us.
We came home with a rosette! It said "Second Place" on it.
We'll focus on that "second place" and not think too hard about the actual numbers involved either in the score or the number of people in the class... ;D
So then we bundled back into the lorry, headed home and fairly shortly afterwards were off to meet with Sophira ( not sure if that's how her name is spelled but it will do for now ) who is a very sweet, recently backed Lusitano mare who lives just down the road from our ponies and needs someone to help bring her on.
Doing a bit on the ground- she is very sensitive and has had some pretty good training so far so she's actually a real pleasure to work with. Quite different from Zorro.
Reminding me just how much I love riding baby horses. And how quirky they can be- when I was asking her to move away from my leg her initial idea of what I wanted was to kick the underside of my foot with her hindfoot. Very flexible. Also very smart.
I am hoping to ride her a lot over the summer, just get her more experienced and knowing a bit more about the world. She's a lovely horse and it will be great experience for me, balancing out my need for an interesting summer project with my need to not have to poo pick another pony. This is a deal that works well for everyone...
Then we went off to Julian's for a lesson ( after a couple of years we now have reins! Still on the lunge though... ) where I was riding a charming big hunter type horse called Rocky. We spent a long time trotting, getting a bigger and bouncier trot throughout the lesson. It was hard work but brilliant fun.
What an amazing day! But now, I'm exhausted, time for bed...
.. meant to be working but I also posted on here losts too hee hee 
Must be careful about that in the future....
