Quite a warm day - I kept the first warmup quite short as I didn't want to overcook him with his Area Festival test to come second but that did mean he wasn't as focused and warmed up as he could have done with being for his Elementary Freestyle test. He was being a plonker going round the arena spooking at the sunbeams on the floor which thankfully weren't in the competition arena itself. He then struck off on the wrong leg ready for our canter into the arena which meant the canter wasn't as good as it could be before the halt but we managed a 7. He dropped me in the first simple change so got a 6 for that. Then he decided it would be good to stick in his version of a flying change before the medium canter which totally flumoxed me as it then left me on the wrong leg for the next bit of canter so didn't really ride it very well as knew I was going to have to change legs at the end - 6. Next bit of canter work was better - 7 for the simple change R-L. 7's for both his 15m circles. Then I was ahead of my music again but not as far ahead as at Pachesham and couldn't decide what to do. Ended up coming back to trot a whole short side later than I should do so stuck in a circle, only I couldn't decide what size it should be so ended up doing something like 12m which whilst doing I realised was a very bad idea when a compulsory movement is a 10m circle! Medium trot I really felt like he gave me something but still got a 6 and hurried from the judge. Something very weird must have gone on with my 10m circle left as got a 5 and the comment very large - I don't remember forgetting my geometry but must have done! 7 for his circle right though and 8's for both his leg yields - woweee! What an improvement in a couple of months. 7's for his medium/FWLR and an 8 for a beautiful final halt. 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 7.5 for artistic. Judge was Linda Waller: "Promising work and some pleasing movements/use of the arena. Music well selected - perhaps walk not as harmonious". Got 70% and finished 3rd overall out of 10, only a mark off 2nd place and always competitive at Wellington so pleased with that as without the mistakes he could easily have picked up an extra 4 or so technical marks and a few more artistics. Saw the judge after and she commented that she really liked my canter floorplan so that was good as that was all my idea :)
Jumped off Monts for a quick 15min breather then back on for Petplan test. In the warmup we had a discussion about shoulder-in right in trot for a while and then he decided he could do it and did some nice work. I was quite pleased with his test - his 10m circles in canter were about the worst attempt we've ever done so threw marks away there but apart from that it was nice and he stayed with me and no spooking which is a first in that big International arena! His mediums felt the best ever - not as flashy as he has been trying to do them but much more in balance and not hurrying. Judge at C (Joyce Head) still didn't like them though and gave both 5.5 with comments about clearer difference, more uphill etc. Judge at B (James Burtwell) was slightly more generous with 6.5 (modest but fair rhythm) and 6 (lacking impulsion and ground cover). Judge at C gave 7's for his entry and halt, the two medium walks and extended walk, the collected canter after the medium on both reins, the stretchy canter circle and the final trot movement and halt. Judge at B gave 7's for the rein back, first medium walk, both collected canters after mediums, the change of leg through trot and the second medium canter. Judge at C gave 6's for 10m circle right in trot, rein back, 10m circle left in canter and the change of leg through trot, otherwise all 6.5's. Judge at B gave 6's for his entry (mouth open, against hand and not square - oops!), the trot serpentine, trot 10m circle right. Marks noticeably picked up once we started cantering! 6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 7 from judge at C "Tried hard for you - could stay a little more in balance to enhance the paces. 6.5, 6.0, 6.0, 6.5 "Some fair work but needs to develop greater suppleness and self carriage for higher marks. Needs to be rounder at times"
Finished on 65% and came 14th out of 35. Just 3 more marks would have had us in top ten. Not displeased with that. Still a respectable result considering our lack of experience at this level. With more schooling and specifically more practice of that test I'm sure he can do much better. Looking at the photos I barely recognise him from the horse he was a year ago so fingers crossed can carry on improving. Hopefully aiming to do Medium Area Festivals next year! For now though, a break from pure dressage competitions. Will do some more over the winter but he's done a lot recently and will concentrate on schooling again, the Medium movements and flying changes!
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