Week 1
We went to HITS in Culpeper, VA first week in July. The weather was steamy. This is my second recognized hunter/jumper show. So it’s a little mind boggling. Atmosphere of a big hunter/jumper show is totally different from a big dressage show. But I do like the jumper crowd a lot better.
So we got to the showgrounds early. But the class had over 40 horses I think at the end of the day I think the class had 50 horses. Budi and I pretty much just relaxed for a bit. He studied the course and we got our number at the show office. We got to watch some of the class. Then we got the super mare ready.
Of course with Upperville fresh in my mind I was a little worried. Is she going to be demon mare? Would she be a good girl? Just never know with this quirky Appaloosa. After tacking her up we went to the warm up arena. The whole procedure at securing a warm up jump is something new to me. You kind of have to be at the right place at the right time to grab a spot before someone else.
We warmed her up and she was fine. She seemed loose, happy, and relaxed. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.
Finally it was show time. I was so nervous. Budi was like what’s the jump off. I’m like you’re hopefully today.
She did very well. Jumped every single fence. There were a few she backed off from, but clear round. She proceeded to the jump off. Budi came out of the ring and was smiling and relieved. He told me that he was smacking her the whole trip. He didn’t want her to refuse a jump.
She pinned 7th. We were pleased. So we chilled and waited under the shade and let Lilly eat grass. Then we waited.
Our second class came. I told Budi about the Bronze studbook and he was like alright let’s go. At the time I thought she had to be 1st or 2nd. So Budi put a little more speed and she did well.
Super mare had come out today.
Level 0 Jumpers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uMWRq9v5Ok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgrHNCjPfk
Level 1 Jumpers
missed the first fence. *x* A lil unsteady with the camera as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r05VsvajupY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAfCOBKBPoU
HITS Week 2
Well this one will be brief. Demon mare came out to play today. Apparently the third and forth fence just did not sit well with her. She refused them in both classes. We were suppose to do Saturday as well, but Budi’s son got sick so he had to cancel.
One silver lining. I guess I over paid and had a $150 credit. I have no idea how I overpaid that much, but oh well. Pretty much have the next show paid for.
But I have a feeling she’s not feeling good. Not sure what, but she just looks blah. I gave her a whole week off. And I’ll start back riding soon.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Short of It
Sorry for the gap in posting. Life seems to be on light speed. And I’m barely keeping up with it.
Union Ridge
She was an absolute fabtastic super mare! She was calm, cool, and level headed. She listened to Budi was jumping awesome. Budi jumped an added fence and got eliminated in our first class. But the rest was fine. We ended up getting Champion in Low Jumpers or Schooling I can’t remember. So good girl.
Upperville Fiasco
So we were feeling quiet good after Union Ridge. So Upperville was next up. She was a freaking mess. She refused jumps and Budi fell off on the first day. Next day same thing, except Budi stayed on. When she did jump she jumped beautifully, but she never did complete a full course.
Budi and I started talking about things. Budi felt that she was scared. Her problem is that she lacks confidence and she’s much too careful about jumping. So when she gets scared she just flat out refuses. So we scratched out of Wed classes.
I think we got a little too excited and may have pushed her prematurely. Fences may have only been 3’3”, but when you add all the other elements the fences do look a lot bigger than they are. So we reevaluated our plans for HITS.
We talked about things and decided to do HITS, but Levels 0 and 1, which are 2’7 and 2’11. We think the smaller fences may be a little more inviting and friendlier for her. Get her confidence up. We don’t want to ruin her.
QRC Schooling Shows
So last little show update. My student who’s a cute teenager rode Lilly in her first dressage show. Lilly was a packer. She got in the show arena and basically had the look on her face, “Kid just steer and I’ll do the rest.” And so she did. It was a Fix-A-Test type clinic so Kaelin rode twice. The rider has a lot of potential and she has her issue when she gets nervous that her heels creep up and her hands do the same. So judge gave her a mini lesson and worked with her. Her next test she could have gotten a higher score if instructor had read her test correctly. My Ipod died and so I was doing Intro A from memory and well I missed a part. But regardless she still scored in the 60s% and did very well.
The judge fussed at me for not riding and so she convinced me to ride. She was one of the judges that convinced me to get into dressage in the first place. So I hoped on and barely remembered Training Level Test 3. Did it correctly, but of course it wasn’t the best showing. What the judge did help me with is show me how to properly do the stretchy circle at the trot. How she explained it I got it. So it was a good experience.
This Friday we’re doing HITS. Saturday my student will be showing her again. This week is going to be a busy one. Then next Fri and Saturday we’re back in Culpeper for HITS. Busy and fun times.
Union Ridge
She was an absolute fabtastic super mare! She was calm, cool, and level headed. She listened to Budi was jumping awesome. Budi jumped an added fence and got eliminated in our first class. But the rest was fine. We ended up getting Champion in Low Jumpers or Schooling I can’t remember. So good girl.
Upperville Fiasco
So we were feeling quiet good after Union Ridge. So Upperville was next up. She was a freaking mess. She refused jumps and Budi fell off on the first day. Next day same thing, except Budi stayed on. When she did jump she jumped beautifully, but she never did complete a full course.
Budi and I started talking about things. Budi felt that she was scared. Her problem is that she lacks confidence and she’s much too careful about jumping. So when she gets scared she just flat out refuses. So we scratched out of Wed classes.
I think we got a little too excited and may have pushed her prematurely. Fences may have only been 3’3”, but when you add all the other elements the fences do look a lot bigger than they are. So we reevaluated our plans for HITS.
We talked about things and decided to do HITS, but Levels 0 and 1, which are 2’7 and 2’11. We think the smaller fences may be a little more inviting and friendlier for her. Get her confidence up. We don’t want to ruin her.
QRC Schooling Shows
So last little show update. My student who’s a cute teenager rode Lilly in her first dressage show. Lilly was a packer. She got in the show arena and basically had the look on her face, “Kid just steer and I’ll do the rest.” And so she did. It was a Fix-A-Test type clinic so Kaelin rode twice. The rider has a lot of potential and she has her issue when she gets nervous that her heels creep up and her hands do the same. So judge gave her a mini lesson and worked with her. Her next test she could have gotten a higher score if instructor had read her test correctly. My Ipod died and so I was doing Intro A from memory and well I missed a part. But regardless she still scored in the 60s% and did very well.
The judge fussed at me for not riding and so she convinced me to ride. She was one of the judges that convinced me to get into dressage in the first place. So I hoped on and barely remembered Training Level Test 3. Did it correctly, but of course it wasn’t the best showing. What the judge did help me with is show me how to properly do the stretchy circle at the trot. How she explained it I got it. So it was a good experience.
This Friday we’re doing HITS. Saturday my student will be showing her again. This week is going to be a busy one. Then next Fri and Saturday we’re back in Culpeper for HITS. Busy and fun times.
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