Click on pictures for caption explinations :)
What a day. First off, Mia did NOT want to load in the trailer and leave her buddies and it was so frustrating I almost threw in the towel and didn't go at all. Fortunately, I did. River and Mia won their divisions! Not only that, Mia was the only Sr. BN horse to have NO jump penalties!! River accumulated his 20 at the "mulch pit," a faux ditch, but I swear on Pippa's life that he never stepped back. Mia launched over it like a rocket and never thought twice :)
River's dressage test was the best we've ever done. After Hub taught him to accept the whip last week, there are no more objections to it and he actually goes forward from it into the bridle. I actually got a "nicely forward" comment, IMAGINE THAT! Whoo hoo! PTL! Our XC warm up was rough. We are still trying to get used to the new bit. We landed in a heap a fair few times, but between fences he was ROUND and found a rhythm and it was lovely. I need to relax a bit more so that I can let him do the footwork and stay with him instead of bracing. His XC was good overall. He really thought about the first 4 fences (trotted the scary spool jump), but then gained confidence and went smoother from there. He's even getting better about the water (this complex was scary too!). Yay, River. Maybe all that hard work is finally getting us somewhere...
Mia had an OK dressage test. I'm with practice we could put in once twice as good in a month or so. She needs to relax a bit more and find a steadier contact in the bridle. As I was smiling to myself, enjoying her lengthened trot steps in our XC warm up, Amy burst my bubble and said, "I like the forward. Now can we compress?" That made me laugh. XC was a breeze! She had a look at everything but was very game! I was very pleased with her! AND she hopped right in the trailer to go home. I think she's a keeper.
What a day. First off, Mia did NOT want to load in the trailer and leave her buddies and it was so frustrating I almost threw in the towel and didn't go at all. Fortunately, I did. River and Mia won their divisions! Not only that, Mia was the only Sr. BN horse to have NO jump penalties!! River accumulated his 20 at the "mulch pit," a faux ditch, but I swear on Pippa's life that he never stepped back. Mia launched over it like a rocket and never thought twice :)
River's dressage test was the best we've ever done. After Hub taught him to accept the whip last week, there are no more objections to it and he actually goes forward from it into the bridle. I actually got a "nicely forward" comment, IMAGINE THAT! Whoo hoo! PTL! Our XC warm up was rough. We are still trying to get used to the new bit. We landed in a heap a fair few times, but between fences he was ROUND and found a rhythm and it was lovely. I need to relax a bit more so that I can let him do the footwork and stay with him instead of bracing. His XC was good overall. He really thought about the first 4 fences (trotted the scary spool jump), but then gained confidence and went smoother from there. He's even getting better about the water (this complex was scary too!). Yay, River. Maybe all that hard work is finally getting us somewhere...
Mia had an OK dressage test. I'm with practice we could put in once twice as good in a month or so. She needs to relax a bit more and find a steadier contact in the bridle. As I was smiling to myself, enjoying her lengthened trot steps in our XC warm up, Amy burst my bubble and said, "I like the forward. Now can we compress?" That made me laugh. XC was a breeze! She had a look at everything but was very game! I was very pleased with her! AND she hopped right in the trailer to go home. I think she's a keeper.