Priory BD. 08-11-15

Under the floodlights tonight - fortunately Monts is used to that so managed to behave himself.  I was really pleased with how he went.  His trot work felt much more secure and we even had some moments of feeling that he was really uphill and through and easy to sit to!  This is definitely progress. We do need to do some more homework on the counter canter though as he managed to throw in another unrequired flying change just before the simple change so no chance of doing the simple change which meant 4's for two movements.  Both flying changes came off well though and generally it just felt much more established than our last attempt and still only our third try at this one.  Chuffed to score 64.852%.  Without the two 4's (assuming same marks as on the other rein) we'd have finished on 66.4%!!

We scored 7's for the entry, both 10m circles in trot, the extended walk, the first simple change, right canter half-pass and both flying changes plus 7.5 for first bit of medium walk.  Collectives - 7, 6.5, 6.5, 6.5,  Despite the 4's we still improved 3.5marks on last time we did this test under the same judge 2 months ago and without the 4's would have been 9marks!  Huge improvement and so excited as still so much more we can improve on!  Especially pleased to get a clean right to left change worthy of a 7!

Didn't have long before going back in for AM92.  Lost him a bit in the canter work and fluffed the 2nd change totally so had to walk.  Pleased with left trot SI again - they both really flowed tonight - right not so good today.  Canter half passes could be better too - he was a bit resistant.  I felt he really went for the extended trot for once - it was fab for him!  Needs refining but at least he was giving it a go!  It got a 6 which I'm happy with at this level.  His first medium trot got a 6.5 which is fab!  Rare we get anything more than a 6.  Consistent 6.5's with a 7 for the extended walk and 7.5 for medium walk on the first page of marks - big improvement from last time (3.5 more marks just on the first page).  Next set of marks - got a 3 for our change that didn't happen (it didn't happen last time we did this test either but judge didn't notice that time and gave it a 6!)  Got a 7 for walk to canter, otherwise mix of 6's and 6.5's.  The changes got 6.5, 3.0, 6.5, 5.5 (last time got 6.0, 6.0, 5.0, 5.0).  Finished on a 7 for the final halt.  Collectives: 7.0, 6.0, 6.5, 6.5.  Finished on 63.918% so half a percent better than out last attempt.  5 more shiny points and finished our Winter Regionals qualification at this level!  Eeeeek!  Regionals at Advanced Medium.  Didn't see that one coming when we did our first Medium one year ago to the day.  He just keeps on surprising me with how much he improves every time I ride him.  What a horse!