Flip it and reverse it

 Dressage is the most bizarre sport I swear.

Just a little more than a week after scoring a 54% in the I-2, Hampton and I went up to the Hoosier Horse Park and tried the test again. 

This time, I had a FAR better warm up. The key is to keep Hampton fresh. Schooling a couple minutes, walk break. Repeat. Focus on making him hot to the leg, a little "worried" about me, straightness and keeping the poll up.

Waiting to go in the ring.
Hampton is so self confident. He seems to know he is a Big Man on Campus now.

We had THE BEST ride to date. (Of course, this is only the third time we've done the I-2) and he was right there for me. We even got 10 ones! The mistake at the end was 100% my fault, I lost my rhythm and we got too crooked at the end. But it's there! That's just greenness. Video to come!

He was outstanding and was happy and fresh and there was no diving or falling behind my leg.

Much to my utter surprise, we scored a 68%.

You read that correctly.

Now, this was a schooling show so yes the scores are inflated. (But the judge was an L grad).  But Hampton really should not be scoring that high at FEI. Do I think he can be a 65% horse? Yes, one day. But a 68? 

Maybe one of the judges needs glasses? But which one? The 54% judge or 68% judge?

No complaints here though. I'll take that confidence boost. 

His body condition right now is straight up BEAST.

A BIG BIG thank you to Jen who let me borrow her shirt. And my other dear friends who know who they are who support me in this journey. It was a rough, emotional week and Hampton knocked it out of the park. So proud of him and the horse he has become.

And now I have a dilemma about which rated show to do next!