Phoebe & Windy: FL Twice As Nice, Sat 1st-1

Windy warmed up amazingly for our Sat am First Level 1 Test. It must have been the magic from the new gold People On Horses boots that Claudia gave me for Christmas.........

Rather then be in a crowded warmup arena, I chose to head off to the grass meadow and give her space to strut her stuff.

Our warmup was effortless and I was enjoying the ride.

Then, came the test: Well, we were all set until the judge stood up and blew the whistle just as we were in front of C. Yup, my Windy good straight up on her hind legs and wheeled sideways....the poor judge was so apologetic, I felt badly for her. But, I said..."no worries, she has to grow up one of these days :)" And off we went, very tense, down the centerline.....

The test was tough to get thru as she was really wound for sound at this point, but she managed to stay focused on me for the bulk of the ride. Other then our 4's on c-lines: yup, she piaffed the whole halt; AND, the 2 out of 20 pts on our right lead depart: yup she was on our hind legs several times in that canter depart..........the test was actually not too bad. I was happy to finish with a 61% and know that if she had not been so tense she would have creamed the class!!! But, we got thru it together as a team. Enjoy the video posting on our youtube site of the not so nice response to the canter depart........

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While schooling Windy on Friday around her competition ring, all eyes were on us. Amazing is all I can say.....you want to talk about feeling like a million bucks...I just love my mare!!! One trainer on the outside of the ring, said as I cantered by, "your mare is just stunning." Another trainer riding a horse in arena with me said, "well, I can see you are my main competition for tomorrow." Always humble, my response was, "well, you have noting to worry about as we do not always keep all 4 feet on the ground, " -- SHUCKS, I must have jinxed my own ride with that comment!!! VT friend Jess watched my ride, and chuckled to me later, that only I could have a horse rear up and catch good air, and then pass her by later, in the test, with a Cheshire grin on my face. Ahhhh, my Windy, I just love her ride.....nothing can beat it!!!