PSG Part 1: Getting our toes wet

All riding photos by Jen S. THANK YOU!!!

It has taken me several days to process the weekend and what just happened.

After you work for such a big goal for so long, and then you finally reach it - what a feeling it is! But also, I have had moments of "Now what?". (Obviously aim for the Grand Prix, Karen!)

I'll split the weekend into 2 posts so you aren't reading a total novel.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

I dropped Hampton off early Friday at the horse park and made a quick trip north to see my parents since they would be unable to come see me ride.

I got back in time to give Hampton a jog around the arenas. He felt fine, maybe a little tight but that's normal for him. There was some mild bucking and leaping when I tested a canter pirouette but I think I just had him too behind the leg. I fed him dinner and put him to bed.

Sunset ride in pink polos. #realman

I stayed with Jen S. all weekend and let me tell you that she and her husband are the bests hosts ever. I cannot thank them enough for giving me a 5-star suite to stay in and DELICIOUS food. I was probably more quiet than I usually am at their house because I was stuffing my face and also chugging wine. Classy.

I was up early Saturday to go feed Hamp and help Liz with her obnoxiously early rides. I also hopped on Hampton at about 9 am and took him for a light walk-only hack, making sure to loosen his back up but not waste energy. This really helped him I think. When I got on for my actual rides, he was already loose and felt pretty good.

In warm-up

Right before I went in the ring (for my first PSG) he was a little rigid, but I just told myself that it went downhill like it did in Ohio, to just excuse yourself. Don't let it become a hot mess and ruin confidence again.

In we went and the test itself went pretty well! No real disasters. I had some late changes, and a botched walk pirouette but the test was good enough for a 62.4%!!!

I was SHOCKED by this. But it also gave me a big confidence boost. Maybe we are more ready than I thought we were? But I also didn't get my hopes up. That judge was the more generous of the two for the weekend.

Down centerline

Got a 7 on this canter pirouette!

Extended canter!! weee! Go horsie!

At the end of the day I rode 4-1 just to get back in the ring and school a bit. Hampton was running out of energy just a bit (it was pretty  hot, but we are used to training in death-inducing KY humidity so we were able to handle Indiana heat pretty well). He did keep trying for me though. And even though I HAD A READER I went off course and forgot the line of tempis at the end. Total dumbass moment on my part. Anyway, the score was good enough for a 61% and some change. Which also earned us high point 4th level for the day!

Dry cleaner did not have my short coat ready in time, so thankfully coats
were waived this weekend. So I ditched it.

Baking in 4-1

Extended walk was a welcome break.

It was a really great day for our little group at the barn. We all had fantastic rides (see Jen's blog for her round up - boy have these two come a long way! Knock knock second level!) and we did some celebrating with booze water (it's a thing) and more booze later for dinner.

We had an early ride time Sunday so after shoveling another mouth-watering dinner into my face, I crashed into bed.

to be continued ....