MDHT Spring Starter #2: Dressage & Stadium!

Ok. Starting things off with a nugget of honest self awareness. In the past, I have been quick to suppose that a judge "just doesn't like us" upon receiving a mediocre or poor score. So today I will be quick to say: This judge definitely liked us.

our test in a single picture

Either that, or she was just exhausted after judging five full splits of BN (we were very close to the last ride in the division) and was eager to see whatever harmony we might present. Regardless, she scored us very highly - and in some cases, a bit generously. I'm gonna take it tho bc Isabel was foot perfect.

but when was one picture ever enough?!?

There were a couple spots where a better ride could have improved the picture - especially a few areas where I felt we lost a bit of balance. Generally tho, Isabel was so so so soft and steady into my hand. A touch quiet, but none of that abrupt reactiveness we saw in last week's schooling dressage show.

airborne

I had given us about 30 minutes to warm up, and it proved unnecessary. We mostly walked, interspersing some leg yields and shoulder in at walk to ask for connection and balance but without expending undue energy. We also did a touch of stretchy trot, and very few walk-trot-walk-trot transitions just to keep her thinking forward in the downwards. Really, tho, it was apparent she was GAME ON from the first moment.

probably not worth the 8 we got, but ima take it!

In the test, I tried to think ever so slightly of leg yielding out around our circles (bend in to move out) and jussssst hinting at lengthenings down the diagonals, just to keep it interesting for mare face. And she delivered. Presented what I felt was a very pretty picture. Canter is still the weak spot. The judge gave us our personal best scores for the trot-canter transitions, but they're still hollow. It's ok, we're working on it.

boom. achievement unlocked

All the same, tho. I'm thrilled with the test. And obvi what's not to love about the score?!? It didn't feel like our best ever when I left the ring. I felt like as a rider I had maybe left some points on the table, but that Isabel had performed exactly as well as I could possibly hope. Turns out the judge agreed!

video here

This is officially our personal best ever score - beating out our first event at BN, same test and same venue. Apparently BN-B at Loch Moy is our sweet spot? Must be allllll that trotting haha.

heading down to the ring!

Anyway, dressage had been running a bit behind so we had just the briefest of breaks before saddling up for jumping. At least I knew the mare needed minimal warm up. Can't really stress enough that she was QUIET - actually I worried that she was TOO quiet. It was reminiscent of our first novice at Olde Hope last summer, when she was asleep on her feet after dressage and never quite got back up in front of my leg to jump.

READY

I shouldn't have worried tho. She came alive to jump. Obvi. Isabel knew what was up all along and was just saving it up for the fun stuff :) We stuck with our tried and true stadium warm up (trot the X, canter the X, canter the vertical, canter the oxer) and called it good. She was ready and forward and adjustable.

not lovin my leg lately but the mare is cute!

Probably a longer warm up would have improved our actual round, but probably so would have a more decisive rider haha. The course went pretty well. Started with a 5-6 stride line, oxer to vertical. Seemed like an ambitious first line haha. Brita and Wick did the 5, but they were GOING, and Brita thought it was in my best interest to shoot for the 6. Which Isabel did pretty well. Jumps three and four were another line - this one riding fairly consistently in an easy 7.

defensive into a tight two stride

We kinda ate jump 5 on the short side, my bad, but hit jump 6 across the center on a forward slice and got to the two stride at the other end at a nice pace. It was a TIGHT two but we fit it in haha. Then up to catch another jump just bending off the rail, bending farther to the final fence.

Most riders got 8 strides in that final bending approach... but when we almost got there in 7 I kinda just didn't make a decision but leaned up the horse's neck anyway. No no, Emma! That is a recipe for disaster!! And it very nearly spelled the end of our day since I was pretty damn sure I was coming off. Isabel is a saint tho and still jumped it.

pictured: how NOT to jump 

And not only did she jump, she jumped RAMROD STRAIGHT haha and stayed directly underneath my wayward self. Took a rail, sure, but it was undoubtedly a gift. So. Um. Thanks, mare, for saving my ass AGAIN. 

the face of someone who realizes exactly how lucky she just got

And. Just like that, we were through stadium. The phase that has been causing me the most mental anguish lately. 

I'm not entirely sure why - it's certainly the area where we get the most practice. But I think it boils down to just how influential I am in a stadium course. Out on xc, Isabel will read the jumps and make choices for herself. But in stadium, she really relies on me and will do exactly what I ask for better or worse. 

video here

It's not the worst problem in the world - it just gets hairy when I don't make a decision or commit to a distance. Fortunately tho, BN height (esp since it seemed set a little soft at this event?) is well enough in our comfort zone that we can recover from our oopsies moments without any major upsets (mostly haha).

I definitely need to fix a few elements in my ride tho, and got a pretty good idea of what, why and how in this event. Especially after cross country - details of which are coming up tomorrow!