Aiken Spring 2024: Part 2 | Speed traps

Day 3:

After the Stable View schooling show and a really great Thursday lesson, the weather gods pretty much forced us to stay put on Friday. We had planned to go to Hitchcock Woods for a walk, but it rained pretty much all day. 

We found a brief window in the rain and went on a little hack just around Jumping Branch. Still ended up getting rained on though. 

Obviously we spent much of the day going to tack stores. 

Day 4:

The weekend was the rated dressage show, back at Stable View and the rated debut of my Grand Prix Freestyle! Hampton warmed up SUPER on Saturday but unfortunately I was in a very rushed and stressed headspace and decided to CHANGE MY PLAN at the last minute which, as we all know, you probably shouldn't do at a horse show. 

I marched right in the ring and proceeded to run poor Hampton right off his feet. He became unbalanced and frazzled, resulting in mistakes in the pirouette, the ones and then the trot work because so bobbly and unbalanced the judge eliminated us for being too irregular.

While somewhat embarrassed, I thanked the judge and gave Hampton many pats. He did nothing wrong and didn't knew we were kicked out. I knew right away it was my riding that was the problem, but did jog Hampton when we got back to home base just incase. He jogged out sound and fine.

Day 5:

We had a morning ride for my freestyle on Sunday and I took the truck and trailer just me and Hampton and was able to remain calm and focused this time. Again, Hampton warmed up super. He LOVES the Attwood footing I swear.

Pre-freestyle game faces

This time I went in and tried to go SLOW, swingy and remain accurate with in the test. It paid off and we scored a whopping 67%! In A Grand Prix freestyle! What?! Including an *8* on the left pirouette! I got just a tick ahead of my music a couple of times, but things will smooth out and I was really happy with Hampton and much happier with my riding.

Lesson learned. Slow the F down.

Hamp got a new halter!

Part 3 coming soon!