Wed evening went to Pachesham for BD - was a little nervous having seen the entries were huge and thought the tests were a bit above us but hey ho, I'm always up for a challenge!
We had a rubbish schooling session the day before - he was so resistant and awkward I was dreading what the comp would be like but he warmed up like a dream - nice and long and low to start with then deeper but with more connection then finally picking him up, all the time keeping the forwards. He was flying and felt super!
1st test was N22 and went in determined to keep the forwards no matter what. Concentrating nicely before we went in and yet still managed to completely wobble our way down that long centre line - I thought a 6 with the comment "little more connection" was generous - I ended up grinning as it was so wobbly! Kept the connection round the corner better this week though and then did a nice 15m circle for a 7. Two half circles got a 5 as he's not supple to the right. 15m circle right got 6 as not consistent to contact. 6's for both medium trots which is progress - i dont mind getting 6's for them right now as long as it's not 5's! 7 for the FWLR, then he ruined the walk to trot by hopping so even though did a nice trot to canter got a 5 for that. 6 for the 20m circle then 7's for his medium canter and counter canter (well chuffed as not easy to get good marks for them), 6 for the canter right as he did hollow slightly but big improvement then 7's for his 20m circle and the medium canter (which was wild and went well wobbly when I tried to collect him back at the end but we got given a "bold" comment and at least he went which is more than normal!) then I nearly fell over when I saw we got an 8 for the right counter canter "good position and fluent" - fantastic! 6 for the trot to walk then another 7 for FWLR (I love a test with 2 FWLR's in it, both worth double marks!), 5 for the trot and then down centre line ("off bridle on turn") - bit harsh I think having watched the video but there we go. Then we got a 7 for the final halt which give she gave us an 8 last week and having looked at the perfect squareness on the vid I think he should have got 8 there too but still good. 7667 for collectives. Last week we got 5's for the impulsion/submission so that's a good improvement. Overall comments: "A fluent and well presented test. He just now needs to develop greater engagement to lift the shoulders" List 5 judge (Sam Amos)
We were in the Training section so scores dont count but if we'd been in the restricted we'd have been =4th out of 18 if in the restricted section, =6th out of 24 overall. 64.48% would have got us 3 shiny BD points! Very very pleased.
Quick walk around before going back in for N39 - really complicated test I've never ridden before so bit of a struggle to remember it but all went ok. He was a bit tired so we lost a bit of forwardness and I thought I'd be happy with anything over 60% as really tough test for him. Got a couple of 5's for the 4 loop serpentine and the first long diagonal medium trot but then the rest was all 6's and 7's with the 7's for his walk work (3 lots of walk in a row so loads of lovely walk marks in this test too!) then 7 for his medium canter on the 20m circle left, the canter-trot-canter trans on the left rein and the change of rein with trans back to trot at X then a 7 for his final halt which again was perfectly square and then I nearly pulled him off it - must learn not to fiddle with the halt! Legs on, ride forward into it and then be happy with it! We even managed a 6 for the dreaded give and retake which wasn't too mad - he hollowed a bit but didn't go like a giraffe and came back to me as soon as I took the reins back. And we got a 6 for our walk to canter ("tight but obedient") which he has only just learnt so v pleased with that. Collectives were 777 for paces, then 66 for impulsion, submission and rider. Finished on 62.75% which would have given us another 2 shiny points and we would have been 5th out of 14 if in the restricted section, 9th out of 20 overall. Judge (list 4 - Adele Burton Cantley) said "Horse not always soft or through over the back and lacking suppleness and bend. More from behind needed to help improve medium steps" Not a very positive summing up considering it wasn't awful but there we go - we know what we need to work on!
Next step - RC Champs!
No comments:
Post a Comment