The World is not your oyster

Gotten a request to write more so ... here goes. haha.

I don't have experience in the trenches of many disciplines, so maybe my observations are off base. But is it just me or do dressage people expect to be constantly accommodated? 

Photo by L. Dean. October 2023. I-2

Years ago, I was at a small dressage show (recognized) and there was a tent for a vendor set well away from the show ring, but along a walking path for both people and horses. It was Friday and we were schooling. I hear a lady start to shout that show management should take the tent down because "it is spooking my horse!" 

Hampton fucking around at third level because behind the judge there was a wall he could see over and he wanted to look so I put my inside leg on him. Whose fault is that? Not anyone's but my sucky riding.

More recently, I saw a post on the book of Face, regarding construction going on at the Kentucky Horse Park. They are making improvements for equestrians and for the park in general. Including building brand new barns. Yes, some of that construction was next to a walking path for the horses. And yup, it riled up some fresh dressage horses. Boy did people complain. 

Horse fly attack. Also, no one's fault.

I have never ONCE seen any Morgan or Saddlebred people act so entitled and except the environment to be accommodated for their "spooky horse." They just sit back and hang on. And while I have not been heavily involved, I would be willing to bet the western disciplines would never make such a comment. They also have hot, spooky horses, in spite of what many might believe.

I have certainly had many moments where Hampton spooked at something in the distance, or a sound, or seemingly nothing. I remember one instance where a plastic bag flew right into the show arena while I was doing a turn on the haunches. Hampton never flinched. My training and our partnership won in that moment. 

Remember the time I threw event tack on Hampton and he stopped at the second fence AT STARTER and I fell off? He was doing I-1 at the time, by the way. He was buddy sour that day and I failed at riding. FAILED.

But other moments it did not. You know whose problem that is? Mine. And only mine. Not the show, not any other competitor, not my coach, not the person who served me breakfast. It is MY training and MY partnership with the horse. 

PSG

In summary, we need to suck less. Ride better, be a better handler, do more homework. Suck less. Also, horses will sometimes spook and go AWOL anyway. We need to better prepare our horses and ourselves to handle different environments. And if it doesn't go our way, laugh it off and try again. 

Quite expecting to be accommodated.

Dipping toes back in

 After a really solid summer of competing I-1 and doing a lot of polishing especially as far as test riding, I decided to do a brave thing and entered an I-2 at a little recognized show a couple hours south. And I took the double bridle, which I have not shown Hampton in since The Big Shutdown of 2022.

Photo by L. Dean

We watched our DQ friend kick some booty in her two tests, then I tacked up Hampton, warmed up in the facility indoor and said hell let's see what happens.

A peeping Tom by the trailer dressing room.

Somewhere along the line this year, a switch went off. Something clicked with both of us. I can ride Hampton within the test without him shutting down, he is pretty darn reliable in the movements, and even his uphill balance has somewhat improved. And by that I mean he doesn't dive down in the bridle so horrifically. (Let's be real he will never be uphill).

The judge rewarded a willing horse with clear gaits, who was on the aids. Yes the passage was pretty flat that day, but that's our homework. We walked away with our best score to date in the I-2: a 64.1% which shattered our previous best by far.

The BEST boy.
Photo by L. Dean

He didn't shut down at all, although I felt him THINK about sucking back behind that double bridle. So while it went very very well, I think my best bet is to stick with showing him in the snaffle. But it was fun to experiment and see where we were.

I really enjoyed the facility which was a small private farm, but they gave out wonderful entry goody bags, had a lovely staff, good footing and an overall pleasant atmosphere. Good for them for hosting a USDF recognized show! We need more of these one-dayers.

Good dressage bay boys!

Next up we will be preparing for a clinic in December, and shortly after making a short trip to Aiken where I have another I-2 on the radar at Stable View. 

And in the meantime ... we are working on another freestyle. This time Grand Prix.

I am a masochist.