He felt a little tired in the warmup (hardly surprising given his week) so I did wonder how he would be in the test but he tried hard as always. He did stick two fingers up at me when I asked for medium trot, shook his head and just carried on in working trot but otherwise it was good. Judge must have blinked and missed it as still gave us a 6. His final halt looked more like an octopus than anything else but must have looked different from the judge's box as got a 7. Basically just got 7's the whole way though. Dropped to a 6.5 for leg yield left needing more impulsion and 6.5 for 15m circle canter right for being a bit big but collectives all 7's so finished on 69.31%, winning the Restricted out of 13 people and coming equal 3rd overall out of 18 so grabbing a fiver prize money to pay for lunch! Judge was Jane Kendall who said "Calm, obedient test in a pleasing rhythm"
Little break then hopped back on, did a couple of rein backs trying to keep the straightness and some simple changes and then in we went. E57 a new test for us so was mostly worried about getting lost. Judge has always in the past been quite tough on us and penalised him for nodding his head in canter which he doesn't appear to do now so did wonder what she would make of us probably a year on from last time she saw us. Apparently we have improved quite a bit as we managed to score 69.28%!!! This also won the Restricted section out of 12 and 4th overall out of 19. Got a 7 for our entry and the halt, rein back. 6.5's for 10m circles which needed more suppleness, 7's for leg yields, 6.5 for medium trot which needed more fluency - over the moon with a new comment that doesn't involve not enough shown, not medium etc etc!! Maybe progress finally being made. 7's for the working trot and medium walk, 8 for the double marked free walk, 7's for the walk to canter right, medium canter circle right, change of leg through trot over X, 6 for medium canter circle left, 6.5 and 6 for simple changes as he dropped me in the first one and trotted in the second but a 7 for the serpentine and 7 for final trot and final halt. 7.5 for his paces !!!, 7 for impulsion, 6.5 for submission and 7 for rider. "Some good movements and a well ridden test. He was forward but needed a little more fluency at times"
Chatting to photographer there who also pointed out our half page mention in this month's Local Rider magazine in their Veterans feature. So lucky to have such wonderful horses in my life.
Next stop Regionals at Merrist Wood next weekend for the Elem Restricted straight and Freestyle to Music - hope he can do as well!
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