Now that is IMPRESSIVE!!!! GO TEAM THORNRIDGE!!!!
Phoebe & Windy: Windy has been training so well in FL and I had my fingers (and toes) crossed that she would be equally as good getting back into her first show of the season. Well, she was amazingly relaxed and I did not even need a handler on the ground to walk me from warm up to the show ring...yeah!! In our first class, she was tentative and wanted to spook at the judges booth.....we made it by, but then she told me that was a challenge as she then proceeded to pop up into the air at least a half a dozen times in the first corner!! Gotta love my Windy -- she will always tell me what she thinks, that stinker!! Each class she got more and more relaxed and adjustable in the ring. However, as would be my usual luck, a wind tornado whipped around the perimeter of the show ring during my last class. The tunnel was huge and loud and Windy certainly tried to keep her cool but was still distracted. When I asked her for her canter lengthen down the same long side, she just could not contain herself any longer and let out a little rodeo. Luckily the rest of the test was so nice that she still ended up winning with a 68+% and qualifying for USDF/GAIG at First Level. I am pleased to report that "my girl" is growing up!!
Suzanne & Brisk: This pair has a lot to be proud of!! They have started off their Second Level showing much stronger then they started off First Level last year. The balance and preparation for second level is all there, but familiarity with the tests still needs some polishing. Suzanne unfortunately had a few errors of course over the weekend but she regained her composure quickly and can boast scores up to 63+% for the weekend!! If we were at home, Suzanne would have qualified for the BLM already. Way to go, Suzanne!!!
Phoebe & Veronica: I am just the most luck person to be able to have this spectacular horse's ride....thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ginger!!! Baby V is less then 4 months under saddle and she was just amazing at her first show ever!! She has handled the trip to FL like a champ and is sure growing up fast with all of this exposure. On the first day, I chose Intro B as I did not want to overwhelm her with a crowded warm up....she was so very good and scored 68+%. Later that day, we rode in the 4/5YO Material Class -- she was afraid of a photographer that had placed themselves in an isolated spot on the outside of the show ring. Even after I asked the photographer to move 2 times they did not!! So, it was very frustrating to me that I had to perform a Materiale Class primarily on a 2om circle...we just never had the space to truly get going and show off her enormous reach in the canter. The second day, we did Tr 2 and everything was going smoothly until a herd of bicyclists started riding around the perimeter of the ring. V lost her focus on the last canter of the test and then at the final halt she was quite distracted by the bikers...but she tried and she gained important mileage!! By the last time in the ring for her material Class, V was an old pro and I just could not have asked her to be more perfect. Her gaits felt huge, cadenced and expressive...she even showed off some lengthened steps. The odd part of this Material Class is that the judge made me so a test pattern rather then having me go large around the arena and judge us from a profile. The comments were unusual in that she was critiquing my transitions and corners -- that has nothing to do with a Materiale Class.....oh well, I guess that is what I get for doing a Material Class at a dressage show.....I think I will need to stick with breed shows in the future. Thank you V for trusting me all weekend and finding all of your confidence in me.
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